How to live & stay young

A lesson on how to LIVE!




HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge .

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them , at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

THANK YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES by SHOPPING LOCALLY !!!

As a member of the 3/50 Project,http://www.the350project.net/home.html ,"Shop Local" program, I was privileged to receive the following article by founder Cinda Baxter... It tells you what independent brick & mortar stores represent to their loyal customers....

"It's 3/50 Friday!
Forget all that big box mumbo jumbo the day after Thanksgiving (who really likes being in those crowds, anyway?). This year, I say we rename the day that follows turkey and mashed potatoes.

I say we call it 3/50 Friday, in celebration of The 3/50 Project. It will be the day we each vow to stop into at least one independent, locally owned brick and mortar to say thanks….

Thanks for smiling and greeting me by name.

Thanks for remembering that I love peonies and detest carnations.

Thanks for asking how my mother is doing, then being sincerely happy when I say she’s well.

Thanks for restocking my favorite candle even though it’s that crazy lime green color.

Thanks for helping me locate the perfect gift for the boss I barely know.

Thanks for laughing when I need a lift and for listening when I need to let down.

Thanks for noticing when I’ve changed my haircut.

Thanks for not noticing when I dashed over in wrinkled sweats for a last minute present.

Thanks for donating to my kids’ fundraiser, and thanks for putting their poster in your window.

Thanks for rushing my order, and thanks for not guilt tripping me about it.

Thanks for staying an extra fifteen minutes the day I got stuck in traffic.

Thanks for that extra cup of coffee, then saying it’s on the house.

Thanks for carrying the financial burdens you do, all to provide a place for me to come.

Thanks for being one of the little guys, responsible for such a big chunk of what makes our community tick.

Thanks for being here for me. For us. For everyone.


Please spread the word; the locally owned independents need us."

Remember to "thank" your local businesses in person & with support of their businesses.

Feel free to SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES below in the comment section :)

Sincerely,
Sharon Blumenthal, The Present Pro
Initially You Too-Personalized Gifts
http://www.Names2U.com

The "Present" of becoming a Grandparent

The "Present" of becoming a Grandparent...

Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting.

What a bargain grandchildren are! I give them my loose change, and they give me a million dollars' worth of pleasure. ~Gene Perret

Grandmothers are just 'antique' little girls.

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~ Welsh Proverb

A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television..

Never have children, only grandchildren. ~Gore Vidal

Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric. ~Pam Brown

Grandchildren don't stay young forever, which is good because Grandfathers have only so many horsy rides in them. ~Gene Perret

When grandparents enter the door, discipline flies out the window. ~Ogden Nash

Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete. ~ Marcy DeMaree

Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies.

Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.

If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren, I'd have had them first. ~Lois Wyse

My grandkids believe I'm the oldest thing in the world. And after two or three hours with them, I believe it, too. ~Gene Perret

If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one. There is no fun for old people like it! ~Hannah Whithall Smith

It's such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother - that's why the world calls her grandmother.

Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old. ~Mary H. Waldrip

You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother. ~Proverb

An hour with your grandchildren can make you feel young again. Anything longer than that, and you start to age quickly. ~Gene Perret

The best baby-sitters, of course, are the baby's grandparents. You feel completely comfortable entrusting your baby to them for long periods, which is why most grandparents flee to Florida . ~Dave Barry

I wish I had the energy that my grandchildren have - if only for self-defense. ~Gene Perret

Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love.

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. ~Alex Haley

Grandmother - a wonderful mother with lots of practice.

A grandparent is old on the outside but young on the inside.

One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather. ~Joy Hargrove

It's amazing how grandparents seem so young once you become one.

If your baby is 'beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time,' you're the grandma. ~Teresa Bloomingdale

Grandparents are similar to a piece of string - handy to have around and easily wrapped around the fingers of their grandchildren

What is it about grandparents that is so lovely? I'd like to say that grandparents are God's gifts to children. And if they can but see, hear and feel what these people have to give, they can mature at a fast rate. ~Bill Cosby

Grandchildren don't make a man feel old; it's the knowledge that he's married to a grandmother. ~G. Norman Collie

The Concert

The Concert

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, a mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played.... only the classic," Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God... What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful.

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing."

May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you remember, God doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.'

Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire. So touch someone by passing this little message along. May God bless you and be with you always and remember... "Don't quit." "Keep playing."

Today is a gift, that is why it is called "The Present"...

'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present .'

This just may change your thinking...

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present .'

The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who reads it.....

Share your daily "presents" with all of us in the comment area.

Sincerely,

Sharon

Nature "Presents" Us With Amazing Things

Nature "Presents" us with amazing things....

Have You Ever Seen Rocks Pray?

Tilt your head to the left to see the picture. You will be amazed at what you see. Look at the entire length of the picture......

Send me your "natural" "presents" to share with our readers.

Thank you,

Sharon Blumenthal-The Present Pro

http://www.Names2U.com

Experience the "Present" & miracle of modern surgery

This is truly amazing!!!

Please read before viewing picture - it's worth it!


A picture began circulating in November. It should be 'The Picture of the Year,' or perhaps, 'Picture of the Decade.' It won't be. In fact,unless you obtained a copy of the US paper which published it, you probably would never have seen it.

The picture is that of a 21-week-old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, who is being operated on by surgeon named Joseph Bruner.

The baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta She knew of Dr Bruner's remarkable
surgical procedure.. Practicing at Vanderbilt Univ Med Ctr in Nashville , he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb.

During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby. As Dr Bruner completed the surgery on Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. Dr Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure he was just frozen, totally immobile.

The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity The editors titled the picture, 'Hand of Hope.' The text explaining the picture begins, 'The tiny hand of 21-week-old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life.'

Little Samuel's mother said they 'wept for days' when they saw the picture. She said, 'The photo reminds us pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person.'Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation 100 percent successful.

Now see the actual picture, and it is awesome....incredible....and hey, pass it on. The world needs to see this one!




Don't tell me our God isn't an awesome God!!!!!

When You're the Mom of a Mother

When You're the Mom of a Mother

By Beverly Beckham

When my older daughter became a mother nearly six years ago, I became a grandmother with a brand-new baby to love. But I also became a different kind of mother to my baby. I was useful again. I knew things. I understood. And the most important thing I understood was how much my daughter loved her child.

Ten months later, my younger daughter gave birth to her firstborn. "Did you feel this way, Mom? Isn't it amazing? I never knew. Was I as cute?"

Motherhood, part two. That's what grandparenting really is. Your kids grow up, go off to school, move away. And they don't need you anymore. They don't call for advice. And you think, you're done. That's it. The job is finished. And then your kids become parents and you're suddenly back in the game. "Mom, can you?" "Dad, will you?"

When a child is placed in a woman's arms — in a hospital, at an airport, in a lawyer's office, and whether the child is a newborn or a 10-year-old — a woman's life changes forever. And so does the life of her mother.

I watch my daughters wipe noses and hands, buckle car seats, peel grapes, insist upon "please" and "thank you," wipe up spills, dry tears, read books, blow bubbles, monitor the TV, play games, and work outside their homes. And I am struck by the rigors of mothering — how hard it is and tiring and endless, and how amazing it is that anyone signs up for this job. And then I think, this was once my job. I did all this.

"How did you do it, Mom?" my daughters ask. And they listen to my answer because I've been down the road they're on now and they realize that maybe I know a few things they have yet to learn.

The mother-child connection. It changes. It evolves. It grows.In the space between us now there is still no space. It is filled with children — theirs, but part mine. And on it goes. Mother to mother to child, this eternal bond that is recognized and honored on Mother's Day.

Remember Grandma & Mom with a prized personalized present from:

http://www.Names2U.com

or visit Initially You Too-personalized gifts in Cleveland, Ohio

A Grandparent's Present......

A Grandparent's "Present" can be determined in their past :)

1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" I will probably neverput lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye...

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"

4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside on a pond I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old," he replied.

6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

7. I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these, yourself!"

8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights." 9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised, "mine says I'm 4 to 6."

10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting," she said, "how do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."

11. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."

12.. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close."They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."

14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over; you hear gas leaks, and they blame their dog.

The "Present" is your real catch of the day.

Experiencing the "present" is a choice we all make.... Success is a personal choice as well. Think about your "personal success". Is your "personal success" created & followed through by you, for you & controlled by you?

Success is not just about annual revenue. Real success is about your business and your personal life blending together at their best, fullest and most evolved potential.

I would like to share a fable with you... You may have heard it before, but I think it bears repeating....

An American businessman took a vacation to a small village in Mexico. He was sent by his doctor...to relax & "re-think". The businessman walked onto a pier one morning and saw a small boat with a lone fisherman sitting inside. Inside the boat, he saw what he thought was an amazing catch. The American complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish. "How long did it take you to catch them?". he asked. "Only a little while," the Mexican responded."Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish," the American asked. I have enough to support my family and give to a few friends said the fisherman. "Very interesting", replied the American. "What do you do with the rest of your time?" The Mexican smiled and said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play the guitar with my amigos. I live a very full and busy life , Senor. "

"The American laughed and stood tall. "I am a Harvard MBA, I can help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. In a very short time you could have a fleet of fishing boats." "Yes Senor, and then what?" the Mexican asked. "You could begin to sell directly to consumers, and open your own cannery. You could control your own product processing and distribution. You would need to move from this small village, go to Mexico City, LA and perhaps New York from where you can better manage your expanding enterprise."

"But how long will all of this take?" the Mexican asked. The American replied, "10-15 years, 25 at most." "And then what?", queried the Mexican fisherman. The American laughed, "Here is the best part, when the time is right you announce an IPO, sell your company stocks to the public and make millions." "Millions senor, and then what?......"

"Then you could retire and move to small coastal fishing village. You could sleep late, fish a little, play with your children, take a siesta with your wife, stroll into the village each evening, where you sip wine and play the guitar with your amigos."

I don't think I need to tell you the moral of the story...... We sometimes lose sight of the goal..... What is the "true goal" of your business AND your life? Don't find yourself at the end of your life, realizing you have lost sight of your "true goal". Enjoy the ride.... Make the ride worthwhile & enjoyable. The end goal is a bonus!

Pay attention to the "Present"

The following is an article I found on http://www.alancohen.com/



Every interaction is an opportunity to savor a heart connection.

― Alan Cohen



I heard about a fellow who was a television repairman in the 1950's. One day Herman was dispatched to service the TV of an old man named Jake, who lived alone. When Herman inspected Jake’s television, he found that it was missing a tube. Herman replaced the tube in a matter of minutes, and spent the next twenty minutes chatting amiably with Jake before he left for his next repair call.

Three days later Jake reported that his television was on the blink again, and Herman went to fix it. This time he discovered that a different tube was missing. Herman replaced the tube and chatted with Jake for a little while again.

Several days later Jake called the shop again and complained that his TV was not working. When Herman opened the appliance, this time a different tube was missing. Finally Herman figured out that Jake was removing the tubes. He was lonely, he wanted company, and a broken television was his way of getting Herman to visit him.

We all crave contact and company, and we go about getting it in different ways. Some are direct and skillful, and others are more roundabout. You don't need to keep taking the tubes out of your television to get the nurturing you want. You can ask for it directly. Take the initiative to create the intimacy you crave. Reach out for friendship and tell the people you would like to be with that you value their company. Not everyone will respond, but those who belong to you as friends, will show up. And you won’t have to pay a repair bill to play with people you really care about.



Who would you like to invite for a richer relationship?

What step could you take to make this happen?



I reach out for the love I desire, and the universe responds in the right way and time."

We all need attention. We want to know that someone cares. Giving a gift that is personalized specifically for the recipient shows you took the time to "give attention & to create a richer relationship." Feel free to check out :
Names2U.com for some "enriching" suggestions :)

Sharon

Concentrate on these sentences

Concentrate On These Sentences...

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.'

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

Concentrate on this sentence... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

Believe this.....Something good will happen to you today; something that you have been waiting to hear.

Experience & APPRECIATE "the present"!

Send this to those you care about... JUST DO IT!

Sharon Blumenthal
"The Present Pro"
http://www.Names2U.com
http://www.GiftedGreek.com
http://www.PersonalizedGiftWeekly.blogspot.com
http://www.Bagelling.blogspot.com

A lovely recipe for the "present"

GREAT RECIPE

This was sent to me by my dear friend Janice. Her present to me is your present to share. Feel free to comment & to share with your friends.


1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for______________'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king or queen, lunch like a prince or princess & dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask and believe .

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are in need. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.

26. Send this to everyone you care about. I care about you..that is why you are getting this from me.

"Present" a gift to yourself - A Quickie Spa Pedicure at Home

We talk a lot about giving a "present" to someone we love. Today you need to show "I love ME"by "presenting" a gift to yourself. Try this easy Spa Pedicure at Home .

Here in Ohio, snow has been coming & coming & coming.... I can't wait until "sandal season".

1- The sun is actually out today-going up to 50 degrees :).

2-Valentine's Day is coming this week. TREAT YOURSELF....

Sandal season is coming in a little while, Are your feet ready? Everyone seems to be penny-pinching these days, so here are some tips for a spa pedicure at home.


READY, SET, BUFF (3-5minutes)
Remove what's left of your old polish. Use a multi-sided buffer to even out ridges on the top of your nails. Begin with the medium-grit side then switch to the smooth side. This will make your nails shine. If you have a third coarse side of the file, use it to carefully remove really rough skin on your toes and heels. Be careful not to over rub & make your skin raw.


MOISTURIZE (2 minutes)
Massage your feet. Use an ultra-rich foot cream that will replenish and soften the skin. Slather on & massage in. If you can get someone else to rub your feet, that would be even better!


POLISH (5-10 minutes)
Wipe down each nail with polish remover ensuring all previous polish & oil has been removed. This assures that your color will adhere properly to your nails. Shop the dollar store to see if you can find the "toe separators". They are inexpensive, & guarantee - no smears. Apply two coats of polish -- a color that contrasts with your skin tone looks best. Bright, springy colors work well on anyone. Color can make you smile & feel good. Go for it ! Finish with a top coat that has a speed dryer. This should protect the finish & get you moving quickly.


DRY AND RELAX
Put your newly polished tootsies on a pillow and relax while they dry...

It is important to experience the "present", but I think it is equally important to "remember the past"......

Remember when?

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes . Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no child-proof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets. When we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking. As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats , seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because, WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were OK. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 's, X-boxes, no video games at all,no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet nor chatrooms.......

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! No GPS was needed :)

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not poke out very many eyes. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. We had All Star games & those who didn't make the team were "good sports" about it. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

Those generations produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this article (& blog) with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good . While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were. Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno: "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another,and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks...are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Take that extra minute....

Experience the present........

Take that extra minute ........

Unexpected treasures, in unexpected places, in unexpected packages.
How many of us have missed precious moments, or magnificent opportunities because we did not recognize them?
Wishing you a splendid new year, filled with the most glorious opportunities and magical moments...

A Violinist in the Metro

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the child stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100 each.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the metro station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Please remember to experience the "present"..... it can be a famous violinist, or your grandchild singing "Twinkle, twinkle little star."....... Let's all "resolve" to "experience the present"................It's free & "freeing" :)

Tell me about your "presents". Sharing is free & refreshing !