sexy

When I was about 12 there was a woman in my ward in her 60's, maybe 70's, who was very tall. Maybe even a little taller than me. She had skinny legs and a barrel chest. She seemed to cast a shadow on me whenever I was near her. She looked like if she toppled over she would land like a tree, and with a loud 'FRUMP!' She looked kind of scary, honestly. And I had a realization:

I will never be cute.

Most women when they get old, get a twinkle in their eye, and they round out and they're cute, and you want to hug them, they seem loving.

This person I'm imagining is not tall. Perhaps not short, but definitely not nearly 6 feet tall. When a 6 foot tall person rounds out, they look hulking and looming and scary.

I do not have the option of enjoying chubbiness in my old age and having it 'work' for me. Tall slender lady is all I can ever pull off, and it seems like a daunting future.

That is just the preface to what I really wanted to post today.

At the YMCA I saw this incredibly beautiful woman in her 50's. Not cougar beautiful, Mom beautiful. And she was almost as tall as me, and slender. And she was across the room I was stretching in. The first thought that came to mind when I saw her was - sexy. She gave me so much hope. I almost had tears welling up. I wanted to thank her.

How crazy can I be? She for sure would think I was a stalker or coming on to her. And then I had Sister Kimball's quote in my head, "never suppress a generous thought.” So I decided to risk it. Plus she didn't know me, so if I super embarrass myself, I'll probably never see her again. I walked right over to her,

"You are so sexy and you give all us young mamas hope."

I am so weird! What is wrong with me?

She was very nice. "Thank you, I've had four children." And we had a 30 second conversation. Maybe if I can pull of sexy at 50 (back-up plan is to pull off nice, but I'm not that nice, so I'm kind of in trouble both ways.) someone tall who just had a baby and feels like an amazon woman can be encouraged that it is possible to look good and not scary as you age.

Thank you sexy YMCA lady.

Randoms

Today while returning from the kitchen to my lunch at the table, Lucy had just popped in her mouth a green olive from my salad and was looking very guilty. What kind of kid loves green olives so much she steals them when she thinks no one is looking? What a good girl.

Paul and I were able to go to the temple this morning and it was just what I needed.

While there I noticed that my arm sleeve seam is ripping out!? Does that mean my arms are bigger than they were 9 years ago? Is it all the muscles from carrying 4 children?

no.

I am reminded of the temple dress I want to make for myself, saw it on Jennifer Lopez a year ago, and can't get it off my mind. Of course mine would be longer.

Isn't it gorgeous!!!!!

If I had a dress like this, I would definitely be at the temple once a month. Don't know if that should make me feel wicked, or just really pleased that I'm finding ways to make meeting our monthly goal easier.

On the way to the temple I continued embroidering a dress I am making for Maggie for Valentine's Sunday. It will be beautiful, and of course I will post pics when it's done.

Made some quilts for the girls out of this

Waverly fabric. I, however, got it at Walmart for a dollar a yard. What a shopper! We have this incredible lady at our Walmart who used to own a fabric store, and knows how to order excellent fabric. This bolt had a slight deformity in inking. So slight you can't see it unless I point it out to you. I am holding off on posting pics until I get their cute pillows made.

Because it was such a good price and I wasn't sure what i was going to do with it, I bought the whole bolt, which I think was 15 yards. I only used 4 for their quilts. What will I do with the rest? I think I'll make some quilts to donate. Spread the blessings.

Be good.

Salad

baby spinach leaves

sliced pear

feta cheese

sprinkle of pecans

pinch of salt

a few cranks of black pepper

little drizzle of olive oil

smatterings of balsamic vinegar

Almost no cutting, just assembling. Delicious, healthy, fast.

Salad Soapbox:

At a restaurant you may have found yourself thinking while ordering, "let's not go crazy and just get a salad." Beware, not all salads are created equal. Be careful of the drive-through ones, or the ones at steak houses. Just because it's a salad, doesn't mean it's good for you.

Iceberg lettuce - the fourth phase of water. It does have fiber in it, but that's all.

If your salad is comprised of iceberg (romaine is a little bit better, but spinach is the only one that can be counted as doing something really good for you) lettuce, cheese, chicken, croutons, cucumber, and a tomato, you may as well get a chicken sandwich and be satisfied.

In my book a salad must have some of the following to be counted as a healthful choice:

broccoli (my favorite vegetable)

carrots

onions - green or red are my favorite

nuts

oranges

beans

olives

peppers - Sam's has them for sale 6 red,yellow, orange peppers for $7. Wow.

avocado - has three times as many nutrients as most other high nutrient vegetables

RIPE tomatoes - I have a theory I haven't looked into, that unripe tomatoes don't have near as many nutrients and that's why they don't taste like anything, cause they don't have anything.

So when I go to the drive through I skip the salad, get a burger and really enjoy it. And get my veggies at home.

And fries don't count as veggies, though I have tried to convince myself that if I put on enough ketchup, maybe the combo will count?

No it doesn't count.

for my brother

Funny things on pillows seem so great to me. My brother in law, Pona, was accepted to law school. I was so overjoyed I had to embroider him a pillow. No, it doesn't really relate, "Congratulations for getting in to law school" but who really wants that on a pillow?

If you don't get the pillow click here and here.

What I'm eating lately

Grapefruit smoothies. Grapefruits are such a great price right now and so delicious, and so packed with vitamin C in this cold/flu season. So I've been taking the tender flesh out of them, put them in the blender with a little sugar and some frozen fruit. Here pictured with frozen strawberries. Yesterday I blended 3 grapefruits, 1 orange, 2 cups frozen strawberries, and 1/4 cup sugar. Paul got this little cup, and the rest I kept for myself. I usually share it with the kids, but I gave them bananas - that's at least some fruit. Since I have been pregnant or breastfeeding for 5 of the last 7 years means I need a lot of nutrients, and yesterday I was feeling like my body needed an extra boost. And what a tasty boost. I felt like a million bucks all day.

Try some, you'll like it.

Boone liked it too.

Funny or not?

In my opinion, funny.

I think the president would also find it humorous.

Lately

I've been enjoying embroidery and feeling very Valentine's festive. I love the Christmas decorations and it makes me sad that the celebration is over. To ease the pain, I jump right into Valentine's Day. Here is my latest loving creation.

One on each side of the front door. I got the frames at Goodwill more than a year ago and painted them with a blue wash. I think I'll change out what's in the frames depending on what time of year it is.

When I was a girl, I loved cross-stiching. I haven't done it in so long, because I didn't like the look of it. Now I'm liking it again, and I still love the process. I did these on a long car ride to see my Florida brother and family. Made the 20 hours of sitting much nicer. And no, it didn't take all 20 hours.

A few Christmas pics:

My parents came to visit after Christmas. It was lovely. You can see in the back my piano Valentine's decor - already up. The white XOXO is sheet music, "She's always a woman to me". Because I often feel like I must be as crazy as the woman in the song, and I imagine Paul singing it, and that he loves me in spite of my temperament.