My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Counseling

Reminder about Pinterest:
There are over 11,200 photos in my Pinterest with over 8,600 followers so you know how gorgeous the images must be. Simply "eye candy" for you to see. If you want, hop on over to view them and become a follower if you like. It's entirely your choice of course, but I love seeing others enjoy them. I can put them on Pinterest much faster than showing them here.
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I had a woman one time as a counselor. It was through our Church and I was getting severely depressed as the result of a woman in our ward who just about drove me over the edge. She stalked me. Let me explain something first.

I was a really happy person and always have been. I almost always had a smile on my face. But as a lot of parents with teenagers, we sought out counseling with a man up in the Berkeley hills not far from us in California. He was fantastic and got us through the teenage years. We or the kids were in counseling about 3-4 times a week. It absolutely helped me enormously. I learned to cope and got a new perspective on dealing with issues and it definitely helped my kids. Hubby was my "balance" for all this.

Then we moved to Idaho in the early 90s and joined the LDS Church.

A woman who lived in our very small town drove me nuts. She always thought I was "something special" because of what I did in California. Truly, I wasn't and didn't act as though I was "something special."

It came to a head several years later and I told her to leave me alone. She was always wanting to be around me as she was a simple farm girl from Idaho and always wanted to be a "powerful" woman. That's enough of that though, so just let me say that she stalked me. And I once said to hubby and a few friends something I'll never say again: I don't understand how some people can/can't _____ fill in the blank here. I was then given that "trial" so to speak. I never, ever say those words in connection to anyone again because I can be assured of getting that "trial" and walking in their shoes. While it strengthens us, it isn't a pleasant experience.

Fast forward several years after being in Idaho. The woman in that ward drove me over the edge to seeking counseling again. I had a wonderful woman counselor in Boise and after a while we became friends. She then told me she couldn't act effectively in both. So I had to choose. I thought I was much better at handling things then and chose to become friends instead of having her counseling me. That worked out well. But I appreciate her honesty and her friendship. When we moved from that small town here in Idaho to a bigger one we lost touch, but I've thought of her over the years now and then and truly valued the honesty and friendship we had. I believe strongly in counseling for balance in life. She helped me learn much about myself and I've never, ever been embarrassed to tell others how much counseling has helped in my life and marriage. Plus I now try to put myself in other people's circumstances and try my best not to judge them. This isn't easy sometimes, but I don't want the trial of something I say about how I can't understand. I made the terrible mistake of saying, "I don't understand how women can be beaten down emotionally by a man and not get out of the horrible relationship." I understand it now. Trust me on this one. I never thought I—as a very strong, confident, happy women—could be beaten down by someone. I now understand a bit better how women can be subjugated by a man, only in my case it was a woman. I now have nothing to do with her. It's my choice and it's sad because I  actually did love her as a child of God. I'll sometimes think of her and the love God showed me to her.

Once I did service for her one day by going over to her house and sanding cupboards on saw horses in her garage in the dead of summer once to humble myself to her. I was dripping sweat and her hubby came out to see what was going on as their garage door was open and I simply arrived and started sanding the cupboard doors. He offered me a drink of water and I almost cried from that Christ-like attitude of his. I consider that one of the nicest things anyone had ever done: offer me a glass of water when I was absolutely parched in that 100° weather that day. I did all I could and left with a great appreciation for her but I still didn't want to be her "friend" because I knew it would cause me greater stress. She tried but I knew my limitations. I don't know much about her life now and I chose not to know. But this week got me to thinking back on this issue and I almost said to hubby the other day: I don't understand how.... and then shut my mouth to the rest of the thought. I'm not that stupid now! ;-)
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One of the most beautiful dining rooms I've ever seen.


A cheery vase of roses and peonies.


I could do without the vines on the top but otherwise I love the chandelier and dining room table and chairs.


This is a custom sink. I've seen some really gorgeous ones lately and will be showing more of what's available besides the standard white ones 99% of homeowners have in their baths and kitchens.


A lovely store in another country. Just makes you want to drop right in and shop around. Love the tin buckets they display.


This is a room designed by Charles Faudree, one of my favorite designers.


Lovely linens. See, you can have unique and easy-to-make cases for your pillows.


With the temperature here in Southern California in the high 90s today, I'm thinking this would be a wonderful drink to have. I'm fixing fettucine alfredo for my son's family tonight. He's cooking some rib-eye steaks to go along with it.


I love this room!! I could live in it. Love the furniture, lamps, rugs and the pillows.


You can tell immediately this is Greece with its white walls and gorgeous blue colors.


Another gorgeous vase of roses.


Little eggs handmade with some gorgeous fabrics and papers by some creative homeowner.


A gorgeous wreath made entirely of roses.


A cute vignette of pretty bottles filled with lotions and surrounded with orchids.


A cute little jar filled with pink marshmallows and a pretty jewel on the front.
~*~

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Donuts and Pastries

Since I'm depriving myself of my favorite things in the world at this time, I thought it would be an appropriate post since I can at least look at them and drool. I truly have not eaten any sweets in about 5-6 weeks now. I'm not really feeling a strong desire as the diet is first and foremost on my mind. 

My favorite things are pastries in the sweets department. I absolutely love coconut cream pie, apple pie, chocolate silk pie, chocolate covered donuts, cinnamon-sugar donuts, coconut donuts, cinnamon buns, pecan buns and glazed donuts. I could live on them, actually. But I'm being noble and good at the moment. I'll see tomorrow how much weight I've lost so far.

When I was pregnant with my daughter many years ago, we lived in Oceanside, California, in a small motel studio apartment for a month. I sat there watching television and walking to the local Von's store for donuts. I'd get a coconut, chocolate, and a cinnamon donut and walk back to the motel and eat them all. Next day, same thing. I was so bored until we finally got our USMC base housing but I've always loved those 3 donuts above all else. The love is still there but I don't indulge very often anymore at my age. ;-) Enjoy the visuals, girls!

Yummmmm......


Double yummmmm....


These look yummy also.


I think coconut ones are my favorite.


I've had cinnamon rolls made by a woman that were so sweet and gooey they actually gave me terrible heartburn and had to stop eating her rolls.


Apple and cherry pastries are high on my list.


The best glazed donuts I've ever eaten at Krispy Kreme, but only the glazed. The others are horrid by my standards and I won't buy them, just the glazed.


Yummmm...


Another yummmm....


I could also go for these in a big way.


And these little cookie bites.


I saw this on Google and thought how moist it looked, kind of caramel looking but I'd sure love to taste it.


The donut shop that did this one sure knows how to top chocolate on it!


These cinnamon rolls look great also


And these little mini-pastries look like they'd be wonderful.
~*~

Thursday, August 22, 2013

A Confession

 Just to remind you again of all the images I've put on my Pinterest. I now have over 11,200 of them, with over 8,000 followers. So you know the images are gorgeous. I can add them faster to Pinterest than show you here. So go there and view them. I know you won't be disappointed. Can you just trust me on this?!
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Okay, confession time and this is very difficult for me to admit.

I've put on more weight than I need over the past 3 years. I've tried to get it off but my heart was not in it. After the fall in the park four years ago with all the physical therapy that entailed and then foot surgery 2 years ago and then some "female" surgery last year, I sank to an all-time low for me. I'd take off a few pounds and put it back on. I won't admit to what the weight was now, but when it's all off I'll divulge it—and maybe some photos if I'm brave enough.

So June 29th I saw my doctor and asked how she had taken off 25 pounds recently. I had seen a sign about a medically-supervised diet in her office. She told me to come in for an introduction to this weight-loss program in a few days after the visit and I did. Hubby and a friend went along.

It is medically-supervised and it's a challenge. It's a high protein diet with drinking/eating their foods three times a day and eating dinner on my own. It's very restrictive and more meat per day than I've ever eaten in my life. Eight ounces is required at dinner. I lost 8.9 pounds the first week, but let me tell you that it wasn't a joy being around me. They told me the first week would be bad. Now, I can't say I was hungry; in fact, I told them there was no way I could eat 8 ounces of meat in one meal and really had a hard time consuming it all in one day. They said to keep it at least 6 ounces and I'm trying, but I have to spread it out over the entire day. So as of 8/16 I've lost 16.5 pounds in those three weeks. The second week wasn't as bad and the third week has been easy. I expect it to be easier as the weight drops off. But it is not cheap, trust me. But my loving hubby of 52 years said it was just fine with him. He is absolutely 100% on my side with whatever I need to do to get healthy. Ooooh, and we are not allowed to exercise as that affects muscle and they don't want the dieters to build up or lose muscle but fat.(Medical study statistics are provided in videos sent to me each day.) I pretty much sit and read, go to lunch with friends every couple of weeks and grocery shopping. That's my life right now. (Oh, I did go to Macy's and treat myself to some fabulous Lancome Absolute makeup and it's incredible. That was my treat for being so diligent.)

The makeup artist said I had beautiful skin. I said, "No, I don't." She argued with me and said we are our own worst critic and I agree with that, but trust me, someone in their seventies doesn't have gorgeous skin. Nice skin, perhaps, but not gorgeous. But that challenged me to appraise my face. It's pretty wrinkle free as you can see from my photo on my sidebar taken in 2009, but there are concerns. So, I'm now doing facial yoga exercises twice a day. I need to tighten up my neck, jawline, a few smile lines and puffy eye bags. Before the diet began I had blue under my eyes the past few years and couldn't figure out what was going on there and no amount of concealer or makeup would correct it. I thought I was doomed! Well, with the vitamin regimen I take every day that blueness has gone away. People tell me my eyes are now different, but the exercises are taking away the puffiness also, and the puffiness wasn't bad really, just a concern for me. This is the large picture from which I took the small sidebar picture and under my eyes there isn't the blue color at that point, plus my eyes are really more an emerald-green color than in this photo (And it's taken me every single year of these 70 years to like the color of my eyes.) :


But that's the long and short of it. I'll be on a diet for awhile and don't even ask how much I have to lose. It will all be revealed in a post in the months to come. And I pray each morning to get through just that day, so prayers are always welcome if you pray. ;-)
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What an adorable tiny office carved out of a corner in a room. I think it's ingenious what the homeowner did here.


A sweet cottage with a curved brick walkway.


A simply gorgeous hydrangea. I'd love for mine to color like this but mine are lavender and blue.


Sitting her now I'm so hungry for a cake I could scream!


This is the most gorgeous wreath I've ever seen.


A to-die-for kitchen. Love the off-white cabinets but I'd paint the walls pink.


I've seen this patio set at K-Mart and would like it but not sure we'd use it much in this desert.


I've always liked banquettes like this. It reminds me of some restaurants we've visited in San Francisco. I think it's very sensuous to eat in one of these. Reminds me of the old 40s nightclubs.


To me, this is the most gorgeous photo every produced for a perfume! Simply magnificent.


Lovin' th' red chair!


Imagine having this nursery for your baby. Just beautiful.


One way to cover your jams for gift giving.


I'm very partial to old tablecloths and I can see a lot of Wilendur cloths in there.


Such a cute way to decorate wall sconces or even chandeliers.


Lovely farmhouse dining room.
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Tidbit:

Some lions mate more than 50 times a day.

Spotted skunks do handstands before they spray.
~*~

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

No Story, Just Photos Today

Truthfully, I don't much feel like telling a story today, just feeling blah from the heat. I already have a post for Thursday and that will explain a bit more. I think you'll be interested in what I have to say and what's going on in my life. :-)

A beautiful setting for a bath.


I'll never not have roses somewhere in my home or my life.


A different kind of bedroom but beautiful.


I absolutely love peonies.


I wear an invisible crown all the time! I am the queen of this house and don't doubt me for a minute. ;-)


A beautifully-made bag.


Posting eye candy and have it be real candy is my favorite thing to do.


Love the canister set.


A delicate butterfly for a handle on a cup.


Do I need to say how much I love this kitchen style? Caaauuuute!


Beautiful table settings always stir my heart.


Another beautiful but simple pillow.


A queen's cupcakes.


To have pink and purple cookies would be my great-granddaughters' wish. Their rooms are purple and pink with a contrasting wall in each one with a mural by their talented father.


Rose-smelling candles. Yummmm!
~*~