September 1, 2009

How about a hilarious video for Tuesday?  If your Monday beat the stuffin’ outta you like mine did, you could use a laugh or twelve today!  I like all of the cute kiddo and crazy cat videos, but after a while they all start to look the same.  This video…not the same.  And that’s a good thing!  Trust me; this may be the best video to hit YouTube in years!  It’s certainly the most creative that I’ve seen!  It’s short so give it a watch…I’ll wait…

Did I exaggerate?  If you know of a better video…please send me the link.  Til then, this rules!  I’m watching it again.

~BigSis

June 26, 2009

Those who know me, know that I don’t ever shut up about sunscreen. And, I talk a lot about skin cancer. But, I do have a good reason. We found out four years ago that SirHoney had melanoma.

He went in to have an area on his temple looked at so I asked him to have the Dr. look at a new spot on his neck. They did biopsy it but the doctor didn’t seem to be too concerned.

We received the phone call from the dermatologists’ office on the Friday after Thanksgiving, which also happened to be the day of Meems’ wedding. SirHoney didn’t answer the phone. I think he knew that it was bad news if the office was calling on a holiday. He went in for surgery immediately after we got back in town.

It was the scariest thing that has happened to us in 18 years of marriage.  After chest x-rays, a PET scan, and a visit to the oncologist, we were told that it had not spread to any other part of his body. Now, he just sees his dermatologist once every six months for a full body check up.

He’s also had six or seven surgeries to remove basal cell skin cancer. Basal cell can be VERY invasive and can leave some pretty intense scars, but it doesn’t metastasize to other organs.

Melanoma does metastasize and if not caught early, it is extremely hard to treat and can be fatal.

Studies show that most common signs of melanoma are in the ABCDE rule. And the ABCDE rule is as follows:

• Asymmetrical – this refers to the shape; if one half of the mole does not match the other half in size, shape, color, or thickness;
• Borders – it may be ragged or otherwise irregular; the edges are scalloped, blurred, or poorly defined;
• Color – it may be uneven, with shades of black and brown; the color of the mole is not the same throughout or it has shades of tan, brown, black, red, white, or blue;
• Diameter – it may change in size; melanomas are usually greater than 6mm in diameter, but they can be smaller; if the diameter of a mole is larger than the eraser of a pencil
• Elevation – a portion of the mole appears elevated, or raised from the skin.

These few rules can be very helpful in determining the difference between just a regular freckle or mole and a possible melanoma.

A few weeks ago when we went to the desert for a Father/Son golf tournament, my friend and I hung out by the pool while the guys golfed. I noticed a mole on my friend’s back that I thought looked a little suspicious so I asked her if she had ever had it looked at. She said no. She didn’t seem very concerned and I didn’t want to be overly pushy but I did tell her that it looked very similar to the one SirHoney had on his neck and asked her to please get it checked. She went the dermatologist the following week and they did biopsy it. She since found out that it was melanoma. Luckily, it was in a very early stage and she will be fine.

SirHoney has a family history of melanoma but we didn’t know it. If your mother, father, siblings, or children (first-degree relatives) have had a melanoma, you are part of a melanoma-prone family. Each person with a first-degree relative diagnosed with melanoma has a 50 percent greater chance of developing the disease than members of the general public who do not have a family history of the disease.

My friend didn’t have anyone in her family that has had the disease.  I know it’s very controversial, but her doctor did tell her that she probably got the skin cancer from years of using the tanning beds. She was told to stop going to the tanning salon and to start using a good sunscreen.

I’m bringing this up because now that it’s Summer, more people will be out in the sun that aren’t normally exposed.  We’re in the sun just about every day for some period of time. When we lived in Texas, I would use sunscreen if out by the pool for the day but now that we live in California, we use sunscreen every single day! Every. Single. Day.

SirHoney still hates the fact that he has to cover himself in sunscreen, especially when golfing. We have done a lot of experimenting with different sunscreens to find one that doesn’t run and get into his eyes when he sweats. We’ve found the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch with 70 SPF to be the very best.

It goes on easily and doesn’t leave any unwanted residue. Even though this one doesn’t state that it is specifically ’sweatproof’, it doesn’t run and sting his eyes. I’ve started using this one myself.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch 70 SPF

Now that we know SirHoney’s family is melanoma-prone, I’m very adamant about making sure that HayHay uses sunscreen every day. And I’m always on the lookout for a good long lasting sunscreen for him to use when he surfs.  Right now, on his face, he’s using the  Neutrogena Sport Face. It also doesn’t leave a residue and seems to stay on longer than some of the others.

Neutrogena Sport Face 70 SPF

I don’t have the same skin type as the guys so I don’t always use a 70 SPF. I’ll use the 70 SPF on my face, but my absolute favorite is the Neutrogena Cooling Mist SPF 45 . This spray is not only refreshing, but it stays on for several hours, even at the beach. I always have a can of this with me.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist 45 SPF

Can you tell we like Neutrogena?  I don’t care for the smell of Coppertone for some reason, but HayHay does like this Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray. So, since he likes it, I still buy this one for him. He sprays this one all over his body before surfing and it does seem to work well.

Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray 50 SPF

There’s one more spray that I really like because I LOVE the smell of Hawaiian Tropic. It reminds me of being out by the pool with friends as a teenager. Of course, we used the original brown label oil, but I was so happy when I found this Hawaiian Tropic Dry Tanning Oil Spray.

Since this is only a 12 SPF, I only use it on my legs and do reapply more often than I would if it were a higher SPF. I just can’t resist the scent. I can close my eyes and pretend that I’m in Hawaii!

Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Dry Oil 12 SPF

We’ve tested a lot of sunscreens over the past several years and have found these to work the best.

Lastly, please find out if you have a family history of melanoma. Use sunscreen and visit your dermatologist every year. It could save your life.

~LilSis

June 1, 2009

I would like to thank my long time, great friend, E, again for giving me this wonderful book for my birthday. I probably would not have read it otherwise!

(BigSis and I read this book at the same time and finished about the same time, but we decided to write about our individual opinions separately without discussing it or reading the others post. So, hopefully this isn’t too redundant.)

"The Shack" by William Paul Young

I really loved this book!  I’ve already ordered several copies to give to friends and family. It’s one of those books that you really want to share. I can’t pass on my copy yet, though, because I’ve already started it again. This time, I’ll force myself to read slower. I’ve heard some people say that they get even more out of it the second time around.

When sharing this book with others, the author specifically requests that you not discuss the plot. E didn’t tell me anything about the book. She just told me how much she loved it. She’s also rereading it and is participating in a Study Group.

It would change your experience of reading this book if someone blabbed anything about the plot or the ending.  If interested, you can read more about the author on theshackbook.com and even get a sneak peak at Chapter One if you’d like.  I don’t think that there is anything on the site that takes you further into the story, but you wouldn’t want to go the Forums, as they would definitely be discussing the plot.

In my opinion, this is a “must read” for anyone who has been trying to deal with grief, guilt, pain, or issues with forgiveness.  And, even if you’re not dealing with any of those issues, this is a great read and it just might make you see things in a different light.

~LilSis

May 31, 2009

I’m so glad that LilSis mentioned that she was reading “The Shack” in her last “What the L”.  Where have I been?  I hadn’t heard one peep about this book, but now I know that everybody is reading it.  Some churches are reading it as a congregation and are doing studies along with it, much like they did when “The Purpose Driven Life” came out.

Back to “The Shack” though.  After LilSis mentioned it, I saw it at Sam’s Club that night and read the comments on the back cover.  They sold me on the book:

• Wynnona Judd said “Reading The Shack during a very difficult transition in my life, this story has blown the door wide open to my soul.”

• Michael W. Smith said “The Shack is the most absorbing work of fiction I’ve read in many years.  My wife and I laughed, cried, and repented of our own lack of faith along the way.  The Shack will leave you craving for the presence of God.”

• Mike Morrell said “This story reads like a prayer – like the best kind of prayer, filled with sweat and wonder and transparency and surprise. If you read one work of fiction this year, let this be it.”

There isn’t much else I can add to that; those endorsements are not overstatements.  The comments got the book into my hands, but from then on the book worked its way into my head and my heart.

I won’t give away one smidgen of this story.  I was fortunate to know nothing about this book when I read it, and I want you to have that same advantage.  If you know what to expect or what’s coming next, your experience will be lessened, and this is truly a glorious experience that you should have without expectation.

All I want to say is READ THIS BOOK.  Read it slowly, read it thoughtfully, and then read it again.  What’s it about?  It’s about rage and unforgiveness and grief, and getting unstuck from those dark places that consume your life.  It’s about forgiveness and love.  It’s about joy, and food, and special fondness.  Just read it.  If you don’t feel forever changed, let me know.  I’ll eat a bug.  A big juicy crunchy bug.

Oh, and one note in case you wondered.  LilSis and I are NOT being paid to review this book – or any other item on this blog for that matter – but I want to make it absolutely clear because this book is so important.  Please read it.

~BigSis

February 12, 2009

Some people think Valentine’s Day was dreamed up by Hallmark or Russell Stover.  That’s a pretty cynical view though, don’t you think?  Most people do think Valentine’s Day is just for people who currently have a sweetheart, but I don’t buy that either.  I don’t have a Valentine this year, but it’s ok, really.  Don’t cry for me.  For me, Valentine’s Day is a genuine, validated, honest-to-goodness reason to celebrate my favorite color…pink!   It’s a beautiful thing.  Let me count the ways I love pink pink and more pink!

• Pink - in some shade – looks good on everyone, whether it’s clothes or makeup.
• Pink goes with every other color.  Think about it. Pink with neutrals: brown, gray, black, white.  Pink with brights like orange and yellow sends you off on a crazy fun 60s trip.  Pink with green is fresh, pink with blue is sweet, and pink with red is beyond fun and cheerful.  What have we missed?  Pink with purple?  With aqua?  It all goes together.  Can you say that about any color?  I think not!  Pink rules!
• Pink works in unexpected ways in decor.  It doesn’t have to be Barbie or Strawberry Shortcake.  It can be a subtle accent shade, or it can be a strong punch of unexpected color.  How brave are you?  I’m pretty brave…the condo I lived in for 10 years had pink living room walls.  I mean pink!  Ralph Lauren Duchesse Satin metallic luminescent pink walls!  Sadly, they discontinued this paint, so I can never recreate that room that I loved.
• Pink’s music is a great choice for your iPod cardio playlist!

Pink being Pink!

• Pink food is almost always delicious!  Think about strawberry ice cream, raspberry mousse, pink lemonade, cranberry applesauce, that strawberry jello cake we used to make, vodka pasta sauce, and salsa cream cheese dip.  Oh, and then there’s the goat cheese roasted beet tortellini at Stephen Pyles in downtown Dallas.  Can you think of any yukky pink food?
• Pink is an awesome happy color in kitchen appliances.  Case in point, my pink Kitchenaid beauties!
• Pink is the universal favorite color of 90% of all little girls under the age of 10.  Want to make a friend with a little girl?  Admire her pink Dora the Explorer sandals!
• Pink is a gorgeous color in nature…roses, azaleas, fuschia, tulips, hydrangea, you name it.  And sunsets!
• Pink is so fabulous that it can be a project!  Check out JeongMee Yoon’s Pink Project!

So much perfect pink!

The next time you think about Valentine’s Day, remember it isn’t just about candy and jewelery and a dozen roses…it’s an excuse to celebrate the pinkness!

~BigSis

February 6, 2009

I’m not a big TV watcher.  It’s not because my social calendar is too booked, or because I have very trendy cool moral/social objections to it that make me very righteous.  I just don’t have any ding dang time to watch television.  And I do have to admit that I don’t like most of what airs, except for the occasional episode of American Idol and Top Chef.

But I do have one TV obsession that I will totally fess up to.  One show that I do not EVER miss NOT EVER NOT EVER, and that is “Lost”!  I’ve been a fan since episode one, and this show has kept me hanging on through delays and the writer’s strike and indefinite season postponements.  I’m addicted to the beautiful Hawaiian scenery, the quirky plot twists and the wonderfully odd characters.  And, one more confession…I have a little bad boy crush on Sawyer.  Admit it…you do too.  ;-D  We know we should like Jack, but we do love us some Sawyer!

Bad Boy Con-Man Sawyer

We’ve had 3 episodes in this season so far, and we’ve had some questions answered.  Miracles of all miracles!  Can you believe it?    But I still have more questions, always more questions.

• How are these folks getting back to the island?
• Can Ben go back?  Would he be the leader again?
• How are they going to convince Sun to go back and leave her baby?
• Is Claire’s mom *really* as innocent as she seems?
• Was there anything funnier than when cry baby Neal got shot with that flaming arrow?
• Is Daniel Faraday less the benevolent, bumbling scientist, and more of a villain?
• Is John Locke really dead?
• Is there something menacing or weird about baby Aaron?
• Could Sayid’s hair possibly be any greasier?  Does he have a secret stash of hair gel that we don’t know about?
• Would anyone care if Charlotte, Juliet and Miles all died from this brain displacement malady?
• What would have happened if Sawyer spoke to Kate when he saw her in the past delivering Aaron?
• What would happen if one of the characters ran across themselves in a time travel episode?
• Is Penny going to die at Ben’s hand as he promised?
• Why does Charles Widmore feel Ben stole his island from him?  Did he think he was the “heir to the throne” when Ben came along, perhaps?
• Why does Richard wear so much eyeliner?  Does it have something to do with his agelessness?  If he doesn’t age, why did he have to wear reading glasses to remove the bullet from Locke’s leg?

If you think you know any of these answers, please share them with me!  Only 5 more days til the next episode!  Not that I’m counting.  I do have a life you know.

~BigSis

November 7, 2008

Call me a dork if you want to, or Susie Homemaker, or a Martha Stewart wanna-be, but I LOVE finding a new household product that works wonders!  It makes me happy happy happy.  So in this edition of Friday Favorites, I unabashedly present my favorite household items!  But be careful, if you try them, you just might find yourself in my dorky shoes!

Clorox GreenWorks All Purpose Cleaner

• Clorox GreenWorks All Purpose Cleaner.  It has a fabulous fresh scent thanks to the lemon essential oil, and on top of that, it works!  Before I thought of trying it, I read about the bathroom cleaner in the GreenWorks product line in the August/September issue of ShopSmart Magazine (you already knew I had a bad case of magazine mania, and I love this one!).  ShopSmart said that Clorox GreenWorks Bathroom Cleaner worked as well as others, but didn’t cost more.  I figured the All Purpose Cleaner was a safe bet, and I wasn’t disappointed.  It even does a great job of cleaning my granite countertops, and leaves a nice shine on them.

Caldrea Citrus Mint Ylang Ylang Dish Soap Liquid

• Caldrea Citrus Mint Ylang Ylang Dish Soap Liquid.  The scent of this is heavenly, and makes doing dishes MUCH more pleasant!  I also love the countertop cleaner (great on the granite), the window spray, the home fragrance spray, and the powdered scrub in this scent.  Imagine essential oils of orange, lemon, bergamot, mint and ylang ylang, all blended together!

Simple Human Stainless Steel Trash Can

• Simple Human Stainless Steel Trash Can.  I don’t like for my trash can to be in the pantry with food in case it gets stinky; just one of my many little quirks.  So that means my trash can has to be out in the open, and that means it has to be pretty!  I think this can is very beautiful, plus it doesn’t absorb any odors, and it holds a good amount of stuff.  It’s spendy, but you’re not going to need to replace it for a long, long time!  Maybe never!

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.  Several years ago, I had some nasty tile grout at my old condo, and was racking my brain to try to figure out how to clean it.  I knew that LilSis had someone clean the grout at her house in Texas, and it cost a fortune (pre-Magic Erasers), plus they had to use some kind of caustic product.  I was hoping to avoid that kind of expense and chemical experience.  The Mr. Clean Magic Erasers had just come out, and for some reason, I tried them on a bit of grout, and viola!  It worked like a dream!  Better than a dream!  I emailed everyone I knew to tell them of this miraculous discovery.  Now, in this condo years later, I’m still using this product to clean tile grout, and it’s still the best product on the market for the job, and lots of others.

~BigSis

November 7, 2008

Sea World San Diego is a fantastic place to visit for anyone coming to this area. On their last visit here; we took the little guys, and BigGuy to Sea World.  We took lots of great pictures of the little guys.

This happens to be one of my favorites! They were amazed by these fascinating beluga whales!

They are totally in awe of the Beluga Whales!

Here they are petting the Manta Rays.  LittleGuy#2 had no fear at all until one of them popped out of the water and looked him straight in the eye! He had the entire crowd in laughter when he shouted at the top of his lungs; “Did you see those eyes?”

Nice Manta Ray!

We all had a great time at Sea World.  Maybe on the little guys’ next visit here, we will take them to the San Diego Zoo.

~LilSis

October 10, 2008

Here is a short list of Favorites that lets you know just a little more about each of us.  We won’t get into our favorite products here because we’ll be talking about those a lot in later posts.  Get us talking about MAC eyeshadows, nail polish, and the latest eye cream and we could go on forever.  Seriously.

Favorite time of day?

LilSis: Mornings

BigSis: Mornings

Favorite pastime?

LilSis: Working in my ceramic studio, working on my yoga practice, reading, riding my bike.  It’s too hard to choose just one.

BigSis: Baking, walking, crafting, yoga-ing, visiting estate sales.

Favorite place to relax?

LilSis: The beach, the yoga studio, or in the backyard by the pool.

BigSis: The beach, but since I’m a jillion miles away from one, the pool has to do.

Favorite vacation?

LilSis: Maui

BigSis: Maui Maui Maui!  And in my dreams – Italy and Greece!

Favorite flower?

LilSis: Special japanese white lily, stargazer lilies, yellow roses, bird of paradise, hybiscus, hydrangas.  I can’t choose just one.

BigSis: Hydrangea, roses and kaleidoscope orchids…they’re about the only ones I’m not allergic to.  Good thing I love them.

Favorite game?

LilSis: Bowling on Wii (I hold the household record of 289!). Second place goes to RockBand on Wii. I used to love playing Sims on the PC, but there’s no time for that these days. I could play that for hours!

BigSis: The Wii is pretty darn fun, but I don’t have one.  I have to admit that my secret guilty pleasure for the last 8 years or so is playing Diablo on the PC, and even though I don’t have time to do it much any more, it’s still my favorite.

Favorite magazine?

LilSis: At present, it’s a tie between Body+Soul and Fit Yoga.

BigSis: Although I subscribe to “Bon Appetit” and “Domino”, rIght now, I’m liking “More”.  The content just seems more relevant and accessible, rather than presenting airbrushed and photoshopped model twigs that don’t even look like that themselves.

Favorite Dessert?

LilSis: I don’t eat dessert.

BigSis: I’m not a big sweet eater, but when confronted by a brownie or cheesecake, I WILL have to have a bite!

Favorite fast food place?

LilSis: Taco Bell or Wendy’s

BigSis: Schlotsky’s!

Favorite restaurant?

LilSis: Locally, it’s Vigilluccis on Coast Highway in Carlsbad. In Texas, it would have to be Anamia’s in Southlake or Abuelo’s in North Richland Hills.

BigSis: Mia’s on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas for Mexican, Patrizio’s or Taverna for Italian.

Favorite drink (non-alcoholic)?

LilSis: Diet Rock Star first thing in the morning.  Then I switch to “Smart Water” for the rest of the day.

BigSis: Water

Favorite drink (alcoholic)?

LilSis: Kettle One & Fresca

BigSis: Heineken Light

Favorite television show?

LilSis: If I have the television on while I’m home alone, it’s always on Food Network. I did get hooked on “Hells Kitchen” when it was on.

BigSis: Lost!  And Project Runway and Top Chef!

Favorite movie?

LilSis: I’m a sap for anything that has a happy ending.

BigSis: Lord of the Rings (first one) or Forrest Gump?  Big, Steel Magnolias, Dirty Dancing, Rocky #1?  It’s hard to say!

October 7, 2008

With all that has happened in the last 18 months, I had to take a temporary “hiatus” from my ceramics/sculpting class. It has not been good for me, either. If I go too long without making time for doing something that allows me to be creative, I become really unsettled, irritable and physically in knots. I really think that everyone needs some outlet to release that “creative energy”.

I’m consciously working on trying not to let worry, anxiety or negative thoughts adversely effect my everyday happiness. It still seems like the only time that I am truly free from worry and thoughts are when I’m doing something that allows me to be creative. When I painted HayHays room this summer, it was actually one of the first creative outlets that I’ve had in months. Even though I was under a lot of pressure to get it done quickly, I still got into that “zone” and it felt good to do something creative again.

So, I decided that when HayHay went back to school; I was starting my weekly sculpting classes again. And I did! I’ve actually been back for five weeks and I already feel better. This box is just a little project that I’m working on today in class. This hasn’t been fired or glazed yet, so maybe next week, I’ll take some photos of the next stage. I’m just playing around trying to “get my juices flowing”

Ceramic Box

Detail on Lid

This is a box that I made a few years ago, similar to the one I’m working on now. I made it to use as an urn for our Chocolate lab, Brownie.

Brownie's Urn

Closeup of Lid

For a long time now, I’ve wanted to start on a series of garden art. I’m interested in an entire “fantasy-like, mystical” theme. I love the artist, Josephine Wall.  She has inspired several of my pieces. Since the holiday season will be approaching soon and things will just get busier than they are already, I’m going to play around with some smaller projects and get my creative juices flowing for now, and then after the first of the year, I want to really focus on a series of outdoor garden sculptures.

~LilSis