"Toss The Gloss" by Andrea Robinson

I recently received a copy of  "Toss the Gloss" book, I got it from my local library (I had to inter-library lone it - my cost $2.00). It is geared towards the women over 50. I am hoping it is a true book geared for women over 50 and not just another book pushing products.
I think there is such a huge market out there for the older women who still wants to look & feel great about herself but doesn't have big bucks to spend that no company has jumped on yet! Why not? There are so many baby boomer women who are now at that age, there has to be a market for it. For example, I was looking the other day for shampoo & conditioner geared for the older gal (our hair is dry and thinning and losing it's luster), I could not find any. Of course I am looking on the Target isles for the product, but I think that is where it should be. Don't you? I mean how many women can pay big cash for shampoo????? I'm hoping this book will help me with my search. I'll let you know what I think of the book as I go along.

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

Who Said Being A Grandparent Is Easy!

Okay, the happy dance I did after receiving the phone call about my getting the job didn't last long! I had been babysitting my granddaughter when I got the call at my son's house, I have been watching her up to three times a week. They were giving me gas money which was fine with me (otherwise I couldn't afford to come down to watch the baby). Well when my son got home and I told him my exciting news, he got upset! This throws a monkey wrench into there working plans, my daughter-in-law just got a promotion which does seem to have her working more mornings. He said to me "Now we have to put her (meaning my granddaughter) into daycare"! Making me feel terrible! All of the excitement of getting the job left my body. He was acting like I was their paid babysitter or something, not that I was doing them a favor each time I watched her. I guess grandparents must face this all the time, when their grown children rely on them for babysitting duties. I understand this is a tough situation for them, but they have to look at it from my view, We have no money coming in - HELLO! I think that trumps their problems. He kept saying while I was there "Let me know if you see any daycare centers on your way home". I felt totally drained after leaving there. I also felt so sad that he is making it seem like I am picking a JOB over my granddaughter! It's been hard to even talk about the job since it has been tainted. Since I don't start the job till Monday, they want me to babysit tomorrow for a few hours...... I'm going, but I sure hope I don't get an earful from my son again.
Who said being a grandparent is easy!

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!

I got a call today from the gal at the job I interviewed for, and I got the job!!!!!!
When the phone rang I jumped up and ran for the phone in hopes that it was her and it was. I held my breath while she talked until she said I could start Monday - Hell Yea!
I did a happy dance after I got off the phone...... I am so excited.
Thank you for your prayers, I am sure they helped.

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

No news yet about the job..... I'm getting kinda worried. I would think both the drug test and background check should be back by now. You know the saying "A watched kettle never boils" well that's what I have been doing with the telephone. I keep thinking I missed their call or they e-mailed me and I deleted it by mistake. So I decided to call them (maybe not a great idea but I did it anyway). I left a message asking if I needed to pick up the results of the drug test from the lab or do they send it right over to them (I really am not sure how all this stuff works). I hope they give me a call tomorrow so I know if I am still in the running for this job or they are waiting on someone else's test results.

On the weight loss journey - Doing horribly!!!!! I am stressed and I just can't stop eating! I had inhaled two boxes of $3.99 Weight Watcher ice cream bars before I even realized it. I feel heavy, my stomach is sticking out and my hips are getting thick again (so much so I am down to just two pairs of jeans that fit). I weighed in this morning and am still 135lbs. BUT when looking at the pictures my daughter took of my husband and I yesterday for our anniversary I can see a HUGE difference in my appearance!

On the up side I have now eaten all of the ice cream bars (Yikes!), I still have some of the chocolate chips left (another big problem area for me). I pray I have the strength to get myself back on the band wagon. I started the day off great today - I got up early 7:30ish, ate 2 eggs & my Morning Star Farms bacon. I mopped the floor in the kitchen, but then I started on the ice cream bars and that lead to my down fall...... Tomorrow is another day : )

Do you see the cool jacket I am wearing in these pictures above and below? I got it at my favorite resale shop for $12.50! I had my eye on it every time I went in. but it had been $25.00 (too much for my budget). We happened to go in and they had all the jackets 1/2 off, and I snatched her up. When I loose a few pounds I think she will look better on me but I love it.

 

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

Hair Styles That Make You Look Younger

Do you kick yourself in the butt ever time you come out of the hair dresser? That's me!
I go in with such ideas and come out hating the cut they give me. It happened today again!
For my anniversary I wanted to spiff up my look and feel pretty. Now granted I go to the cheap places that cut hair and I guess you get what you pay for..... this place today charges $15 dollars. The gal started off on the right foot by saying that I don't look old enough to be married 30 years. I told her I wanted a cut like Farrah Fawcett (at least this gal knew who she was). I also wanted bangs to help hide the lines on my forehead. The bangs part she got right other than that HELL NO! She cut layers that are way too short, it made my thinning hair look even worse. Even my husband said it looks a little flat, needs some poof - Dam!

Now I know hair grows back and I hate to be a complainer but DAM my hair looked better before!

30th Wedding Anniversary!!!!

My husband and I have been married for 30 years!!!!! Oh to be that young again.....

Getting Back Into The Working World Cont'd - Drug Testing

As I have posted I have found a great job for me, I just have to hope and pray they think so!
The gal mentioned that a background check & drug test are required for the job - No problem on either front for me (I have never been arrested for anything, I have had only one ticket in my entire life and that was for an over due registration sticker - As far as drugs go, I have never used any illegal drugs ever).
All I had to do for the background check was to sign some papers and give them my driver license number, the gal said it would take roughly two days for them to get the results for that.
The drug testing was a bit more detailed - The gal gave me a paper to take to a lab who does the testing. Looking back now I should have drove right to the lab asap as soon as I left the interview but I didn't. I wanted to map quest the directions and find out exactly where is was located. I got the directions and made plans to go the next day (the interview was on Tues.), Well wouldn't you know it I got there at 2:40 and they closed for the day at 2:30 (I never thought to check the times they were open just thinking it would be 4:30 or 5pm). So now I had to wait another day! I went on Thurs. morning at 8:30am. it was pretty busy in there for being so early in the morning. I was amazed at the lengths that are taken to make sure you are not trying to cheat the drug test. You have to lock up your pocketbook in a safe (of course mine didn't fit so I had to toss it into my car). They tape down the toilet tank lid, put dye in the toilet. Once you give them the sample you have to sign the vile to verify it is yours. I was amazed all that went into the drug testing process. The gal said they should have the results by Friday or the weekend. I was glad I had got it done and just hoped that the job people didn't think I was trying to hide something by taking so long to take the test.
I got a call later that day on Thurs. from the job people asking me if I had planned on taking the test - Yikes! I called them back asap and explained that I had taken the test and I was still very much interested in getting the job. I heard nothing more from them on Friday so I guess the drug test results were not ready yet. I am praying I hear back from them tomorrow (Monday) with good news that they want me. Please if you could say a prayer that I get this job.
I'll keep you up-dated.

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

My Baby is 20 Years Old Today!!!!

How is it possible that my baby is now 20 years old!!!!!!
It seems like just yesterday she was this wild little thing running around.
I love her to pieces and pray that all her hopes and dreams for the future come true for her!!!

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

Working Outside The Home After Being A Stay AT Home Mom

I went on my first job interview in over 25 years........ Holy Cow!
I wasn't nervous at all because I would be perfect for this job, I just needed to convince them of it : )
I got there exactly on time, wearing jeans, a nice top & sneakers (I would be cleaning an office & taking care of rescue cats needs - So I felt wearing the correct clothes to do that job would be best).
I am very outgoing by nature so I never have problems talking to ANYONE about any subject but one of the subjects I love is animals so I hope the gal picked up on that.
She handed me the paper work I needed to fill out and I looked at it and thought to myself this might be a problem. Since I do not have any resume she wanted me to list the last time I worked outside of the home...... I told her my son is 25 years old so say about 1986. She stopped in her tracks and just stared at me. I felt my heart dropping that this might really be a big problem for her. She said to just list a couple of non family members who could be my references which I picked my neighbor down the street who I watched her cat & bird for over a month when she went on vacation and a gal who I took care of her horses when she went away.
The gal went over all of the duties I would need to do and asked me to lift one of those heavy 5 gallon water jugs (which I was able to do - thank goodness).
She then told me that a background check & drug test are required, I told her no problem there on either one. She gave me the forms to take for the drug test (which I am hoping is a good sign, at least she didn't just x me off).
I left feeling very unsure if I will get the job but I am praying I do!
I should know if a couple of days or so......
Keep your fingers crossed for me & of course any prayers you can send my way will be helpful : )

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

I Have a Job Interview!!!!!

Okay, This is Big!!!!
I have a job interview tomorrow, it is the first time I have gone on a interview for a job in well over 25 years!!!!! The last job I had outside of the home was back in 1986!!!! I don't want to jinx it or anything but this job would be perfect for me. I am just going to be myself and hope for the best.
I think this may be the answer to my prayers!

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

Weight Loss

I  had to laugh at myself today.
Right after I ate a couple of huge handfuls of chocolate chips I told myself it was time to get back on the weight loss bandwagon. Of course I was still feeling the sugar rush and felt sure I was ready to tackle the weight problem again..... But you know the minute the sugar rush wears off I am looking for a fix again. I have read a TON of books on how addictive sugar is and I still fall into its trap! I HATE myself when I turn to sugar to fix my problems, it is a quick fix that just comes back to haunt you. I have been here before so many times and I KNOW how much better I feel when I am not addicted to sugar. Last summer I would go to the fridge and grab out cherry tomatoes as a snack and they would taste so sweet to me but once your back onto sugar nothing tastes as good a things sweetened with sugar.
I am reading "Eat To Live" by Joel Fuhrman, As I have said I have read a ton of books on the subject and am always looking to read and learn more info. I'll let you know what I think of this book when I get into it more.
I weighed myself this morning and I am at about 136 pounds now and gaining every day it seems. I was so nervous about my daughters doctors appointment I was tossing down the chocolate chips left and right. Her blood work all came back just great! So now I need to stop worrying about that and pull the boot straps back up and get the weight off AGAIN.
My daughter has mentioned she would like to get walking again like we used to I am hoping to start that this week. I also have an almost whole bag of chocolate chips staring at me every time I open the fridge door that I need to hide from myself : )
I find it so strange how as humans we can know something (like how good you feel when you eat right and are at a good weight) but we still do things to ruin it for ourselves. Why do we do that?????? I swore when I had lost the weight and felt the best I have ever felt that I would NEVER let myself get back to my old self again!!!!!
Need to pull up the boot straps and get back on the bandwagon!!!!!

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

Too Much Information......

Okay this is going to be too much info......
Pre-menopause or menopause which ever I am experiencing is knocking my socks off.
Just when I think my period was over, Bam it comes back.
I am seeing so many changes to me now it really is a reality that I am getting old : (
My hair is so dry and life-less looking, and I'm thinking it is thinning also.
That's not all, my skin is sooooo wrinkly looking. I guess it is dry skin. The skin under my neck is horrible looking! I think they call it a turkey neck, but it sure ages me.
I am hoping when I can get some cash together and can buy some moisturizer it might help.
If you have any products that you have tried that helps with dry wrinkly skin please share with me!
Anyway, back to my period it is so heavy that it scared me today. I was afraid I might be hemorrhaging or something like that. I even told my daughter about it just incase I passed out. Nobody tells you things about getting older and all of its pit falls.
I am gaining weight also, I am up to 136lbs. All the weight is sitting in my stomach and upper thighs. As I have said I am a stress eater and this week has been a dozy. My daughter went to the doctors ( she qualifies for Medicaid now that my husband has run out of unemployment) to have her throat checked out. She says it feels like there is a bump on the inside of her throat (which of course scares the stuffing out of me). The doctor checked her over and says he thinks it is due to allergies. He gave her a medication to take for a few weeks to see if it clears it up if not she will have to see a specialist and have a scope put down her throat (YIKES!). The took some blood from her (It was her first time having that done and she was a real trooper). We go back on Wed. to get the results from the blood work and she is having a complete physical done. Please pray with me that all goes well!
You can see that things here are at an all time stressful high!!!!
I am going to have my husband buy a power ball ticket and hope for the best : )

Until Next Time - God Bless!!

Perks of Being a Grandma!

Okay nobody tells you one of the best perks of getting older is being a Grandma! I am amazed at how wonderful it is! When you see a smile on their face is just warms you like nothing else. I love how I can hold and kiss her to my hearts content without any of the stress I felt when I was a parent. Couldn't you kick yourself now looking back at how worried you were about EVERTHING? I mean did it really matter when they were potty trained, when they started to walk or talk? It happens when it happens and every baby is different. I walk into my sons house and by pass my son & daughter-in-law and bee line right over to my little honey and just scoop her up into my arms. I know to well how quickly they grow up! Looking back at everything now I wish I would have had a few more babies along the way. I thought I was good with two but now I know what a blessing from God they are and how truly wonderful it is to bless your life with a child. My daughter will be turning "20" in 16 days!!!!!! I feel very sad about that to tell you the truth.

I know it is the changing of the seasons of our lives when out children grow up and move on with their own lives and we have to just sit back and let them see what dreams life has to offer them. I'm tearing up now so I better leave off here.

Until Next Time - God Bless!!