Taking Time , really participating in the moment .. Even in the Big City.

I often find that we, as busy people with busy lives, sometimes forget to take a minute. To just really be present in the life of someone else, or even in our own movements throughout the day. I know that I am guilty of this. I know my dearest friends, are guilty of this.

Take for example, what I said yesturday about stopping and watching and finding something beautiful.I am happy to hear a couple of you have done this ..  a young man dancing to his own beat crossing danforth., a man connecting with his dog on their walk..  these moments made you smile.   It is in these times when we let  all those things zooming around in our heads, worries and fears just disapear. Be present in the exact moment, at that exact time. For me this has always been a moment I later treasure, because it has allowed me to connect - even remotely with the world around me, instead of just zooming through it.

Walking the streets in Paris, New York , London, Dublin or Toronto - have given me such beautiful moments like these -- so I will share some of my "moments" in time with you :

1. Paris - sitting on my julliet balcony,(eating a delicious bagette - ripping it with your teeth is such fun! and drinking a heavenly coffee -delivered to our room)  watching the woman accross Haussman Ave water her beautiful flowers - every morning our stay there.
2. Overwhelmed with the size and  beauty of New York - and looking up to see a building that has trees growing at around the 15th floor outside. Better yet, being on the Empire State building observation deck and seeing the roof top gardens that cover New York - a hidden treasure for the eyes of birds.
3. Dublin - beauty everywhere , but walking along the side streets just off of Grafton Street and seeing of all things a Guinness delivery being made to a pub - it could not have been more "Irish" of a moment. ( this made me laugh out loud aim my camera and shoot - it is in my to be" framed " pile right now)
4. London - going into Harrods Food Hall - and seeing all the beautiful treats of chocolate made into so many different art pieces. - Even if you do not eat them - please please - go and look the art created by these pastry chef's and chocolatiers are stunning!
5. Walking the streets in Mexico and seeing the most beautiful and huge white cat with one blue and one green eye, chase a little child across the street.

I could go on and on about these snap shots in my mind - and often in my photo albums now. I am blessed with a photographic memory - I take my own snapshots and file them away.

Can you tell I am a city girl? I love Citys - no matter how cold you may believe ours to be - there is always warmth to be found if you just stop and take a look.

Live, Love, Laugh .. EXPLORE

The Purse Junkie no more

In this big, bold beautiful City - this crazy busy station is stunning to look at - even when it is filled to the rafters with people! - Liverpool Station ( they also make the best meat pies in a little shop just underneath the Marks and Spencer "to go" shop)

Tell me ... where have you found beauty in other places in the world..

feeling the snow in the air ???? I am !

Have you ever smelled snow in the air? Felt the cold fall mist - not the wet mist of spring, but the tingly cold mist when the winter air arrives? Today I had a moment like that when I walked back from my lunch break - where I bought candy for apparently every child who ever comes in contact with my child! ( Daycare - yup, School - yup, Work kids -yup!)

You will have noticed by now that I really like to observe and share the things around me - so todays message to all of you - take 5 minutes - now even, and go have a tea, latte or coffee - stand on the corner by your work and watch , the busses, the trees the people, the children whatever.. I PROMISE you, you will see something beautiful. It could be a moment, it could be a person, it could be a colour.. but I promise you it will be there. Home sick - go look in the mirror .

LIVE love laugh and GIVE

The purse junkie no more

PS had a moment of weakness today -- almost bought a bag. Clearer heads prevailed!

Good Morning --- the Little lady wants to go to the beach

Hello friends,
I hope you are all having a very good start to your week. I am crazy busy this week with training and traveling to the East end everyday.. which means less time to Blog. The hubby and the little lady went swimming last night, and this resulted is a request for the summer to come back so we could go to the beach. I love the way she thinks.

Since Paris looks like a dream again at this point, maybe a florida adventure would be fun, my goodness it has been like 15 years since I was in Florida. Breakfast with Belle and Ariel, I can enjoy the thought of being a princess myself for a week or two.. anyone know a great place to get deals during prime season?

 I have consideedr specific requests for bags.. such as the lady in Sudbury who is looking for a black bag or tote - I will give to darling friend in Sudbury this weekend - and you donate the hearing aids and glasses ( a big thank you)

After much thought, I may by the end of the week have the time to take pictures of the remaining bags I am willing to part with and have a first come first serve give away - of course you will need to do something for someone else to get the bag.. but then it will be official I am a purse junkie no more!

The purse junkie no more

 I must have hit a spot in my bag collection that you guys do not find interesting! Ah well, they can head off to dress for success. I think that if the next bag I post does not generate interest, I may in fact bundle them up and give them all away at once to charity. My focus is begining to shift away from bags too, I have been clearing out my closet on a regular basis, even created enough space for a closet organizer to actually fit in it! I actually now only have clothes that I love, or like alot.. or are super comfy. I don't have piles in my closet, I don't have things I am never going to fit into again ( I have one pair of jeans as goal jeans - and they are very realistic as they are the pre-quit smoking size) and since I am making a commitment to myself to get my health back, I know I will be back in them in no time.

Shopping, still has it's draw - bags not so much.. so I guess my experiment is working. I guess I am realizing finally that I don't NEED so much stuff. Don't make the mistake that I am "cured" of the shopping, but I think I am moving towards a place where finding stuff, surrounding myself by stuff, and having or wanting what others have just because - just isn't reason enough in itself to buy so much, or as a method of dealing with other issues,. I still have miles to go, but heck mass consumption cannot be stopped in 2 months. I am trying a method of "Do I LOVE it? Will I use it, do I need it? this does strangely enough makes a difference, but sometimes wanting it is enough too.

This week a house on my street went for sale and sold above asking, this house is almost the mirror image of mine.(what sucks about this is I really like the people who live there, but they are moving not to far away so hopefully we will keep in touch)  I instantly knew that if we sold our house we would do well and then we too could have a bigger house... calmer heads prevailed and we talked it out, and right now at this moment in time.. we are good where we are, we don't need the big house.. we have a good life, one filled with downtown life, family and friends.. a bigger house is not what we need right now.. Especially since we are doing really well at clearing stuff out, we are gaining more space.

Life is not about what you have.. Life is about who is in it

The purse junkie no more

Date Nights and a new fridge

Hi there, Sorry to a co-worker who asked where todays entry was.. officially on lunch break so thought I would catch up now! Seems there are a few of you who add me to your daily routine.. so thank you and I am honoured :)

Now on to date night.. yup tonight is date night, we are dropping the little lady off at Grandmas - grabbing a bit of Pizza then we have the night to ourselves - I am thinking movie and popcorn! Maybe a good long walk if the rain lets up and a good chat. My favourite thing to do with the hubby - walk and talk.. we can both walk for hours and hours so it is nice to get a chance to do it once in while, espeically when the city sky goes dark and lights turn on.. this city can be beautiful then. As little lady  gets a bit tired now without the stroller, we don't get to do it as often, though for a 4 year old she can go the distance, she can walk for over an hour without complaint.

Tomorrow the wait for the fridge, very excited.. I know little thing, but you don't know the kind of fridge I had. Here comes a nice bright white fridge.. made in this decade!! not 40 plus years old. We got a new stove a couple of years ago.. now that was good - our previous one, when a burner went you had to get it replaced by an antique part shop.. I am not kidding. Back then I just could not get rid of a perfectly working fridge ( even in my mind I knew it was better for the enviroment) As of Saturday my kitchen will have  completly updated Appliances. The things that can make me happy .. even make me laugh. Seriously what is so great about stoves and fridges???? At least I can control my urge for purchasing the fridge with the built in internet service that orders food for you.. I know a little much isn't it.

What silly things make you happy?

Live love laugh and GIVE

The purse junkie no more

Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood

18 degrees... shorts, sandles??? Maybe twenty years ago.. today light jacket, sunglassses :) looking forward to such a lovely day. So, wondering where the bag is this week? I haven't picked one, been busy with other stuff but thinking a wallet and Le Sportsac combo might be a good idea. So here they are a beautiful patterened Le Sportsac with black handles - this is a current design available in stores now. and a Tignanello dark green leather wallet. Great against a black coat to bring a little bit of colour into your life! Used only for a short time - before the purple tote :) Looking for a bag full of groceries for the Food Bank for this one ( at least $50.00 dollars worth) and would like a picture before delivery of bag.. Want to add to it?? start the bid with the groceries and we start from there. Value of bag and wallet together over $175.00. You want the wallet but know someone who would like the bag.. combine your efforts.

Comment section is open for your comments / bids.  Can't donnate to the food bank? Show me a picture of you in a soup kitchen working and you can have them.

Foodbank = healthy bodies = healthy minds= feeding the minds of the future..

Remember the children starving right now could be the minds that make for a better life for all... be a part of their devlopment.

Live, Love, Laugh and GIVE

The purse junkie no more

Wired 24/7

I just got to watch a twenty minute segment on TVO's the agenda. It was a show that was looking at a variety of ways that technology is affecting our lives, how much we depend on it and how it adds and takes away from our interactions with each other.

It really is an interesting thought. I have, like some of the shows participants looked at technology as something that is a "neutral" element in life. One that can be as good or as bad as you let it be.
For example, for me the "now" of twitter was like information addiction, knowing what others are thinking and doing, is like having the voice in your have questions answered before you could even ask. It is a strange sensation, and a in my opinion creates a very false sense of connection with others. Social networking is likely way above my understanding, the way in how it can be used effectively and productively. I feel like the net can bring us together , but I also feel like it drives us all further apart, as we rely more and more on "disconnected" connections. It is something to monitor in ourselves, we best make sure that we connect with each other face to face once in awhile too!

Facebook is another thing all together, I have recently begin to look how "connected" I am, between cell phones, blogging ( which I love) and facebook ( which I am so so on) I wonder if I could give up the "social net-working" sites and just give this blog and my real live friends all the efforts. For years now, people have been stuck behind a screen, connecting by text, instant messaging and other "pings" "pokes" and "bumps", wonder if we should start up more "coffee shop" chats.

Decluttering the world connections , not something I could completely do, could I chill out on the facebook checking, and email obsessive checking - very likely. I need to find more time in my day for connecting with live people, sitting down and really listening and connecting with others.

This for me is something techonology did take away alittle for all of us, we connect.. but do we really??? What do you think..  Tell me

The purse junkie no more

We will see where this new train of thought takes me.. wh

Pure Bliss , and Mommy Time

Everyone loves a minute to themselves. As a mom I sometimes  feel quilty when I have a minute to myself  let alone  when I enjoy it! I know other moms sometimes feel this way.. But this is about ME! My hubby was not home at usual time, so I went to get my cell and realized that I had left it at work ( this is very silly as I do not have a LAN line) so I ran to the pay phone ten steps from my house and gave him a call. That is when he told me the news.. he and the beautiful little lady where over at her best friends house for dinner and a playdate. Within minutes I was off the phone, ran and got my purse and went down the street to the local restaurant, ordered a sinful dinner ( steak on a bun, fries and salad...YUM) and ran home to sit with a tv tray ( yes the kind you pull up in front of the coach ) and I watched TV .. an old episode of friends and currently have on ET Canada - brain candy .. yummy food ...Mommy bliss 

Little lady will come home happy , fed and exhausted. Hubby will be fed and as tonight is my TV night, he will also put her to bed. I watch House and Lie to me on Monday nights. So Tonight is my night... all about me.. No idea what to do. I think I will finish telling you about my indulgence and read my new Alex Cross book.

Just a side note before signing off - the food bank is really LOW on donations this year, something like 80 thousand people depend on it every month .. so can I challenge all of us to donate this week at least one can? Challenge you and you challenge everyone you know on facebook and twitter.. pass the message.. We need to feed Toronto families, children, men and woman.. can we do it??? One can each - a buck for beans or vegetables.. pass it on we can make a difference it only takes a small group of people to start a trend.

Live Love Laugh and GIVE

The purse junkie no more.

have not picked the bag for this week

Hi all,

It has been busy around our house the last few days, getting stuff for Birthday parties, figuring out halloween costumes and just clearing up the backyard (putting all the kiddie toys in the shed). I thought we should as a family go out as Scooby (the little lady) Shaggy (Daddy) and me as Velma - they didn't buy it though! Now for the friends out there with Kids younger then my little lady - before you buy anything for outside - slides, picnic tables, sandboxes, bikes and mini cars --- PLEASE ask me if I am ready to pass along some great stuff cheap!

We managed to get some great deals in the EVIL store Walmart, this weekend. Can't help it darling friend from Sudbury once in awhile I must shop where I get the cheapest stuff - and cheap garden stuff ( 5 solar lights - nice = $10)  is what I need. I can't beat that price!

Looking forward to seeing the colours change some more, the little lady was on the bus this weekend going over the bloor bridge and she was so cute - she said "Wow that is beautiful mommy". You have got to love an observant child!

Well - no a big or profound entry.. just a little bit of time over coffee break.

Keep giving all!

Live Love Laugh and GIVE

The purse junkie no more

Change

What a year of change this has been for me and many others in my life. My job includes dealing with the transitions between two changes for others, you would think I would be good with change! I am actually fine with it ( well not all the time )  once I get a handle on how it will impact my life, I will accept it. Let me just give you a little peak into some of the changes that have affected me this year...

1. Went to Paris ( this was an awesome change of scenary and expectations of our lives for my husband and I - we left the little lady with my sister, and we broadened are life experiences together)
2. Fashionable Friend moved to Ireland ( this was a huge impact on my daily life, as we worked together, our families played together and we did lots of stuff just the two of us - road trips, shopping and mom stuff etc.)
3. My mom who was staying  for awhile, moved - this was a great change for her, but we miss her all the time - not to mention all the great dinners, coffee chats and duct tape lunches!
4. We changed the layout and colours of our entire house - good change here.
5. I quit smoking - this was tough for me, but it was fantastic and now as I approach the one year mark, I am proud of myself. If you have never smoked, imagine giving up something you do everyday all the time, and then poof - you don't do it anymore. (changes your whole routine in life)
6. lost twenty pounds before stopping smoking, put 15 back on after giving up the cancer sticks ( new years goal - get it gone for good) This did affect my self esteem - but have learned I must try to give myself (brain) a break on this one for a bit.
7. Entire job seems to be shifting in what it is I do, this is still in transition - coping but again, once I figure out the vision for the role I will be fine.
8. De-cluttering my home - this has meant a calmer home is emerging - giving up some of the material trappings - and accepting my cute house in toronto, and not wanting for the bigger and  the better home, just to have a bigger house with more space to put junk I don't need.
9. The purse junkie no more --- slowly letting go of an image of myself and figuring out the newer me and all the entails - warts and all.
10. Saying good bye to my grandmother
11. Travelled to Ireland by myself - as a kid I would fly across Canada every year - but how liberating it was to go on a trip across the atlantic to see my friend and do it all just for me! My own vacation - I liked it.
12. Watching my baby grow and leave her baby years behind... sharp intake of breath ... this is going to be the biggest adventure of my life. So far - I hate that I don't know what every moment of her day includes, I love that she is so talkative, because in those moments I see a glimpse of her life outside of mine.

Well these may not be big changes to you, and but paired with some of the smaller ones that went on as well I am tired, and looking forward to what is coming next... just need a little resting period first.

What changes have you had this year?


Live love laugh and give

the purse junkie no more

Two bags this week - what will buy for the FOOD BANK for a bag?

This bag is up for grabs this week - feels like it was never used, this one is from Fashionable friend in Ireland - Canvas and man made leather. Great weekend shopper as well as a great purse with a jolt of colour - if you like it send me a message in the comments section about what you will give to the FOOD BANK in your area and it will be yours! Think Christmas or birthday present!

The other bag that was "bought" this week was for my uncles wife. She loved a bag in my collection so  she has donated $100 to the ongoing relief of people in her native country of the Philippines who have been hit twice in less than 10 days with massive flooding and landslide. Many dead and thousands homeless. She was also part of an additional fund-raising at her work and has arranged through another Filipina friend to transfer the money back to the charity account at MetroBank in Manila, Philippines. She is also gathering clothes to send.  - so for this effort, she "wins" the leather black coach in my collection". --- please check your local Philippines business and friends and find out what you can do if interested.

If you have bags to share and want to see them "raise" some donations to others then please feel free to let me know, put a message in the comments section. I have a few more myself of course. I also have a few other items I will be de-cluttering too!

I have moved only to posting here on the blog,and will not be posting more then a link to facebook. The bags that are not bidded on will go to a reader who will drop them off at Dress for success.

I orginally thought I would beable to get down to one bag, and one tote, not to sure about that! But I really am trying to brave my way to at most 10! LE Sport Sacs on the way.

So to recap the declutter to date

9 green bags to charity ( toys,clothes, half my linen closet) = Easy
10 Purses = Easy ( but starting to get harder!)
1 wallet = Easy
1 pair of Shades = Easy
bag of groceries for food bank ( need to do more before christmas - hence why today it is FOOD BANK bids)
Furniture pieces = EASY


De-cluttering, my mind, my closet and hopefully starting soon - my diet ~ it has been a journey so far, I would love to hear from you that are reading - drop me a line sometime - lets chat!

LIVE, love, laugh and GIVE

Life is to short to worry about keeping up with the "Jones" instead how about we DO for those who need what we have so careless thrown aside and left abandoned in our closets, cupboards, storage units etc.. This week I challenge all of you to fill one big bag for charity.. I bet if you tried really hard, you could get two full!

The purse junkie no more

Traditions out the door - hands down best Thanksgiving in years

We did it, we change recipes, changed the time and the day. We played cards and dressed in Yoga pants. We changed Thanksgiving. We relaxed. This was the first Thanksgiving in years where the stress of the day was not causing tensions of one type or another. We had friends that really are family, kids jumping on trampolines, laughter and a awesome chic painting the livingroom  (which looks incredible).

It was different, it was fun!

Letting go of traditionss and expectations around family events, or any event for the matter is really a form of de-cluttering in and of itself. We all carry with us our expectations of others, of food or of time spent. It is amazing what letting go of all that can do. It is Liberating. We place so much pressure on each other(and on ourselves) in life to make sure everyone else is happy and content. We want to make sure that they have what it is that makes something "memorable" for them that we forget to make the memories themselves.

I once filled a box full of messages for my mom - filled it with all the memories she had given me as a child. It took time and thought, but I feel it was one of the best gifts I could give back to her, because they were our moments in life. I want to give my daughter memories and moments, yesturday she likely had the best thanksgiving she has had in 4 years.. she will have many more to come. But for that a big thank you to my sister as she eats her turkey sandwich reading this today. Dinner was great, the company better and the food was incredible.


To all my friends and family .. enjoy the left overs and see you  all in a couple months when we throw even more traditions out the window ( the  red sweater is a keeper! - will tell you all in December) 

Loving the decluttering,  getting rid of the junk and keeping the jewels :)

Live LOVE laugh and GIVE

The purse junkie no more

Time to be grateful for all you have

As Thanksgiving weekend comes closer and everyone sits across from family members that are driving them crazy, had to much to drink, or your just are not kindered spirts. Please remember all those who will not have food on their tables, whose chairs beside them are empty and who would look at your crazy family and for one minute would just want to be you... today or even this minute, please reflect on the life we have been so lucky to live. If you can share that moment with someone, then do so.

Today the Fashionable Friend from Ireland will return to Ireland, and I will miss her almost immediately as those who know her know she is a fun and boisterous person who can bring colour into anyones world and does into mine. I will start saving my pennies in hopes to make it to that side of the world soon -- skating in Paris is the goal this winter but we may have to put the idea on the shelf for a while and aim for a longer trip sometime next year.

So for today, I am finishing my morning coffee break and going to get back to work, later I will walk downtown in this glorious weather to the Metro at College park and I will make my Thanksgiving Foodbank Donation.. What will you be doing?

Tell me your craziest family thanksgiving moments - remember family is how you define it! Mine would include my sister , 7 teenage girls, our daugheters and partners, and a whole wack of others -- the whole house had people in it!! I can't wait for Monday and Turkey leftovers - Hey Sis -- I am bringing new tupperware this year!

Live LOVE laugh and GIVE

The Purse Junkie no more

Kate Spade Bid open for a week - pass it on

Kate Spade Limited Edition - Start Bidding - Best Donation Wins the bag


Here it is , be generous! The Biggest and Boldest Act of Charity will aquire the bag! The Fashionable Friend from Ireland will make the choice.

LIVE LAUGH LOVE AND GIVE

The purse junkie no more

Life is full of peaks and valleys

It has been an emotional week, one that for me was filled with hellos to dear friends and family, and final goodbyes. As I have written to all of you,  I have had this week to see to of two  my dearest friends. including the one who has brought the Kate Spade for you. I also recieved sad news of the passing of a very nice lady who I had shared a few moments in this life with and whose family is in my thoughts. Life is full of peaks and valleys, I feel like mine as of late has been a very bumpy road.

This year has been one that has been filled with those life lessons, that poems and quotes are written about. At least for me. I think in December when the dust of this year is finally settled I will look at all the changes around me and be very grateful for all that has come and gone from my life, but right now I am tired.

I am someone who often carries the saddness and worries of others (Even when they say not to worry), and the joy and excitment of others, with me. I absorb the world around me the best way I can. I don't like to miss the small details as those are the ones that I love the most. As my closets, and basement empty ( Yup, lots more has made its way to charity from my house, furniture has now gone too. ) I realizeat the de-cluttering is slowly moving me towards "de-fogging" of my brain.

I had a fantastic conversation with hubby last night, in between Scooby Doo moments and "really you must have a bath" statements. He is one of the best treasures in my life, and at times the one I forget to appreciate. He is someone who does not try to fix me, or even believes at any moment that I could possibly be broken. He just listens and waits for me to find the solutions I need to find and then walks along side of me as I do what I need to do. He makes me laugh like no other person in this world can. He also will tell me why he thinks sometimes I struggle in life. Everyone has peaks and valleys, everyone has bumps in the road.

So as I take on the last few months of this year.. not only am I decluttering my closet I am decluttering my mind! I am going to try and get rid of self depreciating comments, illusions of other peoples lives, and try with all my might to be understanding of others needs, but not take on their journeys as part of my own. Instead I will try and walk along side them the way Jay walks with me through troubled times, and let them discover what it is they are looking for. Being there waiting for the moment they need someone to listen.

Today my thoughts are with my sister, and  niece, her best friend and her daughter. May your faith help you find the peace you will seek, and the blessing of friendship you have shared for 25 years help you be there when she will need it most. Sisters are not just blood related, they are formed through mutual love, support, fun and hurtful times and experience just as you  two have shared.

Live LOVE laugh and GIVE

The purse junkie no more

Kate Spade Limited Edition - Start Bidding - Best Donation Wins the bag

  Here it is , be generous! The Biggest and Boldest Act of Charity will aquire the bag!  The Fashionable Friend from Ireland will make the choice.

LIVE LAUGH LOVE AND GIVE

The purse junkie no more

Shopping Fun

I thought I would check in with everyone as I am up very early ( waiting for the free breakfast at the hotel) have not slept well but rarely do when away. What a blast this has been, so far I have done loads of christmas shopping for my beautiful little lady. She is going to love the scottie dog tights and shirt.

Great disapointment in TGIF for dinner last night, as is tradition after years of shopping together Fashionable friend from Ireland and I headed there for dinner. We were all excited to have deep fried mac and cheese - only to discover it is no longer on the menu ! I am going to have to write to TGIF coroporate about this!

Well off for another coffee - Heads up all the Limited Edition Kate Spade is going up on Tuesday - Fashionable Friend from Ireland will pick the winner - Bid big, bid with your heart.

Live Love Laugh and GIVE

The purse junkie no more.

Saying Goodbye

Today I will attend the memorial for my grandmother, everyone will have their memories and their toughts we will talk and celebrate the life she lived, at the same time saddness that we are moving on without her beside us will be ever present. Each one of the members of my family carries faith in their own way.

So today while I say goodbye to an amazing woman, I will also celebrate that I had the privledge of having my grandmother in my life for 37 years. I was blessed with many moments and many lessons, some that I will share with my own daughter as she grows up.

So today here are a few memories and moments I will be thinking about as we release her doves today:

• Woman can live independantly
• Woman can be smart and bold and funny , but they should also be kind and thoughtful
• You do what it takes to get what you need done, and you take care of the ones who need you
• Toast is a great evening snack, especially with tea
• You should wash your face everyday and put on lotion ( does not have to be expensive - she always looked years younger then everyone else - I have been doing this since I was 12 and I too am often today I look younger then I am)
• Travel when and if you can - she loved that I had gone to Europe
• If you choose friends well they can last a lifetime
• Simply love the best way that you can
• Forgive , and move on
• The only fashion advice I never took was that calves look great in heels! Today I will wear RED high heels just for her! she always thought my shoes were ugly.

There will be moments the rest of my life that I will think of her. Every Spring and Fall she would call and let me know it was time to change the clock. This continued up until I was about 35 years old. She then figured I was ready to finally remember myself. I forgot the first spring and the first fall. Many of the clocks I have now are automatically done by some magically controlled device inside the cable box or cell phone. But the ones on the wall, well they always needed the prompt from my grandmother to be changed.

Her love of CNN was a constant news source for me, this is how I learned of many emerging news stories, listeria outbreaks because of meat, tylenol cold recalls, children cough medicine debats and many more. She remembered every wellness check my daughter was going to , she knew every shot she was going to be getting or at least knew when the appointment was. I couldn't remember to buy milk and she more then 50 years my senior knew to remind me of the little details or to check in and see how an appointment went.

My grandmother lived through the depression, through war, saw some of the most amazing world accomplishements, watched the start and the end of the cold war (1945-1991), she celebrated the birth of her children, grandchildren and great grand children.

I don't know if I will live that long, but I know that I will take so much more into my life, and pass on so much of who she was to future genrations, because I was lucky to have been part of what she brought to the world.

Melanie

The battle of self image - knowing why and making the change

I have mentioned many times how many great woman I get to interact with on a daily basis. For those readers I will explain why. I work in social services, within a treatment agency that provides IBI treatment to children who have been diagnosised with Autism Spectrum Disorder on the severe end of the spectrum. This is a field, that while men do work in it, they are just hugely out numbered by woman.

One of the greatest things about working in my field is watching those that provide the treatment learn new techniques, and the very best part... watching them teach a skill  to a child ( 4 times more likely to be a boy then a girl) that will become the foundation of so many more. The basis for the work they do is Applied Behaviour Analysis. Essentialy they are woman whose job in life is to change behaviour, this was once my job too. (They have a whole bag of tricks think Pavolv and  B.F. Skinner) None of us are experts, but when your job is to change behaviour, you would think our own behaviour change would be easy.

Pavlov

For those that know me, you will know that I have fought the weight battle many times, and so have many of you. I was talking with some of the woman I work with, each having won  the battle at a time or two and lost it as well. I have quit smoking ( yes, I use it as an excuse to  explain the gain) , I do not drink, and I can give up almost anything . I have great will power - except with food. I know the root causes of my fluctuation in weight, apparently so do many of you. So why can't we change it? Especially when we know how?? How does the weight come back? I have no idea, and when I do I promise not to charge ridiculous sums of money to tell you. I do know that in talking with the ladies I felt good knowing that I was not alone in the struggle , and that I was not the only one who was very much aware of my own weight cycles. I also was not the only one who know when the time comes again I will jump back on the weight loss                   Skinner

wagon.

So no matter whose methods or theroys you believe in ( and the behaviour guys are a very good choice) I will look to all of you for encouragement and guidance when I join the battle of the buldge again. In the meantime - thanks for making me feel like I am not a failure, and that I too will finally make the "behaviour change again"

As for the pictures I borrowed them from Wiki. I copied these pictures specifically for  a friend in the EAST office who loves those 1970's glasses! I will miss you for the next few months as you go do something you are bound to be fantastic at! When you come back I promise I will have read at least another chapter  -  Verbal Behaviour (1957, Skinner)

Live Love LAUGH AND GIVE

The purse junki no more