Pretty Pretty Bang Bang

Something interesting happens when you carry an expensive bag (at least it does to me). I seem to walk a bit taller, take more care with my appearance, and feel much more chic. I’d been eyeing a special bag since seeing it in Kansas City in April. I’d fallen in love with it, but felt it was too indulgent and too expensive for me to justify. After all, it’s not like I don’t already have several dozen bags to choose from in my own closet. Last weekend we were in Des Moines and I saw the bag again. It was still as gorgeous as I remembered. I looked at it, felt it, put my stuff in it and carried it around. Sigh. It was still so cool and chic. It was also still expensive so I left it at the store to go home with another fashionista. On our way home, Steve suggested we stop at the mall for some walking around time. He wanted to go to the Apple store which was conveniently located next to my purse! I took him in and he agreed it was very nice. He also noted that it was a timeless silhouette and color (man, I’ve trained him well). Then he asked how I would pay for it. Well, I said, I have some birthday money, I have money from a resale shop and I have money from writing. So, you have enough for the bag, he stated. Hmm, now that you put it that way, I guess he’s right. So, it came home with me but I haven’t taken it out of the box yet. I’m waiting until I can really enjoy filling it with all my goodies, including my now empty wallet. A small price to pay for so much chicness!

Update:

Here’s a picture of the purse. I carried it last night for the first time and it’s so comfortable!

The Simpsons movie started yesterday so it was the perfect opportunity to create myself as a Simpsons character. That, plus the fact that [Staci](http://www.verypink.com/) did it on her blog and she seems cool so I thought I should be too! It’s also fitting since I live in Springfield. Although we didn’t win to chance to preview the movie, I still think the town of Springfield in The Simpsons could be Springfield, MO.

So here I am as a character. What do you think?

I finished the last Harry Potter book last night. Don’t worry, I won’t be giving away any important information about the book and I ask that those commenting do the same. I do have some comments I want to make about it in general. In enjoyed the book and was glad I’d taken the time to re-read #6 before embarking on the final tale. However, the last chapter really irritated me – no, it pissed me off. It was so “After School Special” that it ruined the feeling I had in finishing the chapter before it. The whole thing was just too…tidy for my taste. Now, I’m sure I’m in a minority here but it just broke the rhythm of the book for me.

No matter how you feel about the books in general, I think they’ve been wonderful. Encouraging kids to read and enjoy books is something that can’t be bad. If you haven’t had the chance to read any of the Harry Potter books, do so! Regardless of your age they are wonderful tales of friendship, loyalty, growing up, pain, love and good vs. evil.

At one time in my life I was very flexible. I could move and stretch with little problem, but that has all changed. Chalk it up to a back surgery, being 40, whatever, but it sucks no matter how you slice it. Recently, I started looking for ways to shake up my stagnant workout routine so I’ve been dabbling in yoga and workout DVDs. Last week I did The Squeeze, but opted for the Power Squeeze session that’s 30 minutes long. This morning I decided to try the full session for an hour. Two things became apparent: I’m really stiff in the morning and my flexibility has gone to hell. I made it through the workout (and it’s really a hard one) but was bummed out to discover how stiff I was. I called Valerie who gave me some words of encouragement and told me it would get better (I knew that, but needed to hear it from someone else).

Tomorrow is yoga. I know that if I just keep up with this I’ll not only get better, but my flexibility will improve. At least I sure hope so!

It was an unusually busy weekend for us, but it was a lot of fun. Friday night we met Valerie and Kevin at [Hickok’s](http://www.hickokssteakhouse.com/) for drinks and appetizers before heading across the street to the new Blue Plate Diner for dinner. Our neighbors Eric and Julie own Blue Plate and Kevin and Valerie had never been. The food was good – although not really healthy – but we had a great time. Shortly after we sat down, Sarah and Matt showed up for dinner and joined our table. Since Matt, Sarah, Steve and Kevin all wanted to talk about Triathelons, Valerie and I amused ourselves at our end of the table.

Saturday offered a rare treat with a visit from my good friend [Cindy](http://herethereandback.blogspot.com/) and her family. It was good to see them as it had been three years since we’d been together. Unfortunately, the time to chat was too short since we were due at Sarah and Dennis’ for dinner! I did enjoy catching up with Cindy and seeing Gary and the girls. It’s amazing how grown up they are! Alison will be 16 this year. All of them are so beautiful and sweet. Sylvia and Madeleine enjoyed the cats, but Alison excused herself to go outside and continue reading her new Harry Potter book. Can’t say that I blame her for wanting to read it!

Once the Gerlach/Muller clan left we jumped in the car and headed to Sarah and Dennis’. Sarah, again, cooked a great dinner and we had a blast. Dennis had bought a box full of old letter tiles, similar to Scrabble, and had invented a word game combining Scrabble and Boggle so the four of us played that after dinner. It was really fun despite the fact I normally hate games. Around 11:00 we were getting tired so it was time to head home. Sarah and Steve planned a bike ride Sunday morning so I knew Steve needed to get some sleep.

Sunday morning Sarah arrived around 8 and she and Steve took off on their ride. I enjoyed the cool morning with my coffee and paper on my porch swing. Luckily, I wasn’t attacked my mosquitoes; they saved me for later. Steve called to say he was heading back and I started working in the yard. This has become a weekend project for us. We’ve been trying to work a few hours on the yard to keep it looking nice and to get some exercise. I wasn’t planning on a full-fledged yard day, but that’s what I ended up doing. Steve returned and started mowing the lawn and I became obsessed with trimming the hedges. Several hours later we were hot, sweaty and tired, but the yard looked great.

Sunday evening we rolled the grill onto the driveway and had a cookout to say farewell to neighbors Mick and Carrie. They’re only moving about three blocks away, but we’ll miss them! They currently live in a house across the street with the same floor plan as ours. Eric, Julie and Eva came out and the seven of us had a great time. Everyone brought something to add to dinner and we enjoyed fresh grilled corn, avocado salad, burgers, brats, and yummy strawberry shortcake. Once we were all full and the mess was cleaned up, it was time to relax and read Harry Potter. Eric and I were re-reading #6 while Steve and Carrie enjoyed #7. Mick, who hadn’t gotten on the HP Bandwagon, was trying to catch up by starting #2. It was a funny sight to see all of us lounging on the driveway with books in hands. Steve stayed up late and finished #7 so I need to get #6 done soon!

What a weekend! This sounds like my mom’s social schedule!

Tonight’s exercise adventure was yoga. Now, anyone who’s tried yoga and doesn’t think it’s any type of a workout or is boring, needs to open their minds and try it again. First, I want to brag on my instructor, Kirsten Kukal. Kirsten and I went to elementary school together years ago and were close friends. I called her “Midge” because she was so short, and she called me “Jude” for some unknown reason. Anyway, Kirsten and I reconnected a couple of years ago, thanks to ye olde Internet, and I discovered she taught yoga.

Tonight was my first session with her and my first time back to yoga after several years. The studio, [Body of Works Studio](http://www.bowstudios.com/), is located downtown in the basement of a historic building and the space was beautiful, spacious, and serene. Kirsten was an excellent instructor. I loved the calm lilt of her voice, the gentle encouragement and the constant reminder to breathe deeply. While no where near as exhausting as aerobics, the poses and stretches did push me and I found myself feeling the workout. After, I was rejuvenated and relaxed.

Even if you think yoga is “boring” you should try it at least once a week for your mental health. Thanks, Kirsten, for a wonderful evening!

I recently found out that both pieces I submitted for the William Woods show in Fulton were accepted. This year, I entered my monkey brooch (from last fall) and my granulated brooch (from the spring). I’m excited they’ll be showing at William Woods in August. The reception is in September so I’ll make plans to be there for it. The show last year was very nice and the gallery facilities are gorgeous.

I’m also very excited that I was accepted into WinterFest this year. Last year, I wasn’t accepted, but was offered an alternate position. Someone cancelled so I was in and it was a good show. The best news this year is that I’m showing on the second level of the hall, rather than the 4th. Second level was my first choice so I’m hoping that will improve traffic flow and hopefully, improve sales.

Looks like I need to get cracking on getting some work done!

I’ve been on a quest to shake up my normal fitness routine and have found out two things: I’m not as fit as I thought/wish I was and I’m not as flexible as I thought/wish I was. Oh well, gotta start somewhere right? Last week I attended the Tone To The Max class with Sarah at the Y. The class and instructor were both great, but I didn’t like the atmosphere at the Y. I really don’t want to spend my entire workout listening to the kids screaming on the basketball course. I am glad they’re exercising and having fun, but I don’t think a “family” atmosphere is for me. Plus, it’s too expensive to join just to attend class 2-3x per week. Per Valerie’s suggestion, I bought my first workout DVD called [The Squeeze](http://www.collagevideo.com/cart/default.aspx) which I did this morning. Having not done it before, and not wanting to send myself to the ER, I opted for the “Power Squeeze” workout that was only 30 minutes. What a great workout! I like the instructor; she’s very succinct and straightforward. The workout was intense, but not impossible to do and I could do it in my little den. I had a couple of moments of adjusting myself to the position, but I felt like I got a good workout. Since I’m stiff in the morning, I might wait to do this later in the day, or do a quick power walk beforehand to warm up. Hopefully, I won’t grow bored of this!

Next up, tennis in the fall. Steve and I are going to attempt to play. I used to play on my HS team and Steve’s never done it. Should be quite amusing.

Happy Birthday to my little sister! As kids, our four-year age gap made us enemies most of the time. She was annoying, bossy, and (seemed to) get away with things I didn’t. Her large brown eyes hid a multitude of sins as everyone seemed to melt when they saw them. I, on the other hand, was loud and opinionated and got into trouble more than she did.

Once we were both out of college, the age gap started to close and we became best friends. She has a wicked sense of humor, an amazing way with her children and is a great cook. She’s still bossy, but her children seem to bear the brunt of that. I’m glad she’s my sister, and most importantly, my best friend.

Happy Birthday Ralph! (yes, that’s what I call her and have almost since the day she was born)

I really hate summer. At least the steamy-hotter-than-hell-mosquito-infested summer we’re experiencing now. I’ve never been a fan of the season, but this summer I seem to be shutting down. One step outside and the last thing I want to do is work out, weed the yard, or sip wine on my beautiful front porch. Most people love the summer as it allows them to participate in all sorts of outdoor activities they wouldn’t normally do in the winter. The most popular summer sport would probably be swimming, which is something I’ve never really loved (as my mother reminded me when she told the story of how I cried my way through my first round of swim lessons). Give me a nice, crisp day and I feel like I can tackle the world. Give me heat and humidity and all I want to do is stay inside and watch TV.

I’m trying to find a way to work out without the drag of the outside world so I’m actually considering joining a gym. My friend Sarah belongs to the YMCA and has indulged herself in all kinds of classes. She said it keeps her from getting bored. As I’ve been sliding slowly into workout laziness, I need to give myself a shot in the butt to keep me from shutting down completely. So today I think I’m going to check out my options at the Y and see what I can do to keep myself in shape and sane. Yesterday, I ordered my first workout DVD (I previously borrowed them from a friend) so I can do something at home when I need a break from a gym. Steve and I are also considering taking up tennis (doesn’t it sound so “clubby”?). I used to play in high school and he wants to learn. I’ll keep you updated on that hilarious adventure.

Now that I’ve stopped sweating from my walk, I think I’ll fill myself with a nice, steamy cup of coffee and start my day. Hope you all stay cool!