Memory Monday-----Don't Much Like Sauerkraut

This was back when I got the good stuff---baby food, of course.

When I was young, one of the things that I didn't like about life was taking time to eat. Now don't get me wrong! I loved desserts, which we usually only had on Sundays, and to this day, I absolutely love popcorn, which we had almost every night growing up. (And I will admit it, I still crave popcorn every night.)

But, you see, I always had so many adventures, and in the summer, when it was time to go into the house and eat, I felt hungry, but a bit annoyed. My Mom was a great cook, but liked to try out new foods, so it wasn't always going to be something that we enjoyed eating.

I didn't look like I was suffering from lack of food....

There was one time that my Mom decided that we were going to have something new with our hot dogs. I still remember going into the house---still excited by the play that we had left, but then coming abruptly to a halt, as an unfamiliar smell hit my nose. It was an odor that smelled up the whole house. It had a sharp tangy-ness to it, a bit like vinegar smells, but with a touch of old mixed in.

I remember thinking to myself, "Ohhh no, this smell is just like that awful smell when Mom fixes those nasty brussel sprouts!" Oh, how I hated everything about brussel sprouts. The smell, the look, and especially the texture----like small rubber balls, slightly cooked to cut down on the squeak......dreadful.

So, as I went to the bathroom to dutifully clean my hands and face, I was dragging my heels just a bit. I knew that the second that I sat up to that stool----as we ate at a bar, since there wasn't room for a table----that I was doomed. Doomed to have to partake of something that I wouldn't want or like and would have to spend the rest of the evening trying to choke it down.

Here is the bar area where we ate our meals.

You see, it was the rule in our house that you ate EVERYTHING that was put on your plate or you didn't get down from the table! I can remember many an evening sitting by myself, as I tried to eat peas. or some strange concoction that tasted like what I imagined throw-up would taste like. Awful.

I could sit for hours and even have the dinner for breakfast the next morning, as we often had to do, if we wouldn't eat it. You know, go right to bed and then Mom heated it up the next morning. Uh huh---thats what we did.



But this was the big one.
This was the one that almost broke me.



So, as I sidled up to the table/bar, and glanced at my sister to see if she had noticed that this was going to be a night that was hugely significant in our lives, she didn't even seem to be fazed. She was like that, my perfect sister. She just did as she was told and seemed to go on merrily with her life. I dealt in traumas.

Well, it was worse than I expected. My Mom told us that she was trying something new. She has gotten some sauerkraut to go with our hot dogs, or something like that. I don't really remember what she said. I was too horrified by the smells and the squiggly strange greenish-yellow mass that was occupying the side of my plate.

We said prayers and started to eat.

Ok, so I tried it. Just a bite, about as big as a drip of liquid. I COULDN'T take any more.
My sister told me to plug my nose. I tried. (Whoever came up with that idea is crazy---it doesn't work!)

She suggested that I close my eyes AND plug my nose. I just couldn't do it. It DIDN'T help!

I was doomed. My evening was over. I was NOT going to eat this.


My Mom, Dad and sister ate their food----or in my sisters case----choked down her food.
I was stuck. I wouldn't do it. They could torture me and I wouldn't eat it! (Ok, so how could they torture me any more than they were?)

I tried whining, cajoling, begging, crying----but nothing worked.


I went to bed that night without any food. I got up the next morning and sat in front of my saurkraut for most of the day. I don't know when my Mom decided to finally end the torture. I believe that I ate a small portion of it. Its where my memory stops.

And here I am sitting by myself---probably not wanting to eat!

I blocked it out, huh? Too traumatic, right?


I do remember that there was another can of saurkraut. My mother saw how badly I hated it and decided that it was a good way to keep me in line. You know, "Get your chores done, or I WILL bring out that saurkraut!" "If you leave the yard and don't tell me, I'm going to have to get out the saurkraut." "Why did you make such a mess? Clean it up or I am going to give you some saurkraut."

I was TERRIFIED of that can of saurkraut for years!


I often wonder what happened to it..... In my mind I seem to remember my Mom opening it years later, and it was filled with worms. (Though I can't figure out how worms could get into it.) She had to throw it away. And she never bought another one. Ever.

I secretly think that my parents thought that it was disgusting also, and thats why we never ate it again.


Who knows? After all, I was young and now I'm a bit afraid to ask them.

I don't want to give them any ideas.

Fabulous Find For A Friday-----A Few Of My Favorites

I was watching a TV show a few months ago----"True Beauty"----I think that I may have blogged about the disgusting way that Cheryl Tiegs looked as one of the judges. EWWW! I still have a tremor go over me when I think about those shots of her.... So, read about it here.

But, I digress.

So, on one of the shows, they asked the contestants: "If you were on a deserted island and could only take one thing with you, what would that be?"

Well, this caused me to pause my TIVO for a second and think really deeply.


I mean, being the vain gal that I am, how could I just figure out one thing to take with me?

I used to want to be on Survivor. I thought that it would be a great way to lose weight, get some air time, and get all tan and such. But then I found out that they could only take one thing with them. (well, besides clothes, I'm assuming---but you can bet that I would have smuggled something in each pocket!)

Well, that totally turned me off. Like, what would I take? My deodorant? My lip gloss? My mascara? Some gum? A toothbrush? Scope? My moisturizer? Sunscreen?

Oh, it was just too much for me.

But again, I digress.

So, on this show, "True Beauty", they each decided what to take. One of the girls took a hair dryer. Huh? What? Right, I thought the same thing. And you are going to plug it in where?

One of the contestants----a guy-----was a man after my own heart. He had a man bag.
You know, like a small purse with all his important toiletries in it. He tried to tell them that it was just ONE thing. Yeah, right. They. shut. him. down.

Well, it all was a moot point anyway, because they never had to USE their one thing, which I thought was pretty lame. They just made them camp out over night and told them that they couldn't take anything-----so the girls just kept their makeup on and the boys tried to sleep carefully, so as not to ruin their "dos". (Now, these were high maintenance people, folks!)
It was hardly fair. I mean, I even keep my makeup on over night, if I know that I have some photo opportunities happening the next morning-----early.

Like Christmas Day. Or Mothers Day.

Yeah, I am vain like that.


So, this all brings me to the point of my blog post. (Finally, you were all screaming!!!)

I have several items that are a TRIED AND TRUE part of my.......er.......(cough, cough).......beauty regime.
These are my favorite things that I would have to consider taking with me if I was ever stranded somewhere.

The first one would have to be this:

It is this amazing product, Olay Regenerist Line and Wrinkle Filler, that fills in lines and makes your skin silky smooth and soft before you put on your foundation----I love it! (I even use this instead of moisturizer---especially in the summertime, when you get sweaty---or---er----glow!)

Then.....I used to use this foundation, which they still have on the website, don'tcha know, but you can't purchase it anywhere!!




Yes, this was the one that I posted about before, here.


But now I use this:

Loreal Visible Lift foundation----not as much coverage as the old kind and the texture is more
runny, so it annoys me, but what is a girl to do? I've tried others and this is still my fav.

After I apply that, I ALWAYS have to use this little beauty:

It is an undereye concealer from Loreal---smooth and covers up those nasty dark circles!

I am thinking of trying this, as it is new on the market, and maybe will not get into those annoying creases under my eyes: (another way of saying wrinkles)

It is a Visible Lift undereye concealer by Loreal.

After I apply my cheek blush and do my eyes, which I have already had a blog post about----surely you can't have already forgotten about last Friday? Then I HAVE to set it all with a powder. Again, if you read the former blog that I had about my makeup brands changing products, you will see my frustrations. But, luckily, I had this powder recommended to me by my daughter, and I love it!

It is Cover Girl Compact powder, in TRANSLUCENT color. Make sure that you get the
translucent or you could walk around looking like you got a bit of an orange or pink face!

I usually put the very last touch of my face on at this point-----yes, that is the mascara. Why do all that great color on the eyes if you leave them naked looking in the eyelash area? Ugh.

I have found this MAHVELOUS mascara by Maybelline, and I love it!
It is Define A Lash Volume Mascara---Waterproof, of course, for all those
times when you feel a tantrum and crying session coming on!

Of course, I do lips, but I use a myriad of different brands of lipcolors. But I actually found this really great gloss, though, through another daughter of mine. She didn't want it and I absolutely loved them----just sticky enough, so they don't come off or feel slimey.
I need to get another one, in fact, because I have used mine practically all up!

This lip gloss is by TINte Cosmetics---Painted Lady Flavored Lip Paints
(I also really like the container---thats what caught my eye first!)

Well, at the end of the day, I have to wash everything off, and I usually use several products, but one of my favorites is by a company called Origins. The wash has a bit of granules in it---so it gives you a good scrub, while a bit tingly and it smells so clean!

I love Origins skin care, because they use herbs and natural products and your skin feels and smells so amazing---I have been using them for about 15 years. This is Origins Never A Dull
Moment Scrub with fruit extracts.

Now, the last thing that I use at night time is my ABSOLUTE favorite product of all time!
I found this when I was given a sample at Bath and Body Works. Yeah, I bet you have gotten one also, and never even tried it! You should! It is a skin care line by Patricia Wexler, and this product is supposed to help with rejuvenating your skin.

When I first put it on, I went, "Ewwwww", as it felt like I was putting a waxy substance or something on at first. The consistency is really strange, but don't let that put you off, TRY IT!!
The next morning, I could not BELIEVE how soft my skin felt! I couldn't stop touching it and it felt and looked great! Well, so here it is----put it on before you go to bed and enjoy!!

It is the Skin Regenerating Serum----its a bit pricey, but totally worth it!

Well, I hope that you have all gotten something out of my daily favorites! I tend to stick to something if I find that I like it, otherwise I try out lots of products until I do. So, if you have any recommendations for me, I would LOVE to have them!

I am also thinking about doing a little giveaway of a few of my favorite things, so keep checking back....

Meanwhile, have any of you heard good things about this new product? It, too is a bit pricey, but I found a $25.00 rebate on line, so I am thinking, "What have I got to lose?"

So, I MAY just have to give it a try.

I Wore The Dress, Yes, The Dress!

There are so many things that I need to blog about. I was going to just do a random thoughts blog with several entries, and combine all the things that I need to blog about, but I didn't have time to get a picture scanned that I needed for one of the posts, and well....I just never seem to have extra time to get these things done!

I am so impressed by those bloggers out there that take the time to blog every day....I am definitely not worthy! But I try to do it when I can.


So, today, I am just going to talk a bit about our Easter Sunday, and then post that promised picture of that dress---well---with me wearing it, anyway.

First, here is Aydan showing off one of the eggs that he colored.

And,.......you remember that I was going to use the dress for our anniversary evening out? We actually didn't go out until a few weeks after, and it was bloody cold that weekend-----no way was I going to wear that bright summery dress!

So, I moved onto Plan B. (Don't you just love Plan B?)
Yes,.....you guessed it......the perfect Easter outfit-----a great thing to wear to church on Easter Sunday.

I had already given my hubby a yellow tie for our anniversary----silk, of course,-----and he had a purple dress shirt.
What? Your hubby doesn't have a purple dress shirt? Well, that's HIS loss.

And then, of course, I had purchased a violet dress shirt for my little guy last year, when I had found several colorful shirts on sale----knowing that I would need to use them.
I finally found a tie for him at JCPenneys----that is the only place that carries youth ties in colorful options----and of course, it had to be yellow. (Seriously, have you EVER tried to find color in little boys clothes? They stick to khaki green, navy and a bit of sick mustard color---or the red and blue----its very frustrating!)



So,.................Voila! The final outfit.

I found some purple footless tights, as my legs are less than amazing and it was about 42 degrees on Sunday----Hello....and then of course, because of the cold, I had to top it off
with my purple cardigan----and theres the purple flats.

So, here is the fam. Hubbys mah-velous tie is turned around, of course, but then I couldn't style it, so there you go. And my little guy decided that he didn't want to take pictures. Don't you love the purple tees on the puppies? Ok---too matchy, matchy?

And here I am with my boys again---yep, Clayton had a purple shirt and borrowed another one of Brets ties---he has about 50 or so....

We were lucky to have my son's girlfriend come to Easter dinner, and her family drove up from PA and spent the day with us. They seemed to have a good time, and put up with our crazy antics. Here they all are:

Claytons girlfriend is second from the left---Meg----isn't she a cutie?
(Be sure and visit her blog and comment!)

And then Brinna showed up----a bit late, but still her chipper, stylish self. (Note that she
threw on one of my hats for this pic)

It was a great day and was a good excuse to dress up....which you have all realized by now, is one of my favorite things to do.


Also, as a side note, I wanted to give a shout out to all those bloggers who live in the New England area. I usually do band gigs on the weekends, and travel quite a bit, but
THIS SATURDAY, April 18, the band and I will be rockin' the house at The Yard, in Manchester, NH.
Check out the website to get the address and the times we go on! The show is fun and wild and I sing up a storm! www.ricklarrimore.com

Heres a pic from our latest photo shoot---yep---thats Rick---the Ultimate Rod Stewart!

(And YES, he does sound JUST like him!)

Hope to see some of you there! E-mail me if you are coming and I can put you on the guest list: swaneesinger@gmail.com

And I promise to post all the other ideas as soon as I get it together!

Fabulous Find For A Friday-----Colorful Peepers!

As I have mentioned before, I am a gal that goes no where without her face....or.....er....ah......her makeup on.

I have been known to take the extra time to get my makeup on before I even go out to the bus stop in the afternoon and I REFUSE to go anywhere----shopping or even to the post office, unless I have a full face on.


So, how exciting is it for me when spring comes and Marie Claire (a fashion magazine) and Elle (another fashion magazine) are touting that one of the looks on the runway are showing bright colors----not only in the clothes, but on the eyes as well.




Another thing that I will share with you if you don't already know it, is that I am a gal that loves my bright colors. I stick pretty much to the basics during the fall and winter, drab and dark, but when spring and summer comes, I am like a butterfly just out of her cocoon.

So, to help celebrate the colorful season, I decided to get some new eyeshadow. I already have a great orange one, green one, pink that is to die for, and then of course, the stand-by navy blue. But I wanted to get more of a turquoise and well, I couldn't pass up this great find from Cover Girl:

Or you might like this one. It reminded me of the colors of Mary Quant cosmetics in the late 80's. Oh, you weren't alive then? Sorry,.....you missed out on some great stuff.

I absolutely love the way they did this orangish-red eye makeup----it is divine:


And where I might not go quite to this extreme or to the extreme of the first picture, I decided to go with the blue today and let you see how it looks. (I wore orange yesterday and pink the day before, but didn't have the brain to remember to record it---and no, its not Maybelline blue.)

So, what do you think? Would you be a person that would try this? Could you walk into your local supermarket with this look? Or is it too much for you? (Disclaimer: I don't look as good as the aforementioned models, as I don't have professional lighting or lip injections, so just deal with it!)



And notice that the lips and cheeks need to be a bit less bright with the bright eyes. Don't go too dark on those! Can you say "hoochie mama"?


So, let me know what you think. Yes? Or a resounding "No way!"


But it won't change my opinion, cause I love it....

Memory Monday----Expeditions In The Front Yard

About 15 years ago, I decided that I needed to get started on my personal history. I had gotten a memory maker book from someone. It was a paperback version----one that you could write in----and it asked questions about different things to help spur your memory and get you started.

It was really helpful, and I wrote about 10 entries before I stopped----you know, my present life kept getting in the way.


But, with this blog, I feel that I have a perfect outlet to write about my personal history and hopefully, every few years, I can make this blog into a book for my children. It is already, basically, my journal. I don't really write about everything personal, but if I want to vent or tell of the ridiculous things that happen to me, I feel that I can do it here.

So, once a month, or maybe twice----I have decided to do a Memory Monday. I wish that I could do it every week, but I have a hard time writing more than two times a week. I know. I know. If I could just not do the other 9 or 10 things that I have to do! Well, some of those things fall by the wayside, as it is....

But I digress.

I was born in Colorado. My Dad was in the Air Force, and he was stationed there. My Mom said that the house that we lived in has since been torn down, but the corner is still there....
I have pictures of me----scrawny, with skinny legs and sparse hair.

Hmmmm---where is everyone?

With my sister, Janene, at 6 mo. old.

I had one older sister, Janene, who was two years older than me----she took care of me, stood by me and was my best audience.

I, basically, came out of the womb an entertainer. I have seen film from when I was just barely sitting up and pulling myself up to the couch. My Mom would put on records and I would dance and dance---up and down----up and down----to the beat.

My sister would laugh and laugh, and of course, clap.
I was addicted to applause at an early age.

Real camping when I was about a year old---with my sister and my Mom.

Blonde and cheerful at a year and a half.

When I was still a toddler, we moved to a farm in Utah. My grandpa owned acreage there, and a house, so we went to live there. This was where my first memories begin.

The house was very small, with only two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and one bath. I shared a bedroom with my sister, and when my brother was born, when I was three, he had a crib in my parents bedroom.

Two years old and what a cutie!

I loved living there, as there was a lot of space for us to play outside. In the summer, one of our favorite things to play was "going camping". My sister and I used to load up a red wagon with our dishes, blankets, dolls, some reading material and some snacks. We would then proceed to
go around the perimeter of the yard several times before coming to rest under the trees at one end. The yard was a large grassy area flanked by trees on one end, a gravel area on the other end, the driveway on one side and the house on the other.

We started out going over the uneven grassy terrain, taking turns pulling and pushing the wagon. We would sometimes sing as we traveled----this was something that we did in the car, so since we were traveling, we did it then.

At times we would stop and get a drink out of our thermos, (we didn't have water bottles then, folks) then continue on to our destination. When we felt that we had gone around the yard enough times to seem like a long journey, we would stop under the trees and start to set up our "camp".

This was my favorite part of the expedition, as we would try to figure out how to build our tent out of the blankets that we had brought, using the edge of the playground equipment that was next to the trees. After we got our tent built, we would sit our dolls up, get out our "picnic" and eat, chatting about our journey so far. Sometimes we would read for awhile and then would go to "bed" for the night, laying down with the blanket above us, watching the sun make a dappled pattern through the leaves cast on the top of the blanket.

I still remember the warmth of the sun as we shut our eyes and how the grass smelled alive, as we waited for the "morning" to come. There was a certain sound that we would make for morning---a tune that sounded like a sun coming up. And then we packed up our things and headed for "home".

At the gravel area, we would usually stop again. It was time for our water break, and we would also play a bit---running around on the gravel---dancing or chasing each other.

The farm where we lived, standing here in the field with my sister.

There we are---the yard travelers....and there's my new little brother down in his bassinet.

It was at this point that our Mom would yell out of the front door, telling us to come in to dinner. It was still light outside, as the summer days seemed to stretch on long and lengthy---especially when you are young, so it seemed early for dinner, but we didn't want to get into trouble, and started getting our things together.

We made sure that everything was back in the wagon and pulled the wagon back to the front porch. There we would fill our small arms with our blankets, dolls and trash from the lunch, going back and forth, taking our things into our bedroom.

And the wagon? It was placed there in the corner of the front porch.



Waiting for our next adventure.

Fabulous Find For A Friday-----Fun, Funky Flats

I used to wear heels all the time.

I modeled for 20 years, and wore huge heels almost every day, in runway shows and in real life, as I pounded the pavement going on "go-see's". You see, I was on the shorter side for a model, only 5 ft. 7 in., so I had to wear my highest heels to be taller.

I even had to squeeze my toes into smaller, size 6 shoes for runway shows, sometimes, as those are the standard size---even though I wear 8 narrow.

I also have, what is commonly called in the acting world, "character toe". This is when you have spent too many years in your character shoes, doing plays and musicals---dancing and all. Since I have been doing that for most of my life since grade school, I have pretty bad toes---the large one---gets it the worst.

Oh, yeah, my feet have taken a beating.


So, now I can't wear heels anymore. I have tried. I have tried. And then I try again.

I end up with the most painful feet----so painful that I can barely walk after. The balls of my feet are screaming at me and feel so tender. My toes are hating me, and won't behave for days after.

In short, I have had to realize that my life is going to be relegated to wearing flats.


So, today, I am going to glory in wearing flats.

I love fashion and I practically cry every time I see those high stiletto heels that I want to be able to wear, as they continue to be in style, but then I have to keep turning the pages of my fashion magazines, hoping to see that flats are still in. Thank goodness, they are.


Lets celebrate FLATS!

On gojane.com, there are some really cute and AFFORDABLE flats!

Look at this great color assortment! Orange with a great buckle.
Lavender high tops.
Amazing green and yellow with a round buckle---love those!
And the cobalt blue with the round button----gotta have 'em!

Here are some of my own favorite flats. I like to wear them with funky colored ankle hose---- found at Target, of course. And then I pair them with my skinny jeans, so you can see them really well. Sorry, girls, but I think that skinny jeans even look good on those of us that aren't stick anorexic thin------so THERE!

These are the ones that I have on today---purple and patent---Mary Jane style.

These are well worn, but one of my favs----love the holes, and the pointy toe.

I got these last year to go with my new "blue" additions to my wardrobe----cute
with ankle straps

These are my latest find---tourquoise with big buckles----don't you love the fish net anklets?

And these are my all time favorite flats----tried and true---and oh, so comfy---in
Periwinkle, don'tcha know.

Now, I have a lot more! I could be posting them all day.......and I have found that I can actually wear "kitten heels" to church, so I have a few for that---I believe----in purple, pink, white and tan.

Hmmmm....I really do need a pair of navy ones.....


And, oh yeah-----I guess that I should tell you the best part.


My hubby loves them! (Which is a rarity in this day and age of hooker heels and that's all men like to see women in!)

In fact, he still remembers the first time that we went out---I was wearing these white tie-up flats.


He said that that was when he fell in love with me.

Happy April Fools-----We Have Two Winners!

....and they are: (Drum roll, please.......)

MY HUBBY won both the purse and the travel containers!






APRIL FOOLS!


Sorry, I know----lame joke, but it was his idea.

But on with the contest winners:

Here is the basket with the names in.

Here is Aydan after picking the winner for the purse!

Here he is after picking the winner for the travel containers!




Sooooooo, congrats to Vishous----Rachel! (I know that she is having a rough time with her Mom ill, so I hope that this will be a bright spark for her---hugs to her Mom from us!!)



And congrats to Omgirl----Arianne! (It was her birthday last week, so keep feeling the love this week----birthday girl!)




Please e-mail me with your addresses at swaneesinger@gmail.com and I will get them into the mail this weekend!

Thanks for all of you that left amazing comments.... I hope that you come back and visit me once in a while and LEAVE A COMMENT-----AND WHILE YOU ARE HERE, START FOLLOWING ME!

You know you want to----uh, huh, yeah, you do....