Go See This!

Katie, Pia and I went to "The Help" last night.  With trepidation, as we loved the book on DVD SO much, we were afraid the film actresses wouldn't measure up.  Not to mention how Hollywood generally ruins any good book they turn into a movie.

Not to fear.  LOVED IT!  The actresses are amazing, the storyline is pretty faithful to the book and it was wonderful.

The only bad thing was the totally craptastic series of previews we had to sit through.  1. the films being advertised were so not aimed at "The Help" audience (which at this show was mostly women, mostly over 50) and 2. they just looked like really really terrible movies.  So if you're planning to see this movie in Spokane, feel free to come about 45 minutes late, and you'll miss all the ads and the terrible previews.

WW Update

amazingly enough, following the Weight Watchers "Healthy Choice Guidelines" resulted in a good weight loss last week, 2.2 pounds.  Which brings me up to almost 10 lbs. lost, so I'm happy about that.  Long way to go, but that's okay.

I'm packing to head to Seattle for a week of mom-sitting.  Hope to see some of you while I'm there, and to have some blog-worthy adventures.

Memories

I've been having so much fun this week on Facebook.  Yes, uber-shy Lavs has shown herself to former classmates on FB, in the "You Know You're From Bothell" group and reliving some great memories from my childhood.

And here's a priceless memory: our Senior Class (of '72) Homecoming Float in flames during the parade.  For some insane reason, our advisor permitted us to have A LIVE TORCH ON A FLOAT MADE ENTIRELY OF TISSUE PAPER FLOWERS.  With the inevitable result at left.

Needless to say, our class ended up in last place in the Homecoming Spirit competition.  Although I think we should have won based on our sheer entertainment value.

A Cool Garage Sale Find!

Well, cool to me :-)  I got a plastic bag of "old stuff" at a garage sale this morning, for a quarter.

Inside, there was:

• This catalog advertising B. Altman's (I think this was a fancy NYC dept. store) January 1918 White Sale.  I heart these dresses so much.  Pretty sure my last life was as an Edwardian Lady (or more likely, the poor shlub who had to iron that Edwardian Lady's lovely white linen dresses)
• "Home Needlework Magazine" from April, 1914.  With an amazing wedding gown (sadly, you had to send away for the pattern), lots of wonderful crochet and embroidery patterns, and a lace bag that I might actually knit bc it's cool
• a 1914 Royal Society pattern for a "Fancy Apron" transfer pattern, which is unused and in amazing condition.  You iron the transfer pattern onto fabric and embroider the design.  Too fancy for me, as I spill all food on myself, but pretty neat nonetheless
• Another transfer set from the same era, "Progress Transfer Initials" with 354 letters to stamp with an iron.  Again in like-new condition.  Everyone's getting monogrammed linens from me for Xmas :-)
• A "Ladies' Blouse" pattern envelope, again from the early 1900s, very cool but only has one of the pattern pieces so won't be sewing that.
• Another transfer pattern for a "Wild-Rose Scalloped Border" to embroider on a "petticoat, chemise or drawers, and on a nightgown".  Love.
• And a pattern for "A Ladies' Bungalow Apron" which I'm totally enamored with:

THIS is the garment I have been looking for, but didn't know it existed until now!  FULL BODY COVERAGE, people!  Those who have eaten with me will know that this should be my daily uniform.

I love finding these needlework treasures.  I always feel like I'm saving something precious that some woman carefully preserved for many years.  

A Little Weight Loss Update

The pounds are not exactly flying off, but I've lost 7.5 lbs this summer (4.8 lbs since I started going back to meetings).  So that's at least heading in the right direction.  Katie and I have been attending Weight Watchers meetings faithfully, and I'm sure Pia will join us as soon as she wraps up her camp job.  And I'm getting out walking at least a couple of times a week.  So improvements are being made, a bit at a time.

I am going to see if I can REALLY do a good job this week in keeping track of everything (like a good WW is supposed to do).  Keeping my food and activity journals accurately every day, taking a vitamin daily, drinking liquids (esp water, although WW lets you count everything except pop and booze as a liquid now), and getting in 5 fruit and veg servings every day.  Will report results next Wednesday after my weekly meeting.

And I'm thinking if I actually follow the program like I'm supposed to, I'll see a pretty significant weight loss :-)  Imagine that!

Harvest!

I went to water our Potatoes in a Garbage Can this morning, and this Yukon Gold spud was peeking out!  And I can see more of them almost ready to dig out.  PLUS we now have 3 tomatoes!  Yay, we are gardeners after all!

Things NOT To Do When You Are Home Alone

Pia & Katie (and Lulu) are at camp this week, which means I'm home alone.  Normally, I don't mind a little solitude.  But I keep trying to freak myself out.

1. Do NOT read any even a little bit scary book.  I'm reading a John Grisham book, which shouldn't be scary at ALL.  But it involves a creepy killer.  Yikes.  I have to check the door locks at least 10x before I go to bed.
2. Ditto on any scary TV shows.  And that would include anything involving murder, thinking about murder, talking about murder, or showing murder.  So pretty much every show I usually enjoy watching.  The good news is that I can watch Hoarders without anyone yelling at me.
3. Do NOT Turn off all the lights BEFORE you head to the bedroom.  SCARY!
4. It's probably best to forget about reading the newspaper.  That's full of scary stories.
5. Try not to have super-sonic hearing late at night.  Every little creak in and outside of the house is enough to put me on hyper-alert.

GET HOME SOON GIRLS!  I'm a wreck without you!