Fashion Plate

What's on My Blackberry?

2012-02-02T06:41:00.000-06:00

I've been thumb-deep into learning more about social-networking and I have to tell you it's a bit overwhelming out there! Hashtags! Twitter chats! Promotion! Website launching! Editing! Figuring out . . . well . . . figuring out EVERYTHING!

In addition to my new position with FitFluential.com Pup and I are expanding the family biz so I've been designing logos, creating and editing the website, making temporary biz cards for the Pup, doing some acquisition, garnering new clients (I've brought in quite a few! I am totally patting myself of the back - see how limber I am?).

When I come up for air I stumble into the Big Room (still in love), turn on that 60 inch monstrosity that I have grown to love so much, and watch me some trashy TV (I am in love with Storage Wars right now - LOVE!).

In the past couple of days I have learned the art of the nap. I've NEVER been a napper and I've had a few now with varying degrees of success. Insomnia seems to be creeping up to the better range. Yay!

Maybe my split-decisioned mind is sleeping better in self-defense! I've said it a million times; older brains can learn, but they need extra fat and flourish to get there. At least mine does.

It's amazing I can still learn. It's amazing when I do learn. I can't believe what I'm learning right now! Kinda exciting. I'm hanging on for dear life and kinda giggling while terrified. Overstate much?

Meanwhile, I was perusing my photo folder on my BlackBerry and have discovered that I mostly take photos of meals. We eat out a lot. And I eat eggs a lot. I love taking photos of my eggs. WTH??

I was out to eat at The Bad Waitress (love!) and saw this guy. I love Minneapolis.

Little DK helping me study.

A Kong toy. A Kong toy after George had at it for about 45 minutes. No lie. I should send it right back to the company, but hey - who was I trying to kid? That dog is a machine.

Pup with Calvin. Calvin lays his arse down on Pup's keyboard every night. Kinda hard to earn the bacon when there's a pork-arse laying right on you.

This shot is more for my Bella. I think one of her white squirrels has moved into my neighborhood. I've seen his little scampering body all over! Every day!

New shoes for my retail job. Holy Hannah - why is comfort so darn ugly?? I had Shelley-Belly in stitches cuz I kept referring to my feet as 'little platypuses.' I don't even think I know what a platypus looks like, but this has to be close. She said it was the fuzzy socks. I feel 12. Which is okay because sometimes I act that way.

Owl sighting! I don't want to carry this bag necessarily, but how spiff is that?

Soup and tea. Trust me, this is one of dozens of food shots. Who wants to see my food? Oh wait! Look at my arse. That's where it is.

Daisy! In a pin! We were selling bunches of pins like this. All different. So cool. I bought a bunch and used them as bows on some presents. Pin Love.

That was my week!

What were you all doing?

Eating in a Chinese Restaurant

2012-01-27T07:09:00.000-06:00

I have loved Chinese food all my life. Well, the type of Chinese food you can get in Minnesota anyway.

When I was in high school my friends and I would have lunch at the Minneapolis Nankin as often as we shopped downtown (often I have to say) and I always felt so grown-ass womanlike sitting on the balcony with a little delightful teacup and teapot sitting on our table while I ate pork chow mein and crunched on egg rolls.

Minneapolis Nankin 1958

The whole experience, every time, would make me feel seriously grownup and I would take my little paper box home with me and eat the leftovers directly out of the box like I had seen in movies shot in New York where all New Yorkers could order takeout (there was no such thing as Chinese delivery when I was in high school)

My momma loved to eat at the House of Wong in St. Paul (the website says Roseville, which is technically true). She and I ate there hundreds of times and when my girls got old enough I took them there with us.

I had a girlfriend when I was in my 20s and she and I would meet for lunch there every week. We both worked nights at the time and it was a great way to catch up and have leftovers to bring to work. In a little paper box.

When my mom was so sick back in 2004 I would bring take out from House of Wong to her house in North Branch, Minnesota on most Sundays and we would eat out of the little paper boxes. So good. Some really good memories for me now that she is gone.

Not much to look at on the outside, but awesomeness on the inside.

We still go there and now it's Pup and his momma I drag with me. Momma Betty loves her some chicken chow mein and Pup is a big fan of their turkey dinner. I know, I know. He isn't a fan of Chinese so Momma B and I are happy he has something to eat when we go there.

Last night Pup, Momma Betty, Lorenzo, and I headed out. It had been planned for a week or so, but I was thinking all week, "what will I order??" Let's face it, Chinese isn't the best choice when you're starting a new and whole food approach to your eating.

I poked around the menu a while and found that egg foo yong isn't a bad choice at all. Made of mostly vegis and eggs it seemed perfect. I had a bit of rice along with it as well. Stayed away from the fried rice (which I'd arm wrestle you for normally).

Came away from the experience with a full tummy and a guilt-free mind. And a little paper box.

Big-Arse Breakfast

2012-01-26T10:56:00.001-06:00

Check out my post and ingredients for a protein-loaded beginning to the day.

Ground Beef Scramble

FitFluential

2012-01-23T11:39:00.001-06:00

Congratulate me! I am one of the latest Ambassadors to the newest brainchild of fitness blogger Kelly Olexa, FitFluential.

This is what the website says about FitFluential:

FitFluential is a nationwide network of fitness enthusiasts sharing their journey both online and offline through multiple social media platforms. Founded in April of 2011 by Kelly Olexa, FitFluential was designed to connect health and wellness brands with their ideal target market through customized, long-term experiential and contextual marketing campaigns.

Kelly asked me to be part of this group a couple of weeks ago and I was not only flattered, I was excited! I've been stumbling and tumbling along on my fitness/health quest for the LONGEST time and I am thrilled to be a part of a resource to assist me and others on this quest.

I'm fielding my way through what it means to be a part of this new family and I'd love it if you guys would share your fitness stories with me. Leave your cliff notes version in the comments section. Or share whatever it is that you do to keep your fitness and health at a level you like.

I'm hoping that my 50-something take on a fitness journey can help some of us that are in a similar age grouping. There are so many young uns out there that we of a certain age need some help and guidance as well. Or at least a story that we can relate to!

I'll be telling my story on my other blog, but will, of course, be blogging updates right here on Fashion Plate.

Okay now, come on and give me smooches. I'm going to need every one of them.

Sunday at the Chez Emerson

2012-01-22T11:44:00.000-06:00

It was a good week.

I discovered I loved My Week with Marilyn and hated Contraband.

I discovered nothing is quite as delicious as a Maker's Mark Old Fashioned.

I added a few things to my list.

I crossed a few things off my list.

I bought a few things.

I donated a few things.

I hugged.

I cried.

I laughed.

I organized.

I procrastinated.

All in all, just another week.

Thrifting a Go-Go

2012-01-16T08:34:00.000-06:00

Check out my disco-ball owl!

Remember Avon? Or maybe you guys still buy Avon? I haven't really thought about Avon for years, but there was a time when I bought lots and lots of Avon in my 20s. This little dude is from back then I do think. He's full of weird-smelling powder that immediately made me remember my Avon days. Isn't Avon known for it's super good skin care line right now? Maybe it's time to revisit Avon.

Did I use the word Avon enough?

Bella and I went thrifting yesterday and had such a good time. Flaked on photos which is unfortunate cuz we saw a few weird things. As you always do when thrifting.

This is my favorite find of the trip. He's sitting in my office making me pretty happy right about now.

Make It, Don't Break It

2012-01-07T10:47:00.000-06:00

If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.
~ Yogi Berra

Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom.
~ Jim Rohn

You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough people get what they want.
~ Zig Ziglar

You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.
~ Les Brown

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.
~ Author Unknown

Keep your face to the sun, and you will never see the shadows.
~ Helen Keller

Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.
~ Elbert Hubbard

We are one week into the new year. How are you meeting your goals? Do you have an action plan? Do you have motivation enough? Are you keeping your momentum?

Goals are the mitigating factor in all success. I want to keep the goal ahead in my windshield and the obstacles behind me in the rear-view mirror.

New Year, New Rear

2012-01-01T09:36:00.000-06:00

We brought in the new year with friends.

First going to a great movie (Mission Impossible - sooooo good!) then heading back to our house to have steak, yams for the girls, potatoes for the boys, salad, wine, and assorted snacks.

It started snowing around 11:00 and since we haven't seen hardly any this year (so weird) we all ran like little kids (well, Pup and his friend Doug did anyway) to look at it.

It was sticking to all the bare trees and grasses and seriously turning our little neighborhood in the hood into a beautiful paradise.

That's why we live here. When just something as simple as an one inch snowfall can turn brown and dumpy into white and glittery - well, it's enchanting.

Cut to this morning.

I wish I was a get-it-all-cleaned-up-before-I-go-to-bed girl. I always want to be. Truth is, when the fun evening is over, I want to get to bed with my Pup and snuggle in the big huge bed.

But then you wake up to this.

So . . . right now Pup is whining that I better hurry and get my arse ready cuz he wants some breakfast at Denny's (can you believe?) because he knows there will be no breakfast-making in this kitchen right now.

Yes sweetie, right after I wake up.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Whether you resolution or not, whether you celebrated big or small, have the best first day of the new year. It's all good my hooches.

smooches

Sexy Sadie

2011-12-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

Pup and I are about to book an April trip. He works long and hard hours during the tax season and this year we are heading someplace (it's getting narrowed down) where there will be lots of beach, lots of sun, lots of theme drinks, lots of shopping, and maybe even lots of golf.

We are Minnesotans. We are pale, chubby, and not beach ready in the least. Not that all Minnesotans look like this, but enough do that I sometimes hear our part of the country talked about in a not so flattering light. I have amused myself many times in Las Vegas by picking out the people I'm certain are from Minnesota. They are usually wearing bad t-shirts and fanny-packs around largish bellies.

So . . . I am in a competition with a co-worker. We are getting to our fighting-weight and competitive bodies for our April trips. I'm trying to get Pup to participate as well.

Better eating, better exercise, and better feeling. And hopefully better looking.

Here is what I aspire to . . .

I stumbled on this just a few minutes ago while cleaning out my photo-log in my blog folder. I was struck by it once again.

This photo made the rounds a few months ago and I remember marveling when I saw it. A woman of a certain age, looking a certain way. A hot, non-bobblehead kind of body.

Helen - will you be my poster-girl?

Helen Mirren

Not Everyone Had a Great Day

2011-12-25T21:39:00.000-06:00

Can't resist posting this photo of Lorenzo's little kitty DK.

She never looks like this. Her face is always squeeky and smiley. She may have been a little cranky that I was following her around with a camera.

Then again, she may have had that mean-mug because she found her stocking and we wouldn't let her have it. Not just then anyway.

Somehow, this bowl full of ornaments makes me so happy.

This tree looks lovely, but it died nearly immediately after we put it up. I did all the stuff you're supposed to; we had a new cut on the bottom, we put it in water within 30 minutes of buying it, I checked the water level every day. It still died. So this bad boy is coming down tomorrow before we burn down our lovely new room.

Merry Christmas again everyone! I hope you all got what you wanted and then some.

Smooches and love you all.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T09:46:00.000-06:00

Yep, just a shot of me while opening presents with Pup this morning. I'm not kidding! Ha!

We decided to open this morning because . . . because . . . because we're too undiscplined to wait? Because we're 12 years-old? Because we're going to marathon movie-go tomorrow?

Whatever the reason, we love watching each other open our presents. Even when a couple of them we totally picked out for ourselves.

Hey! We're adults and want what we want.

Happy Holidays everyone!

The Utility Room - Kinda Like The Bourne Identity, Only Nothing Like It

2011-12-22T16:49:00.000-06:00

I considered getting the room squeeky-clean and looking like I don't use it, but then there would never be pictures of the minily-remodeled utility room.

You know, like I haven't taken any pictures of The Big Room. I'm waiting in vain for that room to be cleansy. Apparently that room is not only never clean, but I'm not on the ball.

Well, I'm on the ball, but not that ball. Some other ball. Some ball that flew in my yard uninvited. See how it works? I talk in circles and eventually forget what I'm trying to do. That's how nothing ever gets done.

Except for the other day. Am I right? Can I see a show of hands? Just sayin' and all that shite?

Notice how Calvin has to be everywhere I am? It was damned annoying trying to get anything put away in this new space. Every time I brought in a basket to fill it got filled with some cat-ass. He's like that. I have no idea where he learned such behavior.

Check out my new-to-me 1960s Plycraft recliner. I had to beg on my hands and knees to get this chair. Pup was not lovin' on it. I pouted. He acquiesced. I own a chair! I don't pout often. Only when I want an Eames knock-off produced in the 60s.

It needs some love and leather butter, but I smile every time I walk into the house. It's nummy as a Martini. As nummy as an Old Fashioned.

Hmm . . . for some reason I need a cocktail.

The Differences Are in the Details

2011-12-20T04:23:00.001-06:00

izismile.com

Christmas 1987

Somehow, my adorable little girl has discovered that there is no Santa. Not really.

We thought we had her totally fooled the year we hid her new bicycle out on the porch and brought it in just minutes before her dad shook the traditional Christmas bells. Just minutes before we got her and Lorenzo up for the Christmas morning opening of the presents.

"Look you guys! Santa was just here! It's still cold!"

Years later she confessed that she had seen a large box in the back of our Ford Escort and could poke her finger through and see pink tubing that she knew was a bike.

#fail

When she did find out that there was no Santa, she broke into tears. I pulled her into my arms to console her.

"Don't cry baby-girl," I said.

"But Momma, this means that all these years you and Daddy have been getting us TWICE the presents and letting Santa get all the credit."

I think I sobbed along with her I was so touched by that little girl.

Christmas 1992

Somehow, my other adorable little girl has discovered that there is no Santa.

I looked at her little face. Tears were streaming, running into her curls. I prepared to pull her into my arms for consolation.

"Aaaah Momma! You mean you guys have been LYING to me all these years??"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love both of you guys and I have all the memories of each Christmas lodged in my brain.

Forever there along with the year I made all three of us wear matching tree sweatshirts with black velvet stirrup pants. I thought we were so cute!

Sneaky Pete

2011-12-16T07:56:00.001-06:00

Just a little taste.

I only heard "oh oh!" once or twice during this whole project!

Pup did the tiling himself and I'm loving on it. It's very retro and was very cheap. I had promised my fiscally-tuned-in Pup that I would keep this project on the cheap and I think I did a very good job. Repurposed a couple of things and left the cabinets I found here and there, here and there. Who knew I could really shop as opposed to buy? WHO KNEW? lol

Almost done, but here's a little sample.

Who Who?

2011-12-15T06:16:00.002-06:00

I'm on a new kick. The whole country may just be on this kick way before me if the amount of owl stuff I'm seeing around is a clue. Apparently I cannot even buy a clue. Or a vowel? heh

Suddenly these little guys are topmost in my mind. Lovin' on them.

The big eyes. The little round body. In love.

So I begin decorating the tree. I love getting out the ornaments.

I love the Charlie Brown tree.

I love the stockings.

Calvin came to ~~bug~~ help me.

While decorating I was enjoying an old Rock Hudson, Sandra Dee, Gina Lollobrigida movie. I didn't want it to end. Love all that 60s stuff.

The Big Room was warm and cozy.

I say yes!

What's Eating You?

2011-12-13T09:42:00.000-06:00

Oh! Did I say that wrong? Did I mean what am I eating?

I can't stop eating eggs right now. I guess that's good.

Although it's probably not good to always eat at your desk. Just like when I had a corporate job. Mostly at the desk unless I was going out with peeps for those long fun lunches. I do miss the long corporate lunches. Always a good time to tell you the truth.

I think I miss working downtown mostly during the holidays. It was so nice to be downtown for shopping! Could that be why I haven't really started?

Ooops! lol

Are you guys breakfast eaters? What's your fav?

The Art of Being Lazy

2011-12-10T07:05:00.000-06:00

Human nature is above all things lazy.
~Harriet Beecher Stowe

I'm a very lazy, stay-at-home kind of girl.
~Jerry Hall

Italians know about human nature - they understand human nature perhaps better than anyone else does. They know that people are weak and greedy and lazy and dishonest and they just try to make the best of it; to work around it.
~Donna Leon

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.
~Mark Twain

You can't teach people to be lazy—either they have it, or they don't.
~Dagwood Bumstead

I get up in the morning, make some coffee, sit at my computer, and before I know it several hours have gone by.

Be it reading my blog list, working on some writings, or designing the new PupBiz logo, the time flies. Good thing I'm mostly an insomniac. I have extra time to burn.

I Had to Go to Bed

2011-12-09T06:33:00.001-06:00

We have a new associate at The Turnstyle. It's good not being the newby anymore!

Allie-baby is adorable and fun to work with. I look forward to closing the store with her. The other night we tag-teamed a talkative woman, trying to calm down her weird and totally inappropriate rantings (I'm telling you - peeps are crazy - you really have to love it) and later, both of us shaking our heads in a kinda WTF way. Seriously fun night.

At least I thought I was laughing my arse off. That is until Allie-baby sent me a link to this site: Damn You Auto Correct!

Go here as fast as you can. But only if you can stand a bit of irreverence and naughty-talk. It's definitely not for the easily-shocked or doesn't-like-that-kind-of-talk peep. But funny, I'm telling you.

Pup and I were laughing so hard, blowing our noses and wheezing, that when I was done I actually had to go to bed because my head was pounding in an ice cream headache kind of way.

Makeup to Breakup

2011-12-08T07:43:00.001-06:00

I can't leave the house without makeup.

I've tried a time or two, but I just can't.

Especially mascara. And now that I'm older; eyeliner. Oh, and a little magic in the eyebrow area.

I started wearing makeup in the 7th grade. I wasn't allowed to wear makeup, but my first class that year was phys. ed. so I'd spend a few minutes putting it on after class. If I remember right I was heavily into all of the Yardley products and painstakingly putting on white eyeliner and then a thiner black line over the white. And then white creamy lips. Yep I was so cute!

When I moved into my 20s I was into the entire 'natural' look which only meant I still wore mascara on the eyes and vaseline to shiny up my lips (yep, I said vaseline).

In my 30s I was having babies so while I know I wore makeup, I sure don't remember putting it on. I barely remember what I was wearing, what I was thinking, or what I was saying during my 30s.

In my 40s I got way more vampy with my makeup. Much more eyeshadow, more eyeliner, I added lipstick, I added a bit of foundation to smooth out my skin, I discovered bronzer. Women in their 40s come into their own if you ask me. We're hitting our sexual peak, we are at our most attractive because we have lots of experience to back up that body we're walking around with. I remember flirting with a young server at an Italian restaurant and him looking at me dreamily after stating, "I just love older women."

Now I'm in my 50s. Makeup is no longer a fun, creative thing. It's a necessary thing! I cannot leave my house without people asking me if I'm okay.

"You look so tired! Are you okay?"

"I'm good! I'm just in my 50s. Hey, wait a minute while I find my huge sunglasses. How do I look now?"

A Man and His Toys

2011-12-04T09:46:00.003-06:00

Pup is one of those men that is very hard to buy for. If he ever wants anything (mostly - within reason - a CPA's reason) he runs right out and gets it.

You never know what that might be. Some sort of crazy tool for the garage that may get used only once (not that I care) or this new thing. A plow for the driveway.

Now, we live in a very very urban part of the cities and while we do have a very large lot (a double city lot), it's NOTHING compared to living in the country. In Pup's defense, our driveway is over 150 feet long and he works very long hours during the winter (tax season) and it's hard on him to have to snow blow that ginormous drive.

With that said I still found it crazy that he felt the need for this huge plow, but just looking at his face this morning when he looked outside and saw that we had FINALLY had our first measurable snowfall, well, it was priceless indeed.

But there he is, plowing to his heart's content. And I noticed he plowed several other driveways in our neighborhood. That's my Pup. He loves helping all the young uns around us here in Chez Emersonville.

In fact, the young couple that live right next to us had a baby recently and then the hubs was deployed. So Pup has been mowing their lawn all summer and now will be plowing their driveway. He just does it to be nice. Don't you love him from all this info?

Even though last night when we were out with friends he was stroking my new black velvet holiday top and said, "Sweetie, you feel just like a carseat."

aaaaaaaaaah!

Love you Pup. Sorry I punched your lights out. *kidding!*

Hot Men Friday

2011-12-01T21:31:00.000-06:00

Dane Cook

It's funny.

I have had so many hot men it's getting hard to keep them all straight.

Oh yeah, I said that right. So many hot men.

On my Hot Men Friday anyway.

In fact, I was thinking about Matt Damon, but discovered I've had him already.

Then I remembered I saw this guy on The View the other day. He's in a new movie (I forget the name) and Barbara Walters was asking the most annoying questions of this poor guy and he was handling her in the nicest manner I could imagine. I may have thrown her off of a bridge, but he was being a perfect gentleman.

I like his face. I love smart-asses. This is perfect.

Hard to Resist

2011-11-30T10:44:00.001-06:00

These two faces.

It's crazy and wonderful that these two get closer and closer. It used to be that George would have nothing to do with the cat. But Calvin is definitely growing on him.

He grew on us so it was bound to happen.

I have no excuse for this post. Pup says I have a classic empty-nest thing going on. I have entirely replaced being a mom for being a pet-mom.

I'm alarmed! I laugh! I'm sooooo very annoying.

Blog Keeping Today

2011-11-28T07:59:00.000-06:00

You know how it is.

There are dust bunnies all over the place around Fashion Plate (yes, I realize that dust bunnies are not bunnies, but actually our skin, but I prefer to not think about that. YUCK!) and thought I'd drag out that lovely Riccar and clean up the place for me and you!

I'm on it!

What Are You Doing Today?

2011-11-27T08:49:00.000-06:00

I'm going to Ikea with my Bella to scope out utility room thingys. Wish me luck because WAH? We're going to Ikea on a SUNDAY? We must have a screw loose.

But we're going early, going to fuel up on their $1 breakfast (or whatever it costs), drink lots of their awesome Swedish coffee, and hit the ground running, elbows flying.

Not really. There will be no elbows. Or pepper spray for that matter. Did y'all hear about the pepper spray all over the country? I'm embarrassed to be part of the human race at times. I like a bargain, but I'm not going to risk getting shot over an Xbox. I'll buy my damn flatscreens at Costco thank you very much.

So, I'm drinking my coffee (yes!) and trying to pick out a white for my utility room. Can you believe this damn Benjamin Moore? How many whites are there?

I'm excited to go to Ikea, I can't lie. I love that place with a passion that is a little unnatural. Or maybe it is natural. To me anyway.

It's early - I'm rambling - I'm going to put on some jeans and wait for Bella.

What are you doing today?

You're Supposed to Thaw It?

2011-11-25T07:43:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving at my Bella's house.

Her very first Thanksgiving and she was excited to cook.

I headed over to her house with some helpful items she doesn't have, ready for a day of cookin' and later, a day of eatin' with the family. I was really looking forward to hanging out with her and making the meal together.

"Where's the turkey sweetie?" I ask.

"What Momma? Don't you have it?"

"Didn't Pup bring it over Monday?" I ask again.

"No! I thought you guys were bringing it over thawed today!"

We stare at each other for a minute.

A minute longer.

We start laughing our asses off.

I call Pup. "Hey babe, didn't you bring the turkey over to Bella earlier this week like we talked about?"

"Oh no!" I hear.

Turkey is frozen solid.

Pup brings it over anyway. Bella and I hunker down at her and B's laptop, frantically seeing what we can do.

Guess what? You can cook a frozen turkey. No problem. We followed the instructions from the Mayo Clinic and the Minnesota Department of Health and threw that bad boy into the oven.

Six hours later, we're eating that 11 pound beauty.

Wine, turkey, stuffing, corn pudding, my awesome gravy, Lorenzo's green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and some wii Jeopardy.

Life is good. Even when it starts out frozen.