So it's been a couple of months now since I made my Gillian O'Malley purchase, and I wish I had a better report! The fit is still novel (in a good, "I'm actually filling the cup!" sort of way), and the silhouette looks nice under T's and all of that, but the thing has not held up well.
Let me say that I am nice to my bras. They are washed in mesh bags in a front-loading washer with very mild detergent in cool water; and they never, NEVER go in the dryer but are draped to air dry. Still, after only three or four washings an underwire worked it's way through the fabric and escaped. Now, I know how to thread a needle, take a couple of stitches and remedy this, and I have; but I am disappointed that I had to after so short a time.
I will probably try again, just to see if this was a fluke (maybe one thread cutter cut too close this one time), and because I do like the fit. I'll keep you updated.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
Help for the IBTC
(Menfolk who are faint of heart should cover their eyes -- this post may delve into the realm of "too much information")
Rumor had it that Target was now carrying a line of bras that flattered the less endowed. In the interest of furthering the quality of life for all members of the IBTC, I spent a couple of hours this week doing some research.
My general conclusion is that cup sizes on the Gillian O'Malley bras carried at Target do run smaller than, say, Victoria's Secret. In fact, I even considered trying on a size larger, but was so enjoying the novelty of actually filling my cup that I stuck with my usual size.
And the best part is that even the Itty Bitty sizes were available in a range of pretty colors and styles.
After a few wearings and washings I'll report back on the quality and durability of this new-to-me brand.
Rumor had it that Target was now carrying a line of bras that flattered the less endowed. In the interest of furthering the quality of life for all members of the IBTC, I spent a couple of hours this week doing some research.
My general conclusion is that cup sizes on the Gillian O'Malley bras carried at Target do run smaller than, say, Victoria's Secret. In fact, I even considered trying on a size larger, but was so enjoying the novelty of actually filling my cup that I stuck with my usual size.
And the best part is that even the Itty Bitty sizes were available in a range of pretty colors and styles.
After a few wearings and washings I'll report back on the quality and durability of this new-to-me brand.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Recipe -- Martin Stew
This is my version of my mother-in-law's version of a recipe she learned from her mother-in-law, whose maiden name was Martin. Easy to come by and inexpensive ingredients in this case make a meal that even the kiddos like.
1 46 oz can of tomato juice
2 4 oz cans of mushrooms
4 cups water
2.5 cups elbow macaroni
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
2 cups frozen peas
In large-ish pot bring the juice, mushrooms and water to a boil. Add pasta and onion powder, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook stirring occasionally until thick and "stewey" (about 30 minutes). Add salt and peas, and cook until peas are heated through. Enjoy!
Makes about nine one-cup servings, each with approximately 169 calories, 3.8 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein.
1 46 oz can of tomato juice
2 4 oz cans of mushrooms
4 cups water
2.5 cups elbow macaroni
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
2 cups frozen peas
In large-ish pot bring the juice, mushrooms and water to a boil. Add pasta and onion powder, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook stirring occasionally until thick and "stewey" (about 30 minutes). Add salt and peas, and cook until peas are heated through. Enjoy!
Makes about nine one-cup servings, each with approximately 169 calories, 3.8 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Frugal Luxury Alert
Our local Target has exfoliating spa gloves in their "One Spot" area (everything there is $1). Picked up a pair yesterday and tested them out this morning with my favorite soap (Indigo Wild goat's milk soap comes in many yummy scents). These work very well to get into the crevices and go around sharp areas that brushes and loofahs miss -- my elbows and toes haven't felt this good in months. The gloves were also easy to rinse and dried quickly.
A couple of cautions: They have a pretty strong petrochemical smell (duh, what did I think they were made of?) , so those who are very sensitive might want to let them off-gas before spending too much time in an enclosed shower with them; and after I got home I saw the "Made in China" tags.
Like the idea of Frugal Luxuries? Check out the book by Tracey McBride from your local library. Then if you think your house should have a copy, purchase it from your local bookseller, or if that's too much work for you, click here:
A couple of cautions: They have a pretty strong petrochemical smell (duh, what did I think they were made of?) , so those who are very sensitive might want to let them off-gas before spending too much time in an enclosed shower with them; and after I got home I saw the "Made in China" tags.
Like the idea of Frugal Luxuries? Check out the book by Tracey McBride from your local library. Then if you think your house should have a copy, purchase it from your local bookseller, or if that's too much work for you, click here:
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Coming to Terms
I will never be voluptuous.
Nor will I ever be curvy, buxom, or shapely. No va-va-va-voom here. It's just not in my genes.
As a child I was small -- to the point of having tests to make sure nothing was medically wrong (for goodness sake, my dad is 5'4", did they expect me to be an Amazon?). As a teen I was thin. Really thin. I could eat any of my friends or family under the table, but my metabolism was such that I stayed skinny. Think how an old, old milk cow's hip bones stick out; mine did that. No curves anywhere, all straight lines and sharp corners. My dad warned me that I should enjoy food while I could, because with our Latin heritage I might hit twenty and blow up like a balloon. Which, actually, sounded a bit okay at the time.
So, being a patient person, I waited. According to the stage-by-stage developmental drawings in some educational book I had, I was stuck in the adolescent stage. I figured that if I waited long enough, the curves would come. The only time I really pushed it was during one semester in college; I was in a weight-lifting/conditioning class and packed on enough muscle to break 100 pounds and got my waist down to 24". If only I'd had the smarts (not to mention the gumption) to maintain that. Within two years the much-awaited metabolism shift started to happen.
As it turns out, I don't put on weight curvy. I stay straight up and down, but just get squishier -- think marshmallow. There was an Arlo and Janice comic a few years back that went something like "I used to be too skinny. Now I'm too fat. At some point I must have had a pretty good body." That's exactly how I felt. I looked in the mirror one day (about 24 pounds after the conditioning class) and thought I'd missed it.
Here's what I think now: We all have pretty good bodies, we just apply the wrong criteria. We are always looking elsewhere and coveting what other's have instead of appreciating what we were blessed with. I think women are especially practiced at this (or maybe we are just more apt to talk about it than men are), and we are too hard on ourselves. Instead of looking at what we can't be, we should focus on what we can. I know, easier said than done, but here goes:
I'll never be voluptuous.
But I can be svelte. I can be cute. I might even play around with lithe, sylphlike, or sleek.
Look at what you've got. Find the good stuff. Celebrate it. Love this body you have, appreciate what it can do, and take good care of it. Give yourself a long, hot, soaky-bath. Drink lots of water. Eat a crisp, juicy apple. Put on some music and dance. Enjoy yourself! Enjoy you.
P.S. If this is a struggle, try finding one positive adjective that fits you and that you like. Then go to http://thesaurus.reference.com/ and heap on as many positive words as you can. Post them all over your house if you have to. Tell yourself you are those things every day. If you hear it often enough, you might even begin to believe it.
Nor will I ever be curvy, buxom, or shapely. No va-va-va-voom here. It's just not in my genes.
As a child I was small -- to the point of having tests to make sure nothing was medically wrong (for goodness sake, my dad is 5'4", did they expect me to be an Amazon?). As a teen I was thin. Really thin. I could eat any of my friends or family under the table, but my metabolism was such that I stayed skinny. Think how an old, old milk cow's hip bones stick out; mine did that. No curves anywhere, all straight lines and sharp corners. My dad warned me that I should enjoy food while I could, because with our Latin heritage I might hit twenty and blow up like a balloon. Which, actually, sounded a bit okay at the time.
So, being a patient person, I waited. According to the stage-by-stage developmental drawings in some educational book I had, I was stuck in the adolescent stage. I figured that if I waited long enough, the curves would come. The only time I really pushed it was during one semester in college; I was in a weight-lifting/conditioning class and packed on enough muscle to break 100 pounds and got my waist down to 24". If only I'd had the smarts (not to mention the gumption) to maintain that. Within two years the much-awaited metabolism shift started to happen.
As it turns out, I don't put on weight curvy. I stay straight up and down, but just get squishier -- think marshmallow. There was an Arlo and Janice comic a few years back that went something like "I used to be too skinny. Now I'm too fat. At some point I must have had a pretty good body." That's exactly how I felt. I looked in the mirror one day (about 24 pounds after the conditioning class) and thought I'd missed it.
Here's what I think now: We all have pretty good bodies, we just apply the wrong criteria. We are always looking elsewhere and coveting what other's have instead of appreciating what we were blessed with. I think women are especially practiced at this (or maybe we are just more apt to talk about it than men are), and we are too hard on ourselves. Instead of looking at what we can't be, we should focus on what we can. I know, easier said than done, but here goes:
I'll never be voluptuous.
But I can be svelte. I can be cute. I might even play around with lithe, sylphlike, or sleek.
Look at what you've got. Find the good stuff. Celebrate it. Love this body you have, appreciate what it can do, and take good care of it. Give yourself a long, hot, soaky-bath. Drink lots of water. Eat a crisp, juicy apple. Put on some music and dance. Enjoy yourself! Enjoy you.
P.S. If this is a struggle, try finding one positive adjective that fits you and that you like. Then go to http://thesaurus.reference.com/ and heap on as many positive words as you can. Post them all over your house if you have to. Tell yourself you are those things every day. If you hear it often enough, you might even begin to believe it.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)