RIP: Michael, Farrah, and Ed

In response to Dinah's comment, I have to say that I was sentimental about the passing of MJ. He had such an influence in the world of music, and I can't count how many times I watched his videos when MTV was the big thing. Michael and I went to his 20th high school reunion this weekend, and there was so much MJ being played. At the reunion, at the post-reunion party bar, and on XM Sirius radio on the way there and home . . . .

Dinah, what camp does Hudson go to and how long was he gone? It was clearly was long enough to forget you but still love you - that's so sweet. I loved camp when I was growing up!

As for swimming, I, too, would prefer my own lane, and if I go at the right time, I can have one. But, I haven't figured out when that perfect time is. I am like you - I ran into the lane divider several times, and the ones at SMU are kind of heavy. But, swimming is really such a great sport, and I am really loving it!

Do you Vanderbilt people know Derek Davis? He is, yet another, Commodore from Michael's high school - he was a year behind us. I didn't know him at Vanderbilt, but he was at the reunion, and it was nice to meet him. Hope you are all doing very well and staying cool! ;)

"I forgot I had parents , no offense"

That is what Hudson told me when I picked him up from camp last week. Granted, he said he loved me and that I was the best mom ever, it is just that camp was so much fun . . . Time flies.

Christy, I find that swimming is way too intimidating for the circle or share a lane issue. I am always worried that I am going to kick someone or they will kick me. So, I typically overcompensate and hit or kick the lane line or the wall. It is just too much. I am impressed that you do that.

Finally, this is a brief post because I am still mourning the loss of Farrah and Michael. That Farrah was truly the most beautiful girl during the Charlie's Angels days. Mesmerizing. Michael was a good dancer and cute member of the Jackson 5. His other "issues" make him less sympathetic, for sure.

Hope all is well. D

I've Apparently Joined your Decade, Kirsten

Sestak swimming adventure, number two. I am happily swimming along just a little while ago, when a group of HPHS girls say to me: "Ma'am, can we 'circle' with you?" For a second, I felt really cool because I knew what circling meant - a guy had just said it to me a little earlier. (In case you don't know, if there are just two of you in a lane, you can stay on your side and just swim back and forth. If there are more than two, then you swim in a oblong circle - everyone stays on the right side back and forth).

But, then the reality sunk in that they called me "ma'am." I think it is super polite when I hear a younger person with good manners, but I feel so old when being referred to as "ma'am," (especially when chugging along in a frumpy one-piece)! After 20 laps (100 meters per lap), I am more than happy to join your decade! :)

Happy Belated Birthday, Kirsten!

Okay, I know when your birthday is, I just never know what the date of the current day is. Like, I know today is Tuesday and I know it is still June and I know the 4th of July is on a Saturday. That is all I really have right now. So, sorry I missed at least a shout out.

I still love Hotair.com -- the sarcasm makes me happy. I am more obsessed with my armband calorie counter thing, however. After wearing it for a week, really tracking the calories I am eating, and analyzing calorie out vs. in and weight loss vs. weight gain, I have come to a very sad conclusion. It takes forever to lose a little weight and that is if you are trying really hard, i.e., eating less and exercising when you do not want to. It takes almost no effort to gain a lot of weight. For example, I had 4 days of 1200 calorie deficits and lost 1.2 pounds -- that is right, about .3 a day. The next day, I broke even (father's day brunch) and, guess what?, that led to a 2.2. pound weight gain. Mother Hummer. Needless to say, I am a little frustrated. Plus, I walk with a black weight vest on, a black visor, my black armband and corresponding wrist watch and sunglasses -- looks like I am trying out for Terminator. For what? A measly .3 pounds! It makes me want to snatch that Sprinkles cupcake out of your skinny 40 something hand.

Other than that, I am good. No problems.

I will keep you posted. Hopefully by next girls trip, I will be down 3.2 pounds -- unless I decide to eat a piece of toast.

Hurry Up and Join my Decade!!

Ok, I'm officially 42. aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh. I guess I can at least still say I'm "close to 40" without disclosing which side of the number I'm actually on. ;) I can't say I really mind being in my 40s except for the perceived baggage that accompanies it. I only wish you all could please join me a little sooner since I've been hanging out here all by myself for 2 years now - not very thoughtful of you all is it??? However, I do believe I will have some company in 6 short months (Allison!). YIPPEE!!! BTW, Dinah, while I know you've been emotionally grounded in your 40s since your early 20s, nothing compares to actually 100% owning the decade in all aspects.

Christi, love that you are growing out your bangs! I cut off 8 inches last month and I. Love. It!

Allison, need more moving updates. Need to read more fabulousness.

Dinah, how many sugar cubes would be in the Sprinkles cupcake I just polished off for my post-birthday breakfast this morning (the CoffeeMate in my coffee was sugar free). Also, stop reading depressing political blogs.

Susan, I owe you for the hair courage, although you still own the "Sassy" label, I just don't look like I'm ready to audition for HeeHaw anymore. :)

Not Nonresponsive + Dermaswim

Hi ladies! This is fun - I love to hear from all of you. I replied to Susan's remark about getting the pool, but did so in the form of a "Comment," so now I see that in order to be considered "responsive" - it must be in the form of a brand new post! :)

Good Product: Dermaswim. The very best if you don't like chlorine. I bought it on-line, and loved it. I put it on my cuticles and around my mouth and got in the SMU pool and swam for an hour. If I had only been so diligent about the sunscreen . . . . Because the Dermaswim was oily like Vaseline or Aquaphor - it kept the water and chlorine from eating away at places that have been irritated in past swimming excursions - without leaving my face oily or with any kind of adverse side effect!

I have decided to let my bangs grow out - they've been bothering me - it is such a tedious process, and today, I am getting some layers to help with the process. Wish me luck! And have a great weekend!

Armband Fun

Well,

I don't have much to add but the blog felt lonely when I went on this morning. I am closely following the current political situation, but it often proves too stressful. So, I am reading and working on my iphone solitare -- bakers dozen version is very challenging. Hope all is well.

D

Can I call myself a "blogger" now?

This is so much fun!  I wish I had one of those armband things yesterday.  I probably could have consumed an entire large cheese pizza and 2 large fries along with the bottle of Pinot Grigio that I had for dinner with no guilt!  Drinking makes moving boxes so much more enjoyable!  It also helps you forget that the air conditioner in your brand new house isn't working properly.  The big square fans from Home Depot are so NOT Nate.

Kirsten how are you feeling?!  I can't wait to see you in a bikini and you to Dinah.  I hope all of those calories were burned without involving any exercise.  Where do I get one of those?!

XO

Glam Chicas!

Kirsten made it.

I could apologize for lumping Kirsten into the nonresponsive category -- since she just underwent major surgery. I will not, however; I think that my previous blog somehow got out into the world's energy, found its way to Kirsten, and prompted her to finally get with the program. For that, I need not apologize. So glad to hear from KA.

Since I know you are all curious, I have burned 950 calories today. Peace out.

Quit your whining!!!!

Finally figured out how to join and blog!!! I love this. :)

Ok, I too have to agree with Dinah on the photo postings. While I am loving the lack of wrinkles I was sporting from 7 years ago, those were actually when I was well over 30 weeks preggers with Caroline. While I do yearn for my face from my 30s, I could do without the bloat face. All I can say is thank god we are sitting!

BTW, I took some way cute photos from this year's trip so next up is trying to figure out how to upload those for you guys. Stay tuned!

You guys seriously make me laugh. :)

Possible Name Change to Blog

Allison,

Hope you are in your house. What a bummer about the A/C.

I am thinking of changing the name of this blog to DinahandAllisonAreWinnersEveryoneElseIsaNonresponsiveLoser.blogspot.com. Do you have any objections to this name change?

I also wanted to inform you that this is my first day wearing my GoWearFit contraption. It is like those armbands that the people from the Biggest Loser wear. It tells you fairly accurately how many calories you are burning per day. I think/hope this will make me reeavauate how many calories I am taking in.

I will let you know -- haven't you ever wondered how many calories you burn when you just sit?

Allison, keep us, I mean me, informed.

D

New House Update

OK...we had the "reveal" on Friday.  However, we still haven't slept there because suddenly the air conditioner upstairs quit working and no one seems able to fix it.  Did I mention that everything that could go wrong did go wrong.  We seem to be continuing the trend!   

This Is What I Do

Me today at McDonald's making a local commercial.  It was with the "Gossip Girl" of Tampa so we said things like as hot as Nate Archibald and tasty like Chuck Bass.  How embarassing is that?  

Seriously???

Allison,

I love that you have added your creative flair to the site. I am, however, highly displeased with the large photo that you chose to top the site. As you may recall, Kirsten and I were 20 months pregnant on that trip and, while I do fight the battle of the bulge, the additional 40 that I am carrying in that picture did not photograph as well as you might think. So, I am happy to keep that somewhere on the site, but would prefer it to be smaller or that there was some notation that I was pregnant and 40 pounds heavier than my current petite size. Otherwise, I love what you have done.
Good Luck with REVEAL!!!

Almost An Expert

Now I'm really having some fun!

It's A Go

I think I have figured out how to post!

IT Challenged

OK. Since I can't figure out how to post under my name, I'm forced to sign in as Dinah. Susan...a little help here! This is the week of the "installation" so I thought you would all get a kick out of what I'm doing while Nate and Company (mostly and Company) slave away at the move! I was actually banished from the property yesterday at 10am. And I was on my best behavior! I had to go to the house today to give a check to the cable guy and I was forced to do so from the driveway! In the meantime, I have tried to occupy my time and not drive everyone I come into contact with crazy. Much harder than it sounds. After 4 and 1/2 years of planning and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong....we will be sleeping there on Friday night. For those of you (Dinah) worried about Nate...he arrives from Milan right now. You know his boyfriend Brian Atwood is the designer for Bally and they have an apt. in Milan. Duh! Before I was banished, I was getting the scoop on some of his other projects in LA. As you can imagine they involved some famous people who are not very nice. Good stuff but I won't name names since I'm not ready for our blog to be on Inside Edition! Can't wait for you all to come visit. Does anyone know how to post photos on this?

Design

So fun -- Susan has blogged. I am with you, Susan, on swimming, but it's getting into the bathing suit and jumping in the pool that is the kicker.

On a slightly different note, I am obsessed with Allison's new house. I suggested that she wear a coal miner's hat with a light and camera on top when she gets the big "reveal" -- design lingo for the first time she walks in and it is all done -- so that I too can ooh and aah with her. She will need to post a full blog whatever with pictures when that happens! Until then, I am contenting myself with many TIVOD episodes of Design Inc and Sarah's House on the Fine Living Channel. She is incredible. She is from Toronto, so I love it when she says "PROE-Ject," "Hoese" and "Aboet" Go to her website and tivo her shows -- sarahrichardsondesign.com -- delightful. Susan and Allison, you will love her furniture section, I think.

Ok, love this blog thing. Attagirl Dinah. While I'm kind of real impressed by you setting up quickwitfriends, I'm WAY impressed by that healthy, all from scratch recipe you posted. I mean really. You did not learn that stuff in law school. My tip of the day is that we all need to start swimming. Sloan is doing swim team and he is devouring our entire pantry on a daily basis. The calorie burn from that sport is unreal. So we might end up looking like linebackers with our big shoulders, but I'll take it if I can eat anything and everything like that boy is doing...let's get in the water!

Christi,

You are so on it. Can you post by signing in? (just curious since I cannot tell from my screen)

Okay, I am going to post a recipe today. That is right -- a recipe. My kids love these and so do I and they have to better for us than a Keebler. My source is the Whole Foods flyer that they hand you at the store.

Cherry Orange Oatmeal Outdoors Bars

3 cups gluten-free rolled oats (Quaker Oats worked just fine -- just not the quick ones)
1/3 cup Smooth Almond Butte
1 cup of dried sour cherries or any other dried fruit (I used chocolate chips for my kid that does not like fruit)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup Wildlfower Honey
cinnamon to taste
1/2 tsp. salt -- more is always better
3 egg whites
2TB of finely ground flaxseed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spray 8 x 8 pan with oil. Mix everything by flaxseed together (may have to mush with hands like doing a meatloaf) Press firmly into pan. Bake until golden brown around the edges, about 35 minutes. Let cool a couple of minutes then sprinkle flaxseed over the top. Let cool completely and cut into bars.

200 calories per bar, 5 grams fat, 0 chol, 110 sodium, 6 grams fiber, 13 grams sugar, 7 grams protein.

First Entry into Blog

Hey Girls,

I think someone came up with this idea for us to keep in touch and relay are "beauty secrets" and other morsels of wisdom more frequently. Surely we miss a lot over the course of the year. I think it is a great idea and, because I needed someone to procrastinate this morning, I started this. I miss you guys and hope to hear from you soon. Love, Dinah