Make Your Own Scented Oil

I decided to try making my own scented oil. This is something that I have always wanted to do. I read, in Martha Stewart's whole living magazine, about the amazing properties of grapeseed oil. The article had suggestions about what essential oils you can mix into it to make a moisturizer. I love the smell of bergamot and lavender so these were the oils I decided to use to make my lotion. Ebay is my favorite avenue for finding almost everything. I purchased all three and mixed it all up. It smells amazing and keeps my skin so soft for most of the day. I recommend to try this if you have a favorite scent that brings you happiness.

Brooke's Goal #5

Wow- It is apparent that I have not been doing anything for myself for the past couple of months. My last post was in February! No wonder I have been feeling burnt out and need to have a new goal to get back on track. It was so easy to fall into my old pattern, of focusing on the needs of everyone else, and lose sight that I have needs too. In order for me to feel happy and to be a good mom, it is necessary for me to take time to myself and do something I enjoy. Here is my plan- I am going to take the time to do one thing each day this week that I truly enjoy! I am sorry to say that it probably will not be walking on the treadmill. Maybe I will do yoga, but it will most likely be something crafty. I am still working on liking and wanting to exercise.

Today I am going to start my week with a beading project!

Brooke's Goal #4

I just read an article, in the Body and Soul magazine, on feel-good strategies to try. One of the strategies suggested is to start a happiness journal. The idea is to record something that makes you happy. It could be anything from a compliment, a rite of passage in one of your children's lives, etc. The act of doing this helps train you to appreciate these moments more fully and you can keep track of activities you should keep on doing. My goal this week is start my own happiness journal and see where my happiness comes from.

Quote of the Day

Invest in experiences, not just objects.

Quote of the Day

Take the guilt out of pleasure. Sometimes the thing you want most is just what you need.

The Power of Lasting Friendship

I am leaving for the weekend to spend time with Erika and her family. This was a last minute decision to pack up the family and drive to Southern California. We are now on the same coast and are able to visit each other frequently. Prior to her move, we had not seen each other for about 3 years. This made me wonder why friendships last over the test of time and distance. I think there are so many ways to nurture our friendships without spending quality time together. I am a phone person, so I know that chatting to catch up has helped us along the way. It is staying connected in any way you can that helps these relationships thrive. I am so happy to have this blog, as another tool, to cherish our friendships. You are a great support system and I am lucky to have each of you in my life.

Watch out world....

cause here I come! I am planning an overdue vacation by myself to visit a friend of mine that just moved to Hawaii. I have only been away from the kids one night and that's when I went to San Jose to run a 1/2 marathon. Not that exciting! So, I am gathering the determination to buy the plane ticket (without guilt) and live it up. Thinking that is not hard to do in Hawaii.
With this trip on my mind today I found a cute dress and think it will be perfect for my trip. But, its black....and every swimsuit I own is black. So, here is the promise I made to myself. No more black. It's basic, slimming, and classic but it's time I venture out into the world of color! So, I will buy the plane ticket (even if I need a few glasses of wine beforehand) and I will be strutting a new swimsuit in Hawaii with vibrant colors! That is my goal anyhow!
And this leads me to another topic...I will need to make a trip to the Nordstrom in WC to go get a swimsuit. Maybe we can plan a girls afternoon out shopping and cocktails???? Or maybe cocktails before shopping...makes it more interesting!

Mrs.Pagano- please report to the Kids Klub ...

Okay- so I have joined the gym. And yes, I am less than enthusiastic. BTW_ I am a little bit drunk as I blog tonight :) Please excuse spelling, etc if I suck... I was paged 8 min into my run today to pick up my kids which is why I have not joined the gym before this week- and really, officially, my hubby signed me up. Which is why I have not been to the gym in years- Please let me know if you have been paged while working out...

Quote of the Week

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. -- Sophia Loren

Brooke's Goal #3

A forecast of more rain and a donation truck scheduled for pick up on our street has sealed the deal for my goal this week. I am going to clean out and organize my closet which is a total disaster. The one rule I am going to follow while doing this is: If I haven't worn it in the last year it will be donated. No more holding onto clothes that I never liked to begin with or that never fit me right! The bridesmaid's and fancy dresses, at the back of the closet, they are going as well. Why I have kept them for so many years is truly a mystery! I am sure I will have quite a big pile when I am done and will feel great with accomplishing this task. It will be in with the new and out with old for my closet makeover. I can't wait to go shopping for a few new pieces.

Countdown...

I am heading into Philly tonight to see Wicked and enjoy some appetizers and drinks with two girlfriends and I literally started counting down the hours when I woke up this morning. Is it horrible that I cannot wait to get out on my own and leave dinner, bath and bedtime to my hubby? I don't think so- I think I deserve it and I can't wait to relish every moment ;) I even went out this afternoon (god bless drop-off birthday parties) and got a new pair of boots and a purse for the outing. I'll be thinking of you all tonight- hope everyone else gets to enjoy a good girlie night out sometime soon! Cheers...

Getting out of a rut!

Talking to Brooke the other night, I was telling her about my cosmetic rut. I have never been one of those girls who wears fun colors and has a huge collection of makeup...although I've always sort of wanted to be! I don't leave the house looking like a huge disaster, but I haven't changed a thing in my cosmetic routine since I had my first baby (she's almost 6). Its really boring - my eye shadow is called Taupe (yawn....), my bronzer is called Medium and my blush is called - wait for it - Blushed. I wear a lipstick (when I remember to put it on) called Brown - not Snazzy Flashy Brown, just Brown. It's time for a change!!

So, I'm making it one of my goals to try new things. Shimmery, colorful, things. Brooke recommends Everyday Minerals and I'm perusing the website, gearing up to purchase something fun! So, look out, world! Next time you see me, I just might be sporting Feather My Hair Eye Shadow with Game Show blush! Or something like that....

On another "Rut" note, I am also breaking out a hair rut I didn't even know I was in (thanks again, Brooke) with Moroccan Oil. I used it for the first time, and I can't stop checking myself out in the mirror! I'm overdue for a cut/color, the humidity is about 99% outside, and my hair looks awesome! Love it!

The friends of my friend are my friends...

I hope to get closer to the friends I know and get to know the friends I don't know. Thanks Brooke for bringing us all together and giving us an outlet to our everyday lives. I hope to be able to post interesting insights and clever quotes...but probably not going to happen! You'll all just have to like me for who I am...and who I'm not.

You do the Hanky Panky and you turn yourself around...

I was going to make my first post about make up or some other sort of beauty product but was persuaded by Brooke to write about my favorite underwear. So here goes:

Nothing is more distracting during the day than uncomfortable underwear and nothing more unflattering than pantie lines. After having my 2nd child, my friend told me that I had to try these thongs that were comfortable and stayed put during the day. "Right" I thought. No way. We went to Nordstrom and she showed me these colorful lacy thongs that were called Hanky Pankys. Soft, pretty and expensive but well worth every cent so I was told. I bought a pair and loved them...basic black. That was 5 years ago and now I have a drawer full in may colors. They truly are comfortable, stay put all day and are very flattering. They are durable as well: I wash them in the machine and lay them flat to dry. I still have my original black ones and they are in great shape.

My most recent purchase has been the Retro Thong. Very pretty and comfy too. The lace holds the tummy in very nicely too for those of us with those issues.

Nordstrom does have Hanky Pankys on sale during their Anniversary sale in July and you can find them on the sales rack here and there. There are some on line deals too.

My first blog...on undergarments. Maybe next time I will write about my new favorite bra and get this all out of my system before embarking on my real passion...make up and beauty products. Oh who am I kidding, I love being a girl and all things related to it. I am low maintenance and am always looking for the most efficient techniques and products to make looking good and feeling great a snap. More on that later.

Thank you for reading...

Insider guide to a marvelous mani on Sheckys.com

I just read this tip and am wondering if it really works. I am going to paint my nails and see.

Brooke's Goal #2

I am happy to say that I completed my first goal! I am going to continue on with it each week. We'll have to see how it goes. Now on to my second one for this week. I read two separate articles, on the power of forgiveness and the health benefits of forgiving someone. These articles led me to my decision of forgiving someone this week. I won't share who, but it has been a long time coming. In the Glamour article, Lauren Beil wrote this: "Forgiving doesn't mean you have to accept that what happened was OK. You're just deciding that your health and happiness are more important than holding on to anger. It's a conscious choice to move forward. Every time those feelings arise, remind yourself that the past is the past, we're in the present, and it's time to be at peace." Could it really be this simple to feel healthier? I will let you know.

Friends

So- Brooke has asked me to join her on her new blogging journey and I thought and thought... what to write about? I pondered what you ladies would be interested in, what is the common thread among us? And the answer was our friendship with Brooke. So I have decided to start with a few thoughts on the friends a gal needs in her life.

I only started making true lasting friendships with other women in college and can count on one hand how many really close lifetime girlfriends I have now. But I do have many other friends here in PA who fill roles in my life that I treasure and appreciate along with my "lifers". So, here, in honest terms are the gals I need to keep me happy:

One who is older and one who is younger

to keep me feeling just right agewise

A Working Mom and a Stay at Home Mom

I stay home btw- so I obviously need a SAHM to hang out with during the week but I also need a working Mom friend to keep me grounded in the real world of work and remind me that somedays it is easier to stay home... while I remind her that some days it is easier to go to work

One who weighs more and one who weighs less

to keep my own weight fairly balanced

One who is a better Mommy than I am and one who makes me look like SuperMom

keeps my self-esteem balanced :)

An Old Friend

Someone who knows your history BEFORE hubbie and kids and can understand your moods- good and bad

A Mom with Older Kids

Go to for all of my parenting issues

A Mom with kids the Same Age

Go to for all of my parenting issues

A Soulmate Girlfriend

Very rare- can be new or old but the most treasured of all

All of these women together keep my life full and rich. Some friends fill multiple roles and in that I am lucky. Having moved around quite a bit in the past few years I know how hard it can be to make connections with other women and I encourage you to keep your eyes and heart open. I once met a friend at a park, we were both suffering from lack of sleep, bad hair and had our newborn babies outside WAY before most people would consider it acceptable. We chatted briefly, exchanged cell numbers and went our seperate ways. It was weeks before I got up the courage to call and try to set up a "playdate" of sorts and at least a month before we met again... but in her I found a soulmate friend and my life has been changed for the better.

Detox or Not?

I just read an interesting article about detox diets on the healthy eats blog. I know that I have often wondered if they are safe to do. This is a great blog and the article was very informative. I don't think I will be going this route in order to lose a few pounds. Check it out. The blog address is www.blog.healthyeats.com/ and the article was posted on January 7th.

The cheery earrings that I bought!

Something pretty for you

Everyone deserves to treat themselves every so often. Here is something pretty for you to consider. I just bought a pair of earrings from a website that I read about in a magazine. They are super cheery and don't cost a lot. The earrings are crafted from recycled lucite and come in lots of colors. I bought a yellow pair for only $10. Here is the site: www.manictrout.com and search for These Sweetest Thing vintage earrings.

My Goal for January

I have got to stop eating off my kids plates. That is going to be my #1 goal for this month. I have to train my brain that even those are calories that count. I remember back in the day at WW they called it "BLT-bite, lick, taste". Its a bad habit I need to break!
I also promised myself I would loose 5 lbs before my 35th birthday which is Jan 30th so doing this will help me to meet my goal.

First post from Southern California - Here goes...

It’s going to be another sunny day in Southern California, which makes it very easy to want to get out, exercise and eat healthy. We made our voyage back east for Christmas, and I made it a point to weigh myself the second I walked into my parents house, just to see how much weight I would gain in 3 weeks. Now granted, I am pregnant, however, I gained 6lbs in 3 weeks!!! Holy Cow, that was a little out of control. All I wanted to do was eat heavy, yummy Italian food. It will be interesting to see how much I gain in this next four week span and how sun and weather help play an important part in your daily routine!

So what’s on the docket for today?! We missed our daily walk down at the beach yesterday, so we, two dogs and the 3 year old, will head down there at some point this morning and walk approximately 1 mile. We do it at a slow pace, but at least we’re moving! Then it’s the agonizing question of the day, “What should we have for dinner?” This should not be such an issue, especially since I love to cook! Last night it was fish tacos. A recipe that we love and is loved by everyone I make them for. The original recipe comes from Cooking Light. We have since adapted it and no matter which way you make it, it always comes out yummy! We now serve it with fresh guacamole and sometimes-Mexican rice to make it a little heartier! Enjoy!!!

Margarita Fish Tacos with Chipotle-Lime Mayo and Arugula (my adaptations at in parentheses)
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 tacos) – I make this recipe for two people. I usually eat 2 – 3, and my husband can easily polish off the rest. When we have 4 people, I double it.
Ingredients
Marinade for the fish:
1 1/2 tablespoons grated orange rind (I use 1 large orange)
1 tablespoon grated lime rind ( I use two limes, then reserve 1 Tbsp of juice for Chipolte-Lime Mayo and I use the rest on the fish. I little extra citrus never hurt anyone!)
2 tablespoons tequila (take a shot for the cook;) )
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons warm water
1 pound halibut fillets (I use tilapia often, any white flakey fish will do)

Cooking the fish…(I usually omit this step and just sprinkle a little salt on the fish while it’s cooking)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon olive oil

For the Chilpolte-Lime Mayo:
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce (about 1 chile)
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
2 cups trimmed arugula
Preparation
Combine first 5 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add halibut to bag; seal and marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove halibut from bag; discard marinade. Pat halibut dry; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add halibut; cook 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. Break fish into chunks.
Combine mayonnaise, cilantro, juice, and chipotle.
Warm tortillas according to package directions. Divide fish evenly among tortillas; top each tortilla with 1/4 cup arugula and about 2 teaspoons mayonnaise mixture. Fold in half.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 272 (23% from fat)
Fat: 6.9g (sat 1g,mono 2.1g,poly 2.5g)
Protein: 26g
Carbohydrate: 24g
Fiber: 2.6g
Cholesterol: 36mg
Iron: 1.2mg
Sodium: 367mg
Calcium: 97mg

Handbook for 2010

HANDBOOK 2010
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy. Last but not the least:

Brooke's Goal #1

I am attempting an excercise one this week:
go on our treadmill 3 times and do yoga once

Goals to become a better person inside and out in 2010

I went to Arizona over Christmas vacation and came up with the crazy idea to start a blog. I was hanging out with my friend, Lasena, and we were talking about getting into shape for the New Year. This got me thinking about what this meant for me. I have never been one to work out on a regular basis, so I know there is going to be more than just having that to work on. I believe I am a happy person and love being a mom, but should focus on some time for myself. I think I need to take a step back, every so often, and participate in activities that are just for me. I am enlisting some of my friends to help in this process by contributing to the blog. I feel that you all have something you could give that would help each of us achieve beauty from the inside out. I am so interested to see what you come up with. So let's see what happens!