How To Stay Young

Posted on by Sandy

I got this today from a friend — I am SO BEHIND on blogging… I have all sorts of notes, scraps of paper, and things to say… Oy.  But this came in and I thought it was fun, so thought I’d share.  It had very cute visuals with it…but if I try to get them in too, I will never post it, so…never mind 🙂

 1. Try everything twice. On Madam’s (of Whelan’s and Madam) tombstone she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice…loved it both times!

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down
  (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches).

3. Keep learning: Learn more about computers, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with that person.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with you your entire life is you. Lost time can never be found. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it.
  If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county,
  or a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity. 

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

12. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

The inCREDible squeaking chair!!

Posted on by Sandy

I just finished Podcast 8, and am editing it a bit… and holy cats, I have the squeakiest chair!!

 I do know what’s up with this. My James had to borrow our studio set-up, because he’s working from home and had a conference call.  This means he gets to sit at the fancy schmancy setup (with headphones and all), since, hey, he’s making $ and I’m making… a podcast 🙂 The beauty of our setup, though, is that I can take my laptop, another set of headphones, and head into another room (the breakfast room), and just keep going.

(We all know what it’s like when we finally start something — we want to keep at it, and not quit. Because we were gone on holiday for a bit over a week, I am behind on podcasting, and wanted to get the track laid down today.)

So, I’m in the breakfast room  I’m on a wicker chair. Say no more, right? Yeah. What a doofus! You can hear the chair quietly creaking the entire time.  (There is also one point where my dog sneezes.  See if you can catch it.)

What the heck… I’m not going to do it over, but I thought I’d letcha know that the squeaky, creaky sound is NOT my bones and joints (I deal in the podcast with starting up my exercise regime again, so that is not so far fetched) — it be the chair.

Skinny Songs — You gotta check these out!

Posted on by Sandy

I guess I’ve been an ostrich for the past few months, because I just found out about this CD, and in Googling the gal who did the CD, she’s been on Martha Stewart, Oprah, etc.

 So maybe you already know about this, but if NOT, check out the Skinny Songs CD– click here, it will take you right to it!!

The gal who did this was a business woman turning 50, who realized that 25 or so pounds Skinny Songs Tshirthad “crept onto” her body since she turned 30.  So she set out to write some songs (and have them professionally produced) that would motivate her to lose this weight.  They are FUN!

I just ordered this shirt off her site.  It was WAY too expensive, but it made me laugh so hard I couldn’t help it.  As you can see, it’s a black tank, and across the bootyback, it says “Does This Shirt Make My Butt Look Too Small?”  HADTA have it!

What does “being present” mean to you?

Posted on by Sandy

My James and I just returned from a holiday. We stopped at an AMAZING sushi restaurant called Love Sushi & Roll in Santa Clarita.  My James is a sushi “snob” and he said that it was absolutely the best sushi he’d ever had.  (Don’t let the slow service, and strip mall atmosphere fool you!)

I was watching some of the other folks that were in the restaurant.  There were a lot of 20-somethings, and almost to a person, they were all sitting across from another person, and texting. Usually, the other person was “just eating.”

What up with that, Bond Grrls? Look. Being present (especially when eating) means putting ALL your attention on What You Are Doing! I would watch these gals woof down a gigantic PLATE of ribs or sushi or rice, all the while texting in between bites. One very pretty gal was obviously out on a date, and all she could do in between eating and answering a few questions with the guy she was with was to text, text, text!!! Aaaaugh!

Many workplaces are going to “email free Fridays.” This means you are NOT ALLOWED to turn your email on, on Friday.  The reasoning is to “get actual work done.”  (They also have “no Meeting Fridays.”) All this technology is supposed to make our lives easier, but what it does is take us away from what our surroundings are. And suddenly the bread basket is gone, or you don’t get a second date, or your work has piled up and you get a bad review, or what-ev-ah — and gee, you can’t figure out why.

There is a New Age phrase that you hear a lot, which is doing things “mindfully.” It’s just kinda weird to hear “mindful eating” — what does that mean?  What it means is pay attention to what you are doing, 100%. It also means no eating and watching TV. No watching TV, answering bills, and trying to talk on the phone. Although we all seem to think that we have way too much stuff goin’ on in our lives, what we really have is the inability to say No. AND the inability to focus and get one thing done, and then go to another.

Today, at LEAST focus on your food every time you eat.  What does it feel like in your mouth? There is a whole section of my book on this — time to go re-read it, if you have forgotten. Part of the ‘fattening of America’ has to do with eating in a non-mindful way — while driving, while watching TV, and the like.

And cut out the texting all the time. Sorry — I know, you “gotta” be in touch with your grrrls.  But the thing is, I was at a concert recently, and folks were all taking photos on their cells, sending texts that “they were there,” and the like. They were not quietly appreciating the concert, or being “present.” They were elsewhere; their minds were with their friends, gossiping through texting. They weren’t just appreciating.

Appreciating things is something that Rich Folks Do.  Yes, really. We only get 24 hours in each day, so by spending each minute, second, or each hour to the fullest and paying it full attention, you will not let it “slip” away. How many of us look up, and 3 hours are “gone” because we were emailing? Or we spend time sending texts, and miss out the movie we paid for?

Just some more thoughts for the day — but remember, texting when you have a flesh-and-blood person there with you is just RUDE, too.

Accentuate the Positive…

Posted on by Sandy

…Yeah ok fine, one more word on the Recession “thang.”  The glass is always 1/2 full or 1/2 empty — right?

Why not accentuate the GOOD THINGS that are going to come out of this?  Because your mind will be more on keeping track of your $ outflow, you can train your baby Bond daughters and sons the true value of things — and that your love (and their worth) is NOT tied up in you buying them yet ANOTHER pair of whatever-they-wants. You can “nest” with your James and make a couple cocktails, and chat, maybe even have fun preparing a meal together, instead of complaining about how you “can’t go out” because you don’t have enough $.

 Accent what works! 

Let me give you a little potential thing you could do on your next Date Night with your James, instead of going for a full-bore dinner that’s going to set him back a couple bills. Get all dolled up, the 2 of you. Then, go to the most expensive restaurant in town that has a bar. Not one with a packed 3-deep bar — a super nice place, quiet, lush, Bond Grrrrrl.

When you sit down, if the bar wraps around, try to get a seat on the side — so that you can watch the dining room and what’s going on. Just get the best seat you can. (If you can’t get a good one straight off, then wait, and move to it.) If you are not a drinker, have the bartender order you up whatever it is that you would like — a Sprite or 7-Up maybe? — but have it put in a champagne glass. Put a $20 tip immediately on the bartender mat, and tell your bartender that’s for him or her for taking care of you. This is especially worthwhile if you are not drinking cocktails — which I suggest you might want to consider, since they are very expensive, and you don’t need that to have fun, anyway!  But this way, the bartender knows that your 2-3 7-Ups are still going to be leading to a nice tip.

Then have some fun! Spin a story with your James. Flirt with him. Make sure your smile reaches your eyes! Just lavish your attention on your James. And pay attention to what’s going on out there with the folks that are having dinner. Make up little stories. It can be a blast. Since you will be there after you have had a nice meal at home, you won’t be hungry, you won’t be tempted to eat bread, and you will NOT be pulling bills off the bankroll to escape!

Have fun like this when you can. Be sure to compensate the Staff “as if” you had had a few pricey cocktails — they won’t care what you’re drinking as long as they get their $.

And another note — if right before you sit down at the bar you go to the Ladies and put on some lipstick, you’re going to drink slower. Because we all know how nasty that “lipstick ring” looks on the edge of the glass — so you will be “sipping” to keep the lipstick to a minimum.  This can slow you down, if you “usually” would be drinking cocktails instead of a soda or some bubbly water.  Give it a try!

Recession…

Posted on by Sandy

Man.  I am soooo far behind on my blog, it’s making my head hurt. I could blame it on trying to get the podcasts out; coaching; the weather. Instead, I just think that a lot of things ganged up on me at once!  So!  I’m going to post a passel of blog postings, to get ideas out of my inbox (where I store them)… and away we go!!

Bernanke signals more rate cuts in testimony
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said during testimony to the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday that the central bank would consider more interest-rate cuts. “He didn’t say the word recession, but if you read between the lines, all this talk about further downside risk is dealing with the risk we may already be in one,” said Scott Anderson, a senior economist at Wells Fargo. Bernanke said the slowing economy posed a greater threat than rising inflation.  ClipSyndicate/Bloomberg (2/27), Bloomberg (2/27), Washington Post, The (2/28), Wall Street Journal, The (2/28)

I heard this covered on KCBS right after Bernanke spoke.  The drive-time team was stating that he used wording that sounded “cautious” but in Fed-speak basically means The Economy Is BA-AAAAD.  Then they interviewed a number of economists, and what their “take” was about this.

One of the economists stated that the “first thing to go” would be “Brand buying” — and that folks would then “just feel poorer.”  That when folks aren’t able to “buy their Brands,” they feel deprived.”

Well, let’s start right here, Bond Grrrrrrls.  We know, right, that Bond Grrls are not “Brand Flashers”?  That’s the thing here.  Bond Grrls live amazing lives, and look great, NOT because they have Chanel on their glasses or Armani on their jeans… but because they are confident, chic, fabulous women all by themselves!

With the economy heading South per all the experts, it’s the time to take a look at your life.  If you have my book, you know that involves going through your ENTIRE house, office, etc. — and taking stock.  What do you have that you shouldn’t?  Can you sell it?  Can you put on a yard sale, or just start doing little bits of sale on eBay? If you itemize your deductions, how about getting some charitable deductions or giving away some of your possessions for a charity you love to auction off in a “silent auction”? 

The best part about this all (paradoxically) is that EVERYONE is going to be tightening their belts.  We keep hearing it/hearing it/hearing it — and so you can intelligently say that you are “paying attention to what the Fed is saying” (sounds good, huh?) and NOT go Mall-bopping or shoeshopping.  Open up all your bills.  Take stock.  Then use all this as an EXCUSE not to go and spend.  Because so many people are in trouble now, you need to help light the way. Be an example. Get your bills paid down. Stop spending needlessly. Heck, start brown baggin’ it! And once you’re out of your hole, and once you realize that your worth is in your awesome SELF, not in the umpteenth BrandBling purse you buy, you’re going to be sooooooooooooooooooo much better for it!

Podcast Double-Oh-7! Chinese Year of the Rat and Getting out of the Victim Loop

Posted on by Sandy

Podcast 007 had to do with the Year of the Rat, and also the Victim Loop. This is the Chinese Year of the Rat, and I find it easier to set “goals” (not “resolutions” —hate that word) on or about this time, with whatever the Chinese new year is supposed to signify as a subject goal. As you will hear in the podcast, this year is a year of the rat, which keeps a clean nest, is clever, knows when to get out of trouble, and is a guardian of abundance.

Oui, it is I, Solitaire, posting whilst on holiday with my James! It’s his birthday, and we’re driving down Highway 1 from San Francisco to Laguna Beach. Well, let’s say we HAVE been driving down the coast… I had great thoughts of blogging and podcasting my way down, and there has been absolutely N-O reception along the way. So, we’re here (Laguna Beach), after a bit of receptionist-wrangling (awful awful terrible dark room for our 3-day stay) and “stirring not shaking.” My James is off to get supplies (bless him) and so… here I be.

So what’s really on my mind now is Travel. I can’t get over how much easier it is to get out and about when I have my “gym bag” (with necessities) and my “makeup bag” all set to go. I took my own good advice (was that Podcast 3? Who can remind me?) and have put my contact lens fluid, conditioner, etc. in smaller bottles, and am dutifully chalking off the sides as we use them each day. I’m still working on the right bag for my makeup stuff, brushes, and the like. My dad gave me a bag for Xmas that I thought might work (because I want to use it… because he gave it to me…) and it’s just too big. Pfffft. Oh well.

Thusfar, we have stayed at an Inn in Carmel, and went to Clint Eastwood’s ranch/inn place for cocktails one evening. It was beyond a hoot. They do sort of cowboy karaoke, and most of the folks there are locals. If any of the pictures came out, I promise to burn them—oh, I mean post them. 🙂

We went from there to Cambria, a WONDERFUL little town, and stayed at the J Patrick House. At their suggestion, we ate at Robin’s Restaurant — fab, fab, fab — at least we walked there so we could just roll ourselves home and spend a few calories at it.

Then we headed to Hearst Castle — a friend is the District Superintendent (read: Big Ranger Kahuna) at Hearst. He got us on a tour, and we were able to catch him between meetings. He said that Hearst was his first posting where he had to have “not one, but two tuxes.” Apparently the Governator likes to use it as his own private party spot, especially at Christmas. And who can blame him???

We met some folks at the Cambria B&B who suggested we stay at the Montecito Inn, in the “expensive part” of Santa Barbara. Lovely, lovely, though the walls were a bit thin. Amazing gym! We walked over to the Four Seasons/Biltmore Santa Barbara and had cocktails in front of their roaring fire—wow. We snuck in a “back way” so we didn’t have to come in the front door — we came in a side — and whether or not that really made a difference I don’t know.

If you have comments on this episode, call the Listener Comment Voicemail at +1 (206) 350-3537, e-mail doubleohsandy [at] yahoo [dot] com or leave a comment below.

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Woo-Hoo! Valentine’s

Posted on by Sandy

First and foremost, you gotta check out this website:

Quick, Say Something Nice!

It’s just too much fun, and the quotes are good for a smile. You can even add your own!

My publisher came up with Valentine’s Cards that go with the book—and the fabulous Sallie Goetsch is re-designing my BeABondGirl.com website, and has posted them right here on this blog.

Have a great one! And be sure to pamper yourself, and (if you have one) your James!

Soli.

A Valentine for Yourself

Posted on by Sandy


This Bond Grrl coupon is a gift to yourself on Valentine’s Day. You know that being a Bond Grrl is (among other things) about being loving and supportive to your James. Being a Bond Grrl is also about discovering and creating your best self. If for whatever reason this Valentine’s Day will be spent without a James, it’s a great opportunity to support and enjoy yourself. As you become fEmpowered, you are choosing your image—deciding which parts of You you love and want to keep, and which parts you will help to fade away.

As discussed in Chapter 3 of the book, one of the best ways to “try on” your new image is via your new Bond Grrl name. Once you have your new name, think of some ways you can enhance, demonstrate, and celebrate that name. Valentine’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to support, love, and cherish your best Bond Grrl self by enjoying a luxurious bubble bath surrounded by candles, cleaning out your lingerie drawer until only those panties worthy of Bond Grrl status remain, dining with your closest Bond Grrl friends and/or enhancing your Bond Grrl image using some of the exercises or techniques discussed in Chapter 3.

Take a few moments to think about what you can do with and for yourself. Once you know, print out this page on a color printer and fill it in. Then cut it out and present it to yourself. Enjoy! And have a happy Valentine’s Day.

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A Valentine for Your James

Posted on by Sandy


You know by now that being a Bond Girl is (among other things) about being loving and supportive of your James. When your James feels your support, he can be more comfortable showing you his softer, supportive side. Valentine’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to implement some of your favorite and perhaps newly uncovered ways to celebrate, love and support your James (or that special someone).

What you do could involve anything from whispering in his ear, giving him a tender and/or sexy massage, asking about and listening intently to his feelings and concerns, sharing a fun and sexy evening feeding each other your favorite foods, or jetting off to some exotic locale. What would you do or say to convey to him that he is loved and cherished, special, sexy and luscious? Take a few moments to think about what you can do to convey your feelings while celebrating your James. Then print out the card below and fill it in. Present it to your James on Valentine’s Day (or any day).

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