Summer Sundries

The sun comes out, the temperature rises...beckoning you outside into the fresh air...only to dry your hair, burn your skin and fade your nail polish. Ah....summer! So, how do you protect and maintain your appearance in the hot summer months? Here are some tips:

Protect Your Hair From the Sun:

Hair stylists used to advise customers to switch to a clarifying shampoo in the summer to remove impurities like chlorine and product build-up. But that's all changed now. Instead, skip the clarifying shampoos that dry out the hair and opt instead to:

• Pre-soak your hair before entering the pool to reduce the amount of chlorinated water your hair takes in.
• Give your hair a summer shampoo break. Opt for an every other or every third shampooing day during the dry summer months.
• Increase your conditioning. On non-shampoo days, you can still condition. Or, apply conditioner to your hair before swimming or relaxing in the sun.
• Rinse your hair with cool or cold water at the end of your shower to seal the hair cuticle.
• Apply jojoba oil to the ends of your hair to soften and soothe them.
• Cover up - pick out a pretty summer hat, a cool bandana to cover your hair while in the sun. Or, sit in the shade under an umbrella.

Get Pretty Hands and Feet -- Top Nail Polish Colors for Summer 2010:
What's more sweet than a fresh manicure and pedicure. Try one of these hot summer colors on your next trip to the salon.

• Bright Pink - try Opi's Elephantastic Pink for a fun, bright summer pedi

• Tiffany Blue - who knew blue would be such a popular nail color this year? China Glaze has a pretty soft shade called For Audrey that's worth a try.
• Light Turquoisey Green - Want to try something different and stand out from the pack? Chanel started the trend with their Jade nail polish and Essie has picked up the mantle with their new Turquoise and Caicos polish.
• Totally Taupe - it's not just the color of draperies any more! Try Chanel's "Particuliere" or Rimmel's "Steel Gray"

Serious Skin Savers:
Dermatologists recommend applying at least 2 teaspoons of sunscreen to your face alone. And, don't forget to reapply sunscreen every two hours and each time you emerge from the pool. I personally love the spray on sunscreens. Try Coppertone Sport in 30 all the way up to 70 SPF.

Have you seen the new powder sunscreens? Very cool! Why not give this one a shot - bareMinerals SPF 30 Natural sunscreen

Or, maybe use a tinted sunscreen for light coverage and sun protection. I use Dr. Brandt UV SPF 30 Face Tinted sunscreen.

What are your favorite summer beauty tricks?


Photo Credit: (top)sciondriver's photostream on Flickr (middle) jronaldlee's photostream on Flickr

Great Summer Escapes

Sometimes in order to get away from it all you need do nothing more than crack open a good book...or download one to your Kindle, Nook or iPad.

Find a quiet place where you can spread out and lounge, bring a cool drink and the freshest summer fruit to snack on, and tell your friends and family to buzz off for a while so you can escape.

I've been searching for that great summer read and crossing a few recent finds off of the list. Looking for something good to read? Why not give a few of these page turners a try:

Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger 
Ah...the drama! Before there was Brangelina there was Liz and Dick and the worldwide scandals they created.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane.
Such a good book they made it a movie! If you haven't found it already, it's a thrilling ride of a read!

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell.
If you love Sex and the City, you definitely will enjoy this "pre-quel" about a teenage Carrie pre-city.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer
Calling all "Twihards"...a must read before the new Eclipse movie comes out.

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
If you haven't yet discovered this author, you're missing out on these hysterical, fast-paced stories about a bumbling divorcee turned bounty hunter. Start with her first book, One for the Money, or if you're already addicted like me, her latest hits bookstores on June 22nd.

Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Who can argue with all three books on the New York Times Bestseller's list for this long?

What other books do you recommend for this summer?

(Photo credit - TheCreativePenn on Flickr)

The Incredulous Shrinking Woman

A while back I posted about my recent "shock and awe" experience with my post marriage weight. So, now a month later...it's time for an update.

As I mentioned I signed up for Weight Watchers - a program I'd had good success with back in the early 1990's when I lost 20 pounds of college partying weight. Over the last sixteen post-college years however, my weight has yo-yo'ed up and down the scale to frightening heights and satisfying lows. My biggest challenge - the inability to lose and then maintain a healthy weight.

So far, my experience on Weight Watchers has been very good. The program has changed a lot since I tried it last and does a much better job of accomodating people like me who struggle with sticking to a weight loss plan due to:

1) Being constantly on the go, which makes it tough to thoroughly plan foods ahead of time.
2) My love of eating out at non-chain restaurants (most diet plans only seem to provide food values for chains).
3) My love of ethnic foods that most diet programs seem to have never heard of.

The expansion of the discussion of these programs on the Internet - in chat rooms, food web sites and message boards - really helps someone like me to be able to stay on program AND continue to eat the things I like to eat (so I don't feel deprived).

For example - last weekend we were invited to have dinner at the home of another couple. They wanted to share their love of a local Pho restaurant. I scoured the Weight Watchers Web site and no mention of a points value for Pho. But...thankfully I found several message boards and online communities that addressed how to count this innocent seeming food. Those sites have been a Godsend to my ability to diet AND continue to stay a part of my social world. Some great sites to be sure to bookmark:

Dottie's Weight Loss Zone - the points values for hundreds of restaurants!

Health Discovery - great message boards and chats for people doing Weight Watchers to discuss just about everything.

Calorie Lab - a site that lists the general nutrition information for just about every category of food - including ethnic foods.

In addition, I've become a big fan of the Weight Watchers E-Tools - which allows you to track the Weight Watchers points values that you've consumed, your activity points and how many weekly points you have remaining. There's something very satisfying about inputting everything into the computer and letting the machine track everything for you. (many people also enjoy and have similar success with the Fit Day web site, which is great as well).

All in all, I'm thoroughly pleased with my progress so far. After weighing in today I'm down 8.5 pounds and still striving to meet a 10 pound loss by the time I head to the beach next week. Say a prayer, will ya?

Shoo!

Summer is officially here and I want new Shooz. I want new sparkly sandals, wedges, thongs, peep-toe pumps...I want it all.  Have you checked out the trends this year? Quite funky!

Things to look for and guide your shopping:

Go-Go Gladiator:
Yes, the Gladiator sandal look is still here. I'm really on the fence about this because it's very tough to pull off. Ankle straps are pretty unforgiving unless you're a 6 foot tall, 100 pound woman.  Here's what's in store:

Cole Hahn

Loeffler Randall

Bewildered and Bejeweled:
These are great - especially if you aspire to have a recurring guest role on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Sparkly, stones and baubles bring bling to your feet.

Enzo Angiolini

Calvin Klein


Thong Song:
Flat and flirty, I've been seeing these everywhere. I especially like the thong sandals that have some kind of sophisticated embellishment. These are definitely my favorite trend of the season. Some of my faves:

Tory Burch

Sam Edelman 


Pardon Me Sir, Is it 1985?
You heard it here first - jellies are back. I was in New York last week in an elevator going to the 53rd floor and there they were...jellies. Oy!

Vera Wang 

Calvin Klein 

And, the "No, You Didn't" Shoo of the Week goes to.....Dolce Vita, who has succeeded in producing a whole line of frightening footwear.

What are your favorites this season?

Sand & The City?

Have you seen the new Sex And the City movie?

For months I waited in anticipation to see this film. I really enjoyed the fun, emotional roller coaster ride delivered by the first one and frankly expected no less from round two. Then the reviews came pouring in and unfortunately, they weren't good. I sighed in disappointment....and then went to see the movie anyway.

So, here's my take. While the reviewers are correct - the second Sex And The City movie has a seriously weak plot line - I have to say that the fashion in the second movie has been significantly amped up! Just about every scene is a serious fashion WOW moment. Clearly, the writers went a different route this time - most likely egged on by opportunities for serious product placement and the money that comes with it. So, instead of telling a great story that just about all women can relate to, this version is two and a half hours of  total "fashion porn" for women.

High Points:

- I did love that this version of the film finally explains how Carrie met her three best friends (with great shots of them in the 80's together).The details of their early friendship puzzled viewers for a long time and we all really wanted to know more about how they came together.

- Miranda was a total hoot in this version of the film. She takes on the role of "Julie the Cruise Director" for the girls while in Abu Dhabi and sets up some really amazing excursions for them. Between Miranda's planning and the hotel and air travel accomodations, it's a real DREAM trip.

- Samantha, desperately clinging to youth, shows up to a red carpet event in the same outfit as Miley Cyrus.

Low Points:
- Aidan, while formerly super hot, seems to have lost his mojo. I was looking forward to having him back in the story, but he looked kinda old and leathery this time around.
-  Oh Liza Minelli. When I saw that you'd be in the film, I thought it would have been a cute cameo. But your version of "Single Ladies" was just plain painful. At every moment I was cringing waiting for you to have cardiac arrest. Eeek!

All in all, I will say that I enjoyed the movie. There were a LOT of laughs to be had, great fashion and it was nice to see the SATC franchise focus on marriage for a change. That said - I do hope they focus more on the storyline next time around (if there is a next time around).

What did you think?

Disappointment TV

Warning - possible spoilers ahead!

All across the nation this week you can hear the sound of crickets chirping in the silence. That silence is caused by millions of Americans sitting shaking their heads in disgust. Three top shows, three disappointing endings.

First, let's talk about LOST. I don't know about you, but I really, really was expecting more from that finale. I mean for the last few years skeptical people have been placing bets that the Losties were either already dead or it was just a dream all along. Well, we didn't end up that far off, did we? For six years, we devoted ourselves to this series - the mythology, the characters and the mystery. I was just hoping for a little bit of "wow" and I feel that instead I got "wah, wah waaahhhhh".

So then, that takes us to Dancing with the Stars. I've been a faithful viewer since the beginning. It's always been a fun show. But really, to put a professional dancer on the roster and then have her win. No offence to Nicole Scherzinger, but it really wasn't fun to watch her this season. This should is all about growth, starting off a novice and going pro. But, instead she dominated all season and took all the fun out of the show for me. Dancing - I gave up on you about halfway through the season...if you can't do a better job with casting, then I'll be taking you off my DVR's season pass list.

And, finally that brings us to American Idol. I can at least say that I am not an avid watcher of this show. And that's has less to do with the talent and the production and everything to do with how LAME America is. What is going through the heads of the viewing public? Why oh why do you keep preventing the RIGHT contestant from winning? You keep voting for the absolute most boring singers! Adam Lambert should have won. Crystal Bowersox should have won. Why does the candidate who most seems to be carved out of cream cheese always win? Snore! Maybe someday America will be able to see past someone who seems a little different and instead see the amazing talent they possess.

Well, summer is just about here and with it a soft television line-up. I guess I'll be turning back to Netflix for my summer entertainment.

What did you guys think?

Fa-Fa-Fabulous!

Sometimes it's the va-va-voom in life that makes it all worth while, right? Well, here's a small dose to add to your life.

I came across an ad for the Conde Nast online store while reading my favorite magazine - Vanity Fair.  Curious, I navigated to the address and was instantly captivated. While many of the items are a bit pricey, they are SO worth it. The site is filled with standout art pieces for your home or office. Whether it's a framed vintage photograph or magazine cover to sophisticated note cards and gifts...you've got to check out this site.

Skirting the Edge

Dear designers,

I kinda hate you. What's with all the pencil skirts, bubble skirts and ultra minis right now? Do you know who can wear a pencil skirt, bubble skirt or ultra mini and have them look flattering? Ummmm...not too many. Ok, so maybe a handful of stick insects in LA and NYC, fine. But you should see some of the people in my office trying to wear these styles - it's not pretty!

Anyway, what's a girl to do? I love, love, love wearing skirts in the summer. As soon as the weather warms up, pants go out the window and fun, feminine flowy skirts take flight. Most of my things from last year just look tired and grumpy, so I decided to indulge and pick  up a few new skirts for myself.  Houston, we certainly have a problem. This is what designers have in store for us this season:

Ann Taylor - this is what you have in mind for Spring? Ugh! 

Talbots - one of my favorite stores since I like simple and classic looks. I have rarely failed to find something cute and pretty here, until this year when I was faced with things like this....

Off to Nordstrom....what the what?

And, finally to Macy's....

Anyway, you get the drift. So I guess that the answer is that those of us who are not a size two have to wrap ourselves in burlap and keep our eyes downcast? Or...keep wearing the same old grumpy looking things from last year until a designer comes to their senses and starts making a-lines again?

Best of the Boob Tube

In honor of May sweeps and because there are so many interesting new shows on the air these days, I thought I would provide you with my very own top 10 best shows on television right now.  If you see shows on the list that you haven't yet watched, jump in, the water is great. I'm sure you'll be happy you did.

1) Modern Family - seriously folks, if you're not watching this show, you are missing out. My husband and I have laugh-out-loud moments in every episode.

2) LOST - only two episodes left! Get on it people!

3) Justified - a great contribution by FX. Amazingly well written, intriguing character writing, unexpected twists, and a hot leading man!

4) The Good Wife - cerebral and emotional. Great combination!

5) House - your favorite dysfunctional doctor is at it again. He's quit psychotherapy, will he go back on the sauce?

6) Glee - musicals were never this fun. Even my husband will watch it with me.

7) Big Bang Theory - if you don't love Sheldon then you should move to Mars.

8) The Middle - unexpected contender here. This quiet sitcom gets big belly laughs from us. Whether it's the perfect caricature of teenagers or their unusual little boy, this show is full of surprises.

9) Parenthood - I was skeptical about this show when it first came on, thought it might be just the movie revisited...but it's much much more. Great casting and generational dynamics!

10) Who Do You Think You Are? - If geneology interests you even a little bit, this is the show for you. Take a handful of celebrities and follow them as they trace their ancestry back. It's intriguing and gets me thinking about my own family tree.  Several of the episodes have run already, so watch them on Hulu.com.

And, since summer is coming and that usually means that TV generally stinks, I usually fall into the loving arms of Netflix to fill the great entertainment divide. If you haven't yet watched these great shows - jump into them on Netflix. In no time you'll be sucked right in.

 - The Wire

- Battlestar Gallactica

- Dexter

- The Tudors

- Mad Men

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme....

On this dreary Tuesday, let me regale you with a few of my favorite things.....

My cockapoo - searching for the perfect dog? Search no further! The cockapoo is a mix of the cocker spaniel and poodle. Smart, sweet, affectionate and hypo-allergenic. I adore my baby girl puppy who will turn 4 this summer. One could not ask for a better behaved or more loyal and loving dog than our Zoe.

My Kindle - Oh how I love thee. Don't get me wrong, I love real books too. But as a person who loves to read, but really only gets a chance to thoroughly read on vacation - it's SO great to be able to pack several books without adding weight to your suitcase or carry on. Plus, after downloading several books, it's nice to know that the price of a Kindle book has so far been less expensive than the bookstore price.

Siruis Satellite Radio - When my husband first started talking about wanting to get Sirius so he could listen to Howard Stern, I wrinkled my nose. But when we bought our Ford Edge and it was all set up for Satellite Radio, I started listening...and....I. Love. It.  Station after station of music I love, that you select by genre. Comedy channels, fun talk stations like Cosmo Radio and shows like "Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer". I'm in love and my daily commutes are so much better for it.

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Hands Up and Step Away from the Carbs...

Have you ever seen a photograph of yourself and been horrified, really horrified, thinking, "Who the heck is that person? OMG it's ME!!"

Well, that's been happening to me a lot lately. And, I've been in total avoidance mode about it too - which makes things a whole lot worse. How did this happen to me after one year of marriage? One day I was at a really happy weight, the next day I gained a husband and two dress sizes. Fabulous.

I can't really blame my weight gain on my marriage. I blame all the unrestricted fun I've had since my relationship began that put me on the fast track to fat pants. I completely stopped focusing on me and instead focused on US. We eat out all the time. We work hard, come home and crash together on the sofa, so no exercise. My husband has a carb tooth, so we have food items in our house that I never bought when it was just me at home (and clearly I'm eating them). So, basically I took all of the good habits I had as a single person (using the gym, lots of activity, healthy eating of small portions, never bought sweets or ice cream into the house) and chucked them out the window. Don't get me wrong, we've been having a really wonderful time. But I've now realized that it's at the expense of my waistline and self esteem.

I confess to feeling like everyone around me is looking at me and thinking, "One year of marriage and she's already let herself go." It makes me sick and upset just thinking about it. And, this kind of thinking is helping to keep me fat...ack! I need to start putting myself first again and taking back the "thin and pretty" mindset I had in my single days.

So here I go, embarking on Operation Life Swap. I want to have my great marriage, AND the self-care mindset I had while single. So...how to start?  Today I joined Weight Watchers. And tomorrow I'm going to start exercising in the mornings before work again. I used to take classes like Pilates and Belly Dancing, so I'm going to look for a class like that to take again.

My first goal is a 10 lb loss. I won't set a second goal until I've achieved that one. I'm hoping that by breaking the whole goal into chunks (pun intended) that it will be more manageable. So, my first WW meeting is this Wednesday night. I'm going to start today in preparation. I know I can do this. I just need to focus - especially focus on the long term weight loss strategy over the short term taste of something delicious....

I feel beautiful, slender and comfortable in my own skin...

Home Sweat Home

Being a new home owner is exciting, but tough - if you are like me, that is. I want to do it all NOW. And that means a workout -- painting, hanging crown moulding, knocking down walls, carpeting, choosing window coverings, buying new furniture and creature comforts...Whew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. The list is endless and the barrier is of course, time and money.

We love our new house, and we've made so much progress through elbow grease already. But I'm impatient to have the house be "ours" and just the way we want it now, so that we can actually relax in it on the weekends, instead of promising our first born child to the Home Depot.  What are the elements of your dream house? How are you trying to incorporate those elements into your current home? Do you believe that you can have it?
My husband and I love to travel, talk about travel and dream about travel...so we've created a feature wall in our hallway where we have hung matted and framed photos from some of our favorite vacations. Doing this doesn't have to be expensive either. I uploaded our photos to Snapfish and ordered large prints and I bought the frames and matteing at CostCo. And, Voila! Custom looking artwork and a personal area of interest that always gets us compliments from visitors.

Despite all of our great progress, there are some things that I'd really love, but know that I'm just going to have to save and save and save...and wait. I'm trying to learn patience...trying. *sigh* In the meantime, a girl can dream and try to manifest wonderful things, right?

My wish list includes:

A cozy Hammock for a shady part of the backyard.

A really great outdoor sectional for our screened in porch - I love this one from Restoration Hardware.(One of my all time favorite furniture stores!)

A really cozy sectional for the "Man Room" (like this one from Pottery Barn - it looks so comfy!)

And, a great stone patio for entertaining (wouldn't this be heavenly for winter and summer?)...

So, what's on your home completion or dream house wish list? Are you envisioning yourself already living in it?

Well, What Is Your Dream?

Can you see the forest for the trees in your own life? In this world of fast-paced madness, deadlines, traffic, and places to be, do you take the time to lift your nose from the grindstone and think about your life from the 30,000 foot view?

What do you want your life to be? Who do you want to be in it with you? Where do you want to live it? How do you want to spend your time? What goal do you want to achieve? Are you working toward that goal, or have you been swallowed up by the "right now"?

It would be incredibly tragic to wake up at 70 and realize that your real life never even came close to your dream life. So, what steps are you willing to take today to start dedicating a portion of your day or week toward your dream? Do you believe you can have it? You better! So remind yourself everyday and think about achieving those goals in a positive way!

I am constantly feeling sidelined by the mundane tasks of life - laundry, grocery shopping, making dinner,  home renovations, business meetings. It's a struggle to find time in the day to focus on what I want to be and where I hope to be. I've found that using my commuting time for this focus really helps. I listen to inspiring audiobooks or often just drive in silent thought. It's my quiet time alone and it helps me to stay focused. What time can you carve out to focus on your dreams?

Another suggestion to help with focus is to make a vision board either in hard copy or virtually. Really spend some time thinking about what you most want. Look for photos and items that best represent your goals and dreams and collect them on a bulletin board, piece of cardboard or make a collage online. Put this vision board in a place you can see it every day. Spend some time visualizing yourself achieving these things, really know that it can all be yours.

In the grand scheme of your life, will it really matter if you took on a little less in the now so you can focus on you and your dreams a little more?

What's on your vision board? Here's some ideas for mine....

Wednesday Wanderings...

I don't have any one complete thought in my head today...so why not string together a few random thoughts instead....

First off - Sandra Bullock, you seriously rock. What an amazing role model you are. I've always admired you along the road of your career and now so many women can admire you for your smart choices. I'm so glad you're flicking Jesse James away like unwanted lint on the shoulder of a new cashmere sweater. Tough things happen to all of us along the way, but I really believe that it's the way you handle those tough times that make or break you as a person going forward in life. Way to move forward in positivity!  Hit the Road, Jack...erm Jesse. Sandra, I wish you all the best for love and happiness with baby Louis. Now there's even more to admire about you. Brava!


Ok, now I know all of you out there have plenty of TV to watch, but I'd like to draw your attention to a new(ish) show that has totally captured the attention of my husband and I -- Justified.  Ladies, if you like  Elmore Leonard (the show's inspration), if you like a show that keeps you guessing, if you like a show that makes you think and has compelling action...I suggest you give it a try. Oh, and I can't forget to mention that the lead character Raylan Givens happens to be played by some serious eye candy, Timothy Olyphant. Here's a link to a great piece by TV Guide expounding on the top 6 reasons you should be watching Justified. With the exception of a few network shows, it's really interesting for me to note that many of my favorites are on cable channels these days. Better keep up ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX...you're losing ground.

As for real life....I've been struggling with the theme of "how to please others while pleasing yourself" lately. It's a real tough one to figure out. Whether with friends, at work, or with family...there are so many times I feel like I'm being tested. Should I do what's right for me or right for others? So often I give in and do what's right for other people, all while being frustrated because that decision isn't usually what's right for me. Is that the right decision? I don't know...I think it can make us unhappy and bitter. The real question is, how do you do what's best for yourself, your goals and future without pissing off everyone in your orbit? Now, there's a challenge!

I'm trying to focus on the positive these days. No more allowing myself to get sucked into the vortex of negativity and snarkiness (which is tough because I love to be snarky!). I'm working on giving myself a mental slap when I start. Let's all take the high ground together, no matter what...ok? Let's trust that the Universe always has our back. What you give out returns to you, right? So what do you really want to get? I really want to attract good, happy things...and abundance. So I need to adjust my attitude to reflect that. It will take time for the habit to form. Kinda like learning to take your vitamins, right?

So....Where Am I Headed?

Welcome to the inside of my brain. :)

So many things to post about, so little time. In my world, responsibility and obligation are four letter words. I'm constantly overwhelmed by them. Whether it's making time to visit both sets of out-of-town in-laws, stressing about work and finances, trying to keep up with friends, decisions about our married future or attempting to renovate our new (old) home...one can easily drown emotionally in the tidal wave of to-do's and other people's needs.

In thinking about being bombarded by all these things, it's tough to keep a positive outlook. Lately I've been really frustrated, over tired and frankly feeling held hostage by it all. My amazing husband and I started taking walks together after work in the evenings and one night as I'm ranting he reminded me of something I taught him about...the Law of Attraction.

Many months ago I suggested he read Louise Hay's book You Can Heal Your Life. It was a game changer for me...and interestingly he really took to it too. In fact, part of my blog title comes from a mantra of Louise's that has infiltrated my subconscious for the past several years -- "In the Infinity of Life where I am, all is perfect, whole and complete. All is well in my world."  I find it calming, it gets me back on track and reminds me that everything will be ok.

If Louise Hay isn't for you, there are many other books and films that talk and teach about the Law of Attraction. The Secret is probably one of the most famous out there now. I enjoy listening to the audio versions during my commute to work.

Most people will read this and think I'm a nutcase...Law of Attraction? The Secret? Mantras? She's koo-koo crazy!  But really, what it's all about is positivity and the belief that what you put out there you get back. Like attracts like. So if you're putting out consistant thoughts of worry, upset, disappointment, and lack...sorry, but all you're going to attract to you is more worry, upset, disappointment and lack. Instead, focus on the positive, what you DO have, be grateful, thankful and believe that you have all that you need. That attitude shift is the key to a whole new world.

So here goes...my experiment in applying the Law of Attraction to the issues of the modern woman. Whether it's my struggles in balancing private time with career....maintaining friendships....navigating a new marriage...or deciding whether to have children, I have more on my plate than I can handle...but no more than most other people. I think the difference is outlook and how you handle it. Right?