Weekly Wednesday

Dear Readers:

Unfortunately due to many stresses on my body this week, I am unable to do a proper Wednesday blog.  I will however give you a few little yardly news updates....

I finally got my raised bed frame, have built it and have acquired the nessesary soils needed to setup my garden on the cement pad on the south side of the house!!  I can't wait to get started.  I promise that in the next few days I will post the updated photo's I took of everything today.

I also finally planted my second batch of seeds but this time it was mostly flowers.  Like my others I will be sharing them with a friend but I intend to plant at least some of these in the flower bed on the corner of our side walk as it rounds the house.  I have been making some progress on that area as well but my mom pointed out that I was doing it the hard way and made a suggestion that should expedite the entire clean-up process.

Anyway, hope that your week has been lovely, and I look forward to writing again really soon.

~Fraise

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in

I have come to the conclusion that my progress is hampered by the fact that I don't eat in any sort of natural rhythm.  I eat "grazing" style when I have nothing particular to do and when I have a project I'm really focused on like when I'm working outside I don't eat until I get light headed, shaky or a headache.  I am pretty good about drinking water and sun-coverage however, never fear.  Well, nothing lost but also nothing gained!  Alright I own up to it, I'm not the world's best example of self control when it comes to food and my weight.  Thus our weekly fess-up sessions.  At least this is helping me to write every week, though...

So with the non-committal weather typical of the Utah Spring season, it has been very touch and go with the yard so far.  Very irksome, however we will prevail!  Do you remember the photos I showed you two weeks ago, of the blackberry walk in the back of the yard?  I was able to capture a little snapshot for you to show you the progress I have made with it so far.

I know it looks like only a little, because I have also been working on clearing up the top of the yard so that I can get my raised bed in, and plant my veg and herb sprouts.  Here is what I have been working on:

I promise I will make sure to post updates as soon as I can on these.  Unfortunately I decided to work until after dark, literally.  It was 9:49 pm when I finally came inside for good.  So it was a little too dark to take photos for you on my progress.  Until next time.

Wednesday Weigh-In

Ok, bear in mind that I just ate a Junior Crown burger and Fries plus fry-sauce, but yeah a whopping 175 lbs.  I spent most of the last week working and doing family stuff.  It decided to rain for the last few days, so I ended up taking some personal time, working on the laundry (that was way over due) and attempting to unearth our stationary bike so that I can start using it.  After spending 12 hours on it today alone, I managed to get it from paper ocean to pond.  I also rearranged the drawers of the filing cabinet so that I could fit more supplies in it, but have yet to finish sorting one drawer.  Whew, I know it may not look like much work, but I'm beat.

Once I get a little farther along on my projects around the house and have made some headway toward finishing the sewing on my kitchen table I promise to start posting a little more regularly than just once a week.  I may even use those projects for post subjects! ^.~  We'll see. Anyway have a good week, all.

~Fraise

PS: A little language lesson for you.  For those of you who haven't guessed yet, "Fraises" (fr-eh-zuh) means Strawberry in French and "Myrtilles" (mer-tee) means blueberries.  So dear readers, that's right our blog name means Strawberries and Blueberries.  I have always been drawn to the delicious berries and fruits of the summer and fall, and have many fond memories of eating strawberries, blueberries and ice cream.  I like to think that my life, like these two flavors, is a mix of sweet and sour. 

 

Photo refference by AnuF

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-In

Ok, ok so I haven't lost any weight, nor did I really exercise this last week.....but I have an excellent excuse! I worked everyday since last week on Monday. Often at both jobs. You'll be proud to know I have been working in the yard though. I've been given the assignment to tackle and re-spruce-up my father-in-law's back yard, and as you can see by the photo's I have my work cut out for me.

First on the list is to clean-up the walk at the back of the yard and to cut back the blackberry vines and the Lilac bushes. I have about a couple of years worth of leaves I'm in the process of raking up and a lot of weed grass to pull-up as well. Since the weather cleared up on Monday, I have spent every hour I've had from when I get to home from work to about 6 or 7 pm outside. I hope that by this time next week I'll have made enough of a dent to be able to take some more photos for you. Until next time.....

The Uber Chub

I, Lacee, officially declare war on rotund parts of my body!  I have amassed an all-time high for weight at a staggering 173 lbs.  No more, I say!  I do hereby decree every Wednesday as a weigh-in day in order to hold myself accountable.  I wish to solicit your help and support in creating a healthier, fitter happier me.  So without further ado here are today's initial stats.
Weight:         173lbs or 78.5 k
Bust:             40.5"
Waist:           32.75"
Hips:             44.88"
Thigh:            23.25"
Calf:              14.75"
Ankle:           8.88"
Upper Arm:  11.5"

I realize that many of you don't have the key to go off of.  For kicks I am using the chart in the Charm book I've mentioned before, "The Secrets of Charm."  Based on my height and wrist measurement (you measure the bony part of wrist) my ideal weight is 135lbs.  I realize that this book is outdated in many ways but it is helping me to set a goal to head for.  As for the rest of my ideal stats they are as follows:
Bust: 35", Waist: 25", Hips: 35", Thigh: 19", Calf: 13", Ankle: 8" and Upper Arm: 9".

I have decided on and setup an exercise routine  including riding our stationary, recumbent bike, Yoga, ballet barre exercises, going hiking with my husband, walking with one of my friends, the exercises in the charm book and gardening.  Don't worry my goal isn't to get all of that done every day I have set it up so that I'm trading off so that I'm using different muscles everyday and making it fun.  Wish me luck!

The Secrets of Charm

In my previous entry I mentioned the book, The Secrets of Charm, by John Robert Powers and Mary Sue Miller.  John Robert Powers is probably best known for the school/agency of acting and modeling he established that is still running today.   However he was also an author and teacher of programs in self improvement and confidence building by making the most of your natural assets.

Mr. Powers says, "In many years of experience guiding girls and women to their individually chosen goals in every field it is a matter of record that I have never met an unattractive woman--only the one who did not know how to make the most of her natural, attractive self."

The Secrets of Charm was a book written, in 1954, for the average woman of society as a self improvement book.  It seems it covers everything from how you stand, to budgeting for a well put together wardrobe, to even speech grooming.  A sort of "do it yourself"/finishing school book.  Unfortunately this book is out of print.  I just happened across a copy 10 years ago when a then local department store's display department was getting rid of a box full of books.  I remember skimming through it then, however I never read it from cover to cover.  As an experiment I thought I would go through it step by step and do my best to apply myself to what I find in it's pages...

When you know you've had a little too much Austen!

I admit, I have been putting off writing this particular blog now, for about a month. I regret to say that the reason I am so apprehensive of writing is that it I struggle to know where to start. 

After seeing the movie "Julie & Julia" I realized that I wanted a reason for having a blog.  Up until this point I believe that I have had one, in essence, to be like everyone else.  I decided that I needed to find a goal or purpose for my blog, and after much deliberation I have come to a conclusion.  I would like to use this blog as a place where I can research, explore and re-define what it means to be an "accomplished woman" in this day and age.  "Sure," you're telling yourself, "Lacee's been watching too much Jane Austen."  Oddly enough, the idea actually was inspired by a quote from Pride & Prejudice, but as the idea has aged and fermented in my brain, it has come to symbolize my finding a better me.

Here's the quote:

``Oh! certainly,'' cried his faithful assistant, ``no one can be really esteemed accomplished, who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved.''

``All this she must possess,'' added Darcy, ``and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.''  (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1.8.46-57)

I think it makes you wonder if today the art of grace and charm as well as the austenian definition of accomplishment has been pushed off to the wayside in mainstream society due to lifestyle change.  As if it was sloughed off as another one of the things associated with the diminutive feminine that became so taboo during the sexual equality war of the 60's.  Now, it seems that most women favor financial and executive success in exchange for that which once merited them the description as "the fairer sex."

Robert Powell said in his book The Secrets of Charm (1954,  introduction):

As a tribute to feminine charm, Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:

"When you praised her as charming, some asked what you meant,
But the charm of her presence was felt where she went."

No one before or since has been able to better this description.  You cannot define charm in a word, measure it with a ruler, weigh it on a scale.  Still, we know when we are in its presence; we are warmed by it and made to feel that life is good.

By my aim going forward, to explore what it means in this day and age to be "accomplished," I mean to show:  how we as women can cultivate the strength needed to achieve the success we desire, but not loose ourselves in the process.