Summer interview with my lil sis

Hope you are having a great summer. Well I just come back from a week with my family in L.A. and watched my little brother and sister spend their last days of summer. I love sitting down and documenting D who is a talkative, fashionable, funny, sarcastic little diva and the baby of our family. Can you imagine what it would be like going into 8th grade with an older sister twenty years older then you? (Check out these other interviews I did with D a last year)

So take it away D tell us all about your summer thoughts...

What have you done this summer D?

Hanging out with friends, went on vacation a little bit, went shopping twice a week, water parks, sleepovers, cheer, went to the beach with friends, amusement parks and swimming.

Are you excited for the summer to end?

No, because school is boring and I can't talk during class, but yes because I want to see all of my friends.

Would you have rather gone to camp?

No, I have a strong passionate dislike for camp because they tell you what to do and I'm not with my friends. Since I'm older, this summer I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted like walk to lunch or take the bus to the beach.

*Photo taken by Julie Michelle.

How did you occupy your time and manage your money?

I occupied my time by hanging out with friends every week so every day I hung out with a different friend. I also got $25 a week to spend.

So D did your understanding of money change?

Sometimes I had a lot of the $25 left over and sometimes I spent it all. Getting the allowance taught me how to not to spend it all in one day and if I had more one week then I could use it the next week.

Are you looking forward to the 8th grade? What do you think it will be like?

I'm so excited for 8th grade and I think it's going to be the best year of middle school because it's the last year. We will be in charge of the school, but it won't be too fun because they banned cell phones from school 'cause so many kids were texting in class.

What was it like coming to San Francisco and being a bridesmaid at your sister's wedding?

It was fun and the Hindu ceremony was very long. We got to walk around, talk and not have to sit the entire time. I liked my outfits. It was an honor to be there for you Lala as a bridesmaid.

Thank you so much little sis D. We all loved reading about your summer fun and I can't wait to hear about 8th grade. How will you survive without your cell phone? Tell me sweetie doesn't this interview remind you of your grade school summer fun?

Did I change my name after marriage?

I wrote a post back in September called, Should I change my name after marriage? I loved all of your comments as they were diverse and candid. Just the way I like comments! What I learned is there really are no rules in needing to change your name for marriage. It's all about personal preference.

And as long as you think out of the box then why not behave the same way about this name changing tradition?

I've known my Honey for five years (1 1/2 as friends and then 3 1/2 years as a couple) so I've had plenty of time to think about this. And yes I doodled on my notebook what my married name would look like countless times. And over the years Honey and I have discussed our feelings about my name change. And neither of us were set either way.

One day Honey made the suggestion that I take his last name as my middle name so I have a double-barrelled last name. For me this is the best of both worlds. For now I can keep my last name for work and google searches, but can be Mrs. Honey as well. His suggestion just felt right and we moved forward with the change the day we got our marriage license.

So I did change my name for marriage, but in my 'out of the box' way that works for me/us.

Here are some of my favorite post comments that really stood out:

Meagan said...

Lost of comments on this one. You have a lot to think about. I am getting married in a few weeks and am so excited to change my name. It is weird to think that my children and people I meet in the future will only know me by my husband's last name. That the name that is my identity will slowly disappear. I plan to keep it around a little on magazine subscriptions or library cards. I am changing it because its a tradition and if you are doing the tradition of getting married I think you should go all the way with it. I want to be announced that day as Mr and Mrs. I also feel like changing my name is putting trust in my husband to take care of me and our future children. Be the head of the household. Good luck!

The Good Cook said...

I took my husband's name. It meant so much to him and it really made me feel like a "wife" and part of a whole new team identity. Our children have my maiden name as their middle name, keeping it alive!

Sarah said...

You do realize that your children are not required to have your husband's last name, right? They can have yours just as easily. Heck, make one up for them if you want.

Also, I grew up with a different name than my mother (she remarried when I was five, but I didn't change my name). Guess what? It was no big deal. Ever. No one ever got confused or thought that she wasn't really my mom. Maybe fifty years ago it would have seemed odd, but it certainly doesn't now.

If you don't want to change your last name, but want your children to have yours, then give them yours. If you don't want to change your last name, but want the kids to have Daddy's name, then let them have it and don't worry about it. If you want a new name but don't want to fall into the patriarchal trap of being known only by your husband's name, come up with a new name for the whole family and make your husband go through the whole name-changing mess with you. Think outside the box! You're not limited to your grandmother's traditions.
~
So what are your thoughts about changing your name for marriage? Out of the three comments, which do you relate to the most?

Face It: Growing old gracefully

Watching the Today Show is one of my every day morning rituals. I was getting ready for work, sitting in front of my makeup mirror while putting on mascara, when I saw the segment about the book Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change. I put down my mascara wand and was glued to the T.V. Two former models wrote this book about what beauty means to women of all ages. They discussed their thoughts on how society doesn't teach us about beauty with growing older. How do we grow older gracefully if we never discuss this?

Growing older as a woman is a much needed topic. I believe that acceptance of where you are in life is key.

And then one of the authors talked about her modeling days. She was only fifteen when she started to feel like she was aging. She was on a photo shoot with another model who was only two years older then her. After the pictures were taken another model came over to give some advice. Something about how she only had a few good years left and enjoy it while it lasted.

The model was aging at the ripe age of fifteen!

I also identify with these two quotes from their book. It's almost as if the authors are speaking directly to me.

"Take back that power and you will feel more beautiful. Our culture has given beauty power over women. We are told who and what is beautiful. We know that youth is beautiful. Most people see babies as beautiful. But grandmothers can be beautiful as well. Some of the most beautiful women in the world are those who smile, engage and appear happy at any age. If you take back the power of what makes you feel attractive, you will become more attractive to yourself and others."

And

"Put your beauty in your identity, not your identity in your beauty. Your identity is made up of many aspects of yourself"

We don't often hear that our identity is made up of many different aspects and until we grow older. It's then that we realize we had a lot tied up in our looks.

Change our definition of beauty?

I finished watching the Today Show and felt torn. I wondered if I should continue to put my mascara on after being re-taught this lesson or stop what I was doing. I decided to continue because I know how I feel about beauty and what I want to teach others. Can I get a hall pass since I sat down and wrote this post about Face It! What are some of your thoughts about growing older gracefully?

Inspirational Weekend Quote

Doesn't this inspirational weekend quote make you want to ask the questions who, what, where, when and why? Rocco Siffredi whatever do you mean... are you talking about hiking, cooking, dancing, fighting, shopping, see family, have children?

Oh the possibilities are endless!

This weekend, I'm looking forward to having a couple of days off next week for the holidays. Thanksgiving is my favorite day because I am addicted to turkey and gravy. I also love the positivity and holiday cheer.

Try to keep your answers PG13 and let me know what you never do because it's too exhausting. I love quotes that makes me think beyond the day to day. Don't you? Happy weekend lovelies!

Inspirational Weekend Quote

Congrats! We made it through another busy week, so here's a inspirational weekend quote to lift your spirits. I love this quote because it reminds me that happiness is a state of mind. I believe that we choose to be happy. Don't you?

Choosing to look beyond the imperfections takes work, but I promise that once you master the art there's no looking back.

And speaking of promises, here are the ones I made if you linked back this week. Thanx to the following lovely bloggers for participating in the Get to know you; Facebook Fun link back quizz.

I loved what Carpe Diem wrote about me. Ah shucks, honey you made me blush!

My Promises
Carpe Diem
Joanie's Random Ramblings
Misadventures with Andi
The Clutter Box

This week there seemed to be negativity surrounding me, so I chose to be happy. I tried to rise above and watched instead of participated. What are you going to do this weekend that can lift your soul and make you happy? I promise to giggle if you tell me how this quote touched you?

Easy health care in America?

I remember the orthopedic surgeon asking me, “How easy will it be for you to take a break from your life? Because I believe, you will need major knee surgery.” Little did we know that the one knee surgery was the first of three, which turned this ballet dancer into an expert on crutches. My five month knee recovery combined with the battle with my health care company, left me shaken. Being able to have the health care system work for me would have aided me in my recovery. I learned so much from that injury. In fact my life changed. (Click here to read about how Honey helped me recover).

And then my Canadian Grandmother/Nana told me how easy her eye surgery went. I know not every health care story is like this one, but don't you wish they could be?

About 10 years ago, Nana had cataract surgery. Last week she went in for her annual eye check up and had her daughter go with her. The doctor took one look at my Nana's eye and asked her if her right eye was still a little blurry. Nana replied that it was, but at her age why take care of it?

The doctor told her that he could take care of her eye for you, immediately. Nana thought about it and she answered, "Sure, why not?"

And this is the part that amazed me…right then and there; the eye doctor asked my Nana

and Aunt to come back into the office. Nana walked in, sat down and before she had time to get scared the doctor started to prepare the eye machines. Nana exclaimed wait, "I haven’t even taken off my coat?

And then he fixed her eye. No paperwork or waiting for an appointment.

Could this happen in America? On a same day appointment a doctor walks you into the back office and fixes your ailment immediately. This also reminds me of when I saw the movie Sicko by Michael Moore and felt challenged by the questions he asked about the America health care system.

Growing up as a Canadian, I never had to wonder if I could see a doctor or a dentist. I could walk right in. Am I weighing in on the American health care debate? Well yes, but don't you think our system and society could be easier? Would love to know your thoughts....

The truth can hurt!

Could you go an entire day without telling a lie? Before you answer, this includes no white lies or being able to bend the truth? For me, it would be very difficult and I’d feel horrible if I hurt someone’s feelings. I'm not sure, how a people pleaser stops pleasing for 24 hours?

Last weekend we saw the movie The Invention of Lying with Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Gardner. And today, I'm honestly still thinking about the movie. How would I rate the movie? It was an interesting concept, but the movie was nothing to write home about. It did remind me, however, that we are all bunch of liars!

Wait, we're not? Liar, liar, pants on fire!


When someone asks me about my day, have I ever responded honestly? For example did I say, “Today I had a tough day because I only slept for a couple of hours, I forget to pay my cell phone bill and I’m down to my last pair of underwear."

Instead my usual response is, “I had a good day and you?”

And what if someone wanted your honest opinion about a family member. “Isn’t Aunt Kathy just wonderful?” Since you’re no longer allowed to flower the truth, you have to respond bluntly and say, “Actually, Auntie Kathy and I clash and have never seemed to get along.”

To be honest, (sorry for the pun) this movie reminded me of when my Father and I use to write speeches. My grade school English teacher, would assign us to write a 3 minute speech to be performed in front of the class and then if chosen, performed in front of the entire school.

For my speeches my father and I would sit together and brainstorm ideas. One of my winning speeches, (no lie) was about ‘what would it be like if you got caught in a Television? After seeing the movie, I called my father and told him it was just like one of our speeches.

The truth can hurt, but isn’t it better to be honest and not to lie? Do you think you could get through a day telling the absolute truth to everyone? Really, let's start now...

Good girl outfits for Las Vegas?

The time has come for me to ask one of the most important questions, I have ever asked you. Brace yourself...are you ready? Are you sure? Here goes nothing...

What do good girls wear in Las Vegas!

Phew! I feel so much better. Really, truly what does a good girl wear? I find myself getting super excited about going away this weekend to SITScation and then it hit me.

How much do I let my hair down?

And before you answer, I'm pretty sure I have this little number already in my closet. Oh no, it's at the dry cleaners. Then I'll have to find something else!

I'm sure I can pull this look off. I already have the red lipstick and flower, but who knows what she's wearing below the car window.

I love how these ladies are hanging out by the pool, after doing some Vegas shopping. But what do they change into when they go out at night?

And this my lovelies, is really me. Five years ago at the, *wink, wink* hot nickel slots. One little letter change in the last word could have changed everything for me! So what's a girl to do? How do good girls dress when their in Las Vegas? Or do they become bad girls? Very bad...

Interested in guest blogging for Under the Sheets-shhh. I'm looking for three guest bloggers to post. Email me at shhh.under.the.sheets@gmail.com and let me know why I should pick you. Good luck!

Sexy high heel shoes...

Picking the right shoes to go with the outfit takes time. Sometime too much time. Shoes can really make or break an outfit. Don't you agree? No, its not rocket science and the world will not come to an end if you pick the wrong shoes, but its fun shooting for perfection.

It's been three years, since I've been able to wear high heels because of my knee surgeries. Sure sometimes I miss them, but I've learned to rock the cute flat boots and kitten heels. I'd still love for someone to compliment me on my new style.

So is it creepy or flattering if a man compliments you on your shoes?

Let me explain the question…

This week, I went out to lunch with a male co-worker/friend of four years. We went to the Boxed Lunch Company restaurant in the San Francisco financial district. As we waited in line to order food, my friend pointed out the amazing red mary-jane high-heeled shoes the woman in front of us was wearing. He noticed her shoes before I did. And you know, what he was right.

They were fabulous!

To work, she was wearing a tailored gray suit, with a wide black belt and perfect boutique earrings. But the piece de resistance was her choice to wear red heels. And so I told my male/married friend to compliment her on her shoes.

To my surprise he didn't tell her, but continued to admire them from afar.

Would you appreciate someone pointing out your hard work or does it depend on the compliment giver? To answer my own question, I think it depends on who the compliment giver is. So today will you join me in trying an experiment? Today let's go out and give three people a compliment. It could be our own ‘pay it forward’ little secret. Comment below and tell me if you're with me. Have a good Friday lovelies!

Wishful Wednesday: feminine ways

On this Wishful Wednesday, I'm keeping with the feminine theme that's flirty and lovely. I loved reading your comments on what makes you feel feminine. Perfumes skin, a great pair of jeans and faces without makeup were some of my favorites answers. And can we just have a silent moment for this cherry dress. I'm pretty I just died and went to heaven! Can someone please send this dress to me?

There's something really genuine and sexy about this photo. Yes, I know she's modeling, but the relaxed feel and sunlight off her hair makes me smile.

I always do this when I'm in the bathtub! Don't you?

You can find some of these hair embellishments at Jest Jewels in San Francisco.

I love the color of this sweater. Now would I have to wear something underneath it?



Beautiful feminine spread courtesy of InStyle magazine. Aren't those shoes fabulous?



To get this look you can try Dazzleglass lipgloss by MAC.

To me this is a very feminine and natural pose on the beach. Don't you always sit like this? I hope you have a skirt twirling, sunny and lovely Wishful Wednesday. Tell me which one of these pictures is your favorite? I just love the bathtub pic.

What makes you feel feminine?

I was recently reading a woman's magazine where they did an interview with Courtney Cox. It was a good interview, but what struck me was how she answered the question, “What makes you feel sexy and feminine?” She answered that she feels feminine when her legs are shaved. On the same topic, I also enjoyed reading this Smitten daily sex & relationship blog article. The author talked about modern day women feeling feminine while still cutting their hair short, wearing running shoes and feeling super casual.

So you must be holding your breath to know what makes me feel feminine...

Well, I first must confess to you that I’ve been a girlie girl my entire life. You're shocked? No I didn't think so. I actually remember my mother teaching me how to paint my nails when I was ten. Fashion and makeup have been apart of my daily routine for a long time. And please don't tell anyone, but I’ll even ‘touch up’ my face before I go to the gym.

So I wanted to make my own feminine Courtney Cox list.

Here goes nothing...I feel feminine when:

10) I wear my hair in a bun and it's off my shoulders
9) I wear dresses and skirts
8) I take bubble baths
7) After I've had a pedicure
6) I'm eating strawberries and chocolate
5) I'm dancing ballet
4) I'm wearing pantyhose. We have a love-hate relationship
3) Wine is ordered for me. Yes, I know I need help.
2) I wear Sephora Rosy Glow lipgloss
1) I get compliments

Let me explain number 1. Trust me, I feel feminine in my own skin, but I also love when it's acknowledged with compliments. My father use to tell me when I was getting ready for school, “Get ready faster Laura, it's not a fashion show. “ Oh yes it is Dadda. So, ladies what makes you feel feminine? And guysplease comment below and tell me what your definition of feminine is?

Ukraine's Got Talent: What's a sand animator?

I find there to be something so beautiful, almost haunting, about watching Kseniya Simonova's sand animation. She's obviously a true original and the music adds to the mystique. She won the TV show Ukraine's Got Talent, but is reaching viral stardom on YouTube as her videos have been seen 2 million times. Just be ready to be drawn into her world. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Top ten reasons you’ve been in San Francisco for too long…

Living in San Francisco for six years could really change a person. I thought I would last in the city for six months, but have felt the cleaner air, cooler temperatures and laid back lifestyle change me.

I’ve gotten use to conversations about hiking, yoga positions and Silicon Valley. And even when I leave San Francisco to travel, I miss the beauty. Here are the top ten reasons you know you’ve been in San Francisco too long…(Click here to read the top ten Toronto reasons.)

10) You’ve tried to be a vegetarian, a vegan, consumer of only free-range/ sustainably raised meats and organic fruits and vegetables from the farmer’s market. Wait, which one am I today?

9) You haven’t owned a car in years, forget what its like to put things in a trunk and have a perfect driving record.

8) Due to the hills and a knee injury, you have stopped wearing high heels.

7) You own so many umbrellas and scarves, that they are spread around your house and work. You’ve even left one on the cable car.

6) Protests don’t even faze you, and neither does the Gay Pride Parade. After seeing the parade

you think, “Oh are they naked again this year?”

5) While at a restaurant, you ask to take the leftover’s home, but find yourself giving them to the homeless.

4) You’ve worn black LuLulemon pants to a job interview. Sure yoga wear can be dress-up too!

3) During a dinner party, debate begins about the best iPhone applications.

2) You can’t sleep at night without the sound of the cable car bells.

Drum roll please...And the number one reason you know you’ve lived in San Francisco for too

long is: Your not surprised when it goes from 80 degrees and sunny to 50 degrees and foggy in a matter of minutes.

Or is it that you've worn some flowers in your hair? Speaking of flowers check out the fabulous Nanny Goat in Panties post today. Let me let you in on a little secret, the Bay Area Blogger network lunch that she's talking about was me and us... No worries Nanny Goat about the free lunch. You'll get me next time =)

Today's the day I start my book!

Where would you start to write a book? Would you start writing the beginning, middle or end? Or would you create chapters and then work on a chapter that speaks to you?

Throughout my life, I've had friends and family suggest that I write a book. And it seems like a natural thing for me to do because of my manic depression upbringing. Another reason is because I love to help and reach out to people.

I wondered, what's stopping me from sitting down and writing the book that is inside of me? Where does the writer's block come from? Is there room on the bookshelves for another book?

And then it happened...

I interviewed an amazing published writer who made writing a book seem possible to me. I gave her my reasons for not writing and she shot each one down. She encouraged me to use my voice and her advice to me was to start writing.

Just start ...

So today is the day that I will be at my local coffee shop 'starting' to write a book about my upbringing with manic depression in a warm, sarcastic and funny way. I want to recap my story in a way that shows no matter what happens in life, hope is still around the corner. Most people ask me, after hearing my story, how I kept smiling? I simply answered, that I choose to smile.

Today I'll start by writing one chapter and take it from there... nice and easy. Should I really take the book plunge? Tell me what topic would you write your first book on?

Laura's gratitude walk; check!

On Wednesday, I was having one of those days. The kind where you feel beaten up from life. I was finding it hard to connect with what I needed to do and focus. It took a friend of mine to remind me about being grateful. He suggested that I needed to take some time out for myself, every day. So today I am committing to walking every morning for the next 30 days, with gratitude.

During my walks, I will remind myself of the things I have to be grateful for. From my friends and family to the beauty of the San Francisco's nature all around me, to realizing what's good and positive in my life. Saying these thoughts out loud will make my statements more true.

This could be my form of meditating. In a way, I am quieting my mind from all the noise.

A gratitude walk sounds exactly like what I need.

(Cafe Gratitude is located in the Mission in San Francisco)

What can you do to feel the gratitude of every day? Do you think expressing your gratitude can help you on a daily basis? Tune in for tomorrow for my Mayhem & Moxie post as Mona lands from her busy week of travels in my home town.

Enter: The name that picture contest!

I believe that a picture can say a thousand words so here's your chance to enter and win The name that picture contest. All you have to do is comment below with the title of the very last picture and then link back to Under the Sheets-shhh in a post or on Twitter this week.

The winner's blog will be spotlighted under the smarties banner on the left hand side of my blog. OK so put your thinking caps on. Your title can be funny, cheeky, silly, sarcastic, clever or raunchy. To start you off here are some of my titles!

OK, OK maybe next time they'll buy me a Mac.

So this is what they meant about the birds and then bees!

A fishing rod would have been much simpler!

My wife would have really liked this day as well!

I wonder why women run when they meet my blow up girlfriend?

Oh crap, which cupcake did I hide the ring under?

Now it's your turn to title this picture in your comments below and link back this week. Go on I'm waiting... and will hold my breath and count to a thousand as you write your winning title. Good luck lovelies!