She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
Michael Sembello

Winnie has a lot of energy. I'll nicely say, she's rambunctious.

When the bike-ride-wearing-out-trick doesn't work, this is the joyful animal with who I spend my time. As she runs laps around the house and barks at rabbits from the window (really, wascally wabbits) all I can think of is Chris Farley in Tommy Boy singing, "I'm a maniac, maniac..."

No child should die in the dawn of life.
Danny Thomas

Just a reminder that today at Chili's across the country, 100% of their proceeds to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Tri Delta's national philanthropy is St. Jude so it holds a special place in my heart. I had the opportunity to go to Memphis in college for a leadership seminar and while there, visit St. Jude.

Even if for a quick lunch, after work happy hour or dinner please be sure to visit Chili's today. I'll be getting chips and queso for sure! Spend a $1 to Create-a-Pepper and support a cause near and dear to my heart.

Visiting St. Jude in 2003.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.

G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• hot apple cider.
  
• the fascination with "Waiting for Superman."
• finally, beautiful fall weather here in St. Louis.
• working overtime on a Saturday to get an extra day off later. Delayed gratification at its best.
• homemade egg sammy with fried potatoes.
  

The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.
Sonya Friedman

How many times have we all said it?

I'm too fat to wear these shorts.

If I'd lose 15 pounds, then you might actually see me in a bathing suit.

Do my arms look gross and flabby in this top?

Ew, I'm so fat.

I know I've said it. My friends have all said it. Yes, even you mom. We all "fat talk."

The University of Colorado has proven that women consistently overestimate the size of their hips by 16% and their waists by 25% but the same women can easily and correctly estimate the width of a box.

According to a study by the Klarman Eating Disorder Center, young girls today are more afraid of being fat than of cancer, nuclear war or losing their parents. The same center also showed that after women viewed photos of female fashion models, seven out of ten of them felt more depressed and angry.

What gives?

These same beautiful women I know who fat talk are college educated, many with post-graduate degrees. They have healthy families, caring husbands and partners, and are successful in their chosen career paths. They volunteer in community organizations, donate time and money to numerous charities and are passionate about their causes. They have great hair, killer shoes, tell funny stories and make brownies from scratch.

I'm proud to say that my sorority, Delta Delta Delta, has taken the initiative to end fat talk. This is the third Annual Fat Talk Free Week, designed to raise awareness of the damaging impact of fat talk on women in society.

I'll be posting more about this great campaign but think about all of the times you fat talk to friends over the next few weeks. Then join me for Fat Talk Free Week October 18 - 22.

I think most dancers would agree that the art of ballet
chooses the dancer, not the other way around.
Kevin McKenzie

Yesterday I treated myself to a movie on a very rainy, unproductive Sunday. My mom had loved seeing Mao's Last Dancer in the local indi-movie theater in Sarasota and I headed to the Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema for the first time to see it as well.

The little theater, set right in the fanciest mall in St. Louis, features all of the smaller movies not seen in regular theaters. It is very pretty space, small screens and it was just $7 for the first show of the day.

The movie was marvelous. So interesting because it was a true story and it combined my love of ballet and fascination with China. It also really drove home the harsh realities of Communist China.

If you have a few hours to spare, be sure to take the time to see this beautiful movie!

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.

G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• a rainy Sunday morning perfect for doing nothing.
  
• discovering how fun Zumba is!
  
• when Winnie sleeps until 8 a.m.
• new horseshoe stamped with our last name hanging over the back door - holding our luck in!
• a new season of Oprah to clog up the DVR.
  

I'll bet what motivated the British to colonize so much of the world
is that they were just looking for a decent meal.
Martha Harrison

One of my favorite shows on television right now is "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on Food Network. Seriously, it's like food porn. Oh my. All of my most loved chefs raving about their most delicious finds on all different topics. Last night was pizza and fried foods. Other topics have been snacks, hamburgers and even soups.

Yum, it all looks so good and I get to hear about great restaurants and dives all over the country while I watch their raving fans.

But it got me thinking...

What is the best thing I ever ate? Not quite sure I could narrow it down to just one thing but there are those meals that you think about when you're really hungry. Just starving. You think, "ugh, all I want right now is..."

• A baked potato with butter and sour cream, a cold house salad with tomato and blue cheese dressing, beer rolls and a big steak at The Waterfront in Sarasota.
• A slice of cheese pizza and an ice cold Coke with lots of ice at Pontello's in Sarasota.
  
• A Boars Head turkey and Swiss Cheese sub on whole grain bread with veggies, sub dressing and spicy mustard, salt and vinegar chips and an iced tea from Publix (and I'll always think of Ashley when I enjoy this).
  
• The Better Burger with a side of fresh, hot onion rings dipped in homemade ranch dressing at Village Bar here in St. Louis.
• The 1905 Salad at Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle with a side of black bean and rice soup and crusty Cuban bread for dipping

Darn, I'm hungry. What are some of your best meals ever?

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.

G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• enjoying my first mini-candy bar of the Halloween season.
• getting allowed to leave work on Rosh Hashanah.
• my new duvet and cover arrived!
• the success of our first Junior League new member meeting this fall.
  
• today's first game of the Miami Dolphins' season:

Winnie is ready for some football!

Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.
Arnold Palmer

I'm lending my in-house marketing skills to Nick for developing more golf lesson income (free of charge!). Many golf professionals brand themselves as separate entities from their clubs because anyone, even if they aren't a club member, can take a lesson from him. It's a great tool to have a basic website, business cards and additional supporting materials to get your name and teaching philosophy out there.

I'm working on his website, getting a logo designed by a graphic designer friend and then getting my Nick some business! Last week I met him after work to get some photos to use for his website. Just thought I'd share a few of my cute golfer!

So if you're in St. Louis and want a golf lesson, please let me know. I can put in you touch with the best instructor in town!

My favorite golf pro!

Fake putting.

Fake swinging.

We were laughing during this "be inspired to be a better golfer" photo.

A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need.

Sidney Carroll

One of the best parts about an upcoming change in seasons is the great "on its way out" stuff on sale. Last winter I was able to pick up several clothing items for a fraction of their original price. Sure, they had to be packed away but they'll be new to me in a few weeks when they come out.

I've been scoping out the clearance racks and random shelves to see if there was any great summer items that were marked down to a great deal. In the past I've found cute summer clothing, home accessories, linens and patio items. Last week, I scored two great items on deep clearance at Target:

Beautiful watering can (been on the hunt for a non-plastic one under $15) marked down from $29 to $11.99.

Sandals (similar to the white ones I loved all summer) were $3.95, down from $15.

I'm looking forward to enjoying these next summer, and even pulling out my great Winter stuff I snagged last Spring. Do you find any great clearance summer items?

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.

G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• my gorgeous new bed all set up.
• blooming Zinnias in the front flower beds.
• $3.95 hot pink sandals for next summer.
• having all of the windows open for the first time since Spring.
• someone else mowing my lawn.
  

College football is a sport that bears the same relation
to education that bullfighting does to agriculture.
Elbert Hubbard

Lest we forget, tomorrow is the beginning of college football season in our home. Don't worry, there is still plenty of baseball to watch. Oh, and pro football is on its way too. Winnie is ready to snarf bratwursts and homemade chili from the Crock Pot in her snazzy, new Miami Dolphins color.

But tomorrow, is the first game of the season for Nick's beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers. Yes, he's from Iowa. No, he doesn't like the Hawkeyes.

Nick's dad was born in Nebraska, always loved the team and then passed it on to his two sons.
I have a Nebraska Huskers bird feeder, salt and pepper shakers and the flag flying from my front porch. Yes, I'd say I married a lifelong fan.

Nick at his bachelor party - a Nebraska Huskers game, of course!

Nick and his brother, Matt, at the Nebraska v. Mizzou game last Fall.

Tomorrow we were graciously invited to watch the first game at the home of a woman I met in Junior League. She was literally the very first person I met in the League at the information session I attended. It was our topic of conversation because she moved from Nebraska and, well, my house is covered in it. Both her and her husband are big Huskers fans. I'm looking forward to donning our scarlet and cream, breaking out my Nebraska platter for homemade sausage balls (ala Paula Deen).

Happy college football season to all and Go Big Red!

At the Nebraska Huskers game v. Mizzou last Fall - it rained the WHOLE TIME but we won!

There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the
realization that we have accomplished something.
Henry Ford

Last weekend my mom came into town for a visit. We had a lovely time just being together but I also got a ton of stuff done. A mother is a good motivator, "just do it now!"

Here's all we accomplished:

• Used my Groupon at Women's Closet Exchange for a Banana Republic tweed skirt, a raspberry pink Pashmina and a long sleeve red tee from Talbot's.
  
• Dropped off clothes at the fun new store called Rung. It is a second-hand resale store that focuses on selling stylish clothes and helping underprivileged women.
• Hung some great items mom brought from home including the photo that goes along with the pocket watch on my living room wall (it's of my grandfather holding the exact watch up to his brother's ear) and some great old horse medallions from Ireland.

• Mom did a killer job cleaning the back porch and replanting new mums for fall.

• Visiting Grant's Farm - so fun to see the baby Clydesdale horses and beautiful grounds of the park.

• Snuggled and walked with Winnie, the "granddog."

• Went out to a delicious dinner at Cafe Provencal (and used Nick's "free entree" birthday coupon).

I sincerely believe blogging can save America.

John Jay Hooker

I'm joining in on Centsational Girl's "Where Do You Blog Party" - how fun it is to have a voyeuristic peak into the habits (and lovely decorating skills) of other bloggers.

Although I do most of my commenting and blog reading throughout my little mental breaks at work, I write all of my posts on my couch at home in the evenings. I have my laptop on, well, my lap with a Beagle by my side and my husband, Nick, watching baseball. Or football. Or basketball. Or golf. Or horse racing. Or ESPN reviewing everything he missed. You get the idea.

So here's the pretty, staged photo:

And here's the reality:

So, where do you blog?



Rabbit, rabbit!