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Beginner gardener
I have a confession to make. I’m a wanna-be gardener.
Luckily for me, my friend recently got her hands on some plants and now she has quite an impressive jungle growing on her back patio.
She suggested I come over and get some clippings to start my very own collection of happy little plants! I got some little pots and some potting soil (let me tell you, once I got my hands on my very own potting soil, I felt like a full-fledged gardener) and went over to her house.
Now at my house I have a baby Wandering Jew, Elephant Ear, Aloe Vera and Moses in a Basket/Boat plant.
Those are easy plants to care for, my friend tells me. Now that I’ve had them for awhile, I’d like to try my hand at other plants/flowers.
Any suggestions? Does anyone have any gardening tips you would like to share? It would be greatly appreciated!
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Empty nest
Today I was talking to a woman about Empty Nest Syndrome. She brought up the fact that many women have a hard time dealing with all their chicks flying away.
Does anyone have any helpful advice for ways to cope with this life-changing event?
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Shop green
Many people have discovered ways to adopt a greener lifestyle for themselves. Have you? For instance, a friend of mine has filled her whole house with eco-friendly, energy efficient light bulbs. I’ve recently bought a bunch of reusable tote bags to take to the grocery store so I don’t use paper or plastic. Share some of your stories or ideas on how you have gone green.
Sexiest Man Alive
People magazine named 32-year-old actor Matt Damon as their pick for The Sexiest Man Alive for 2007.
Other candidates for the title were Patrick Dempsey, Ryan Reynolds and Bratt Pitt, to name a few.
If you could crown any celeb The Sexiest Man Alive, who would you pick?
Get your life organized!
Now that summer’s over, school’s back in session and the holiday season is just around the corner, life can certainly begin to feel hectic! For some reason, getting my family and myself back into our “regular routine” has been more difficult than usual this year. Strangely, several of my close friends and co-workers have expressed they have had more of a struggle as well.
While visiting with one of my friends recently, I learned her secret for keeping up with a number of responsibilities without appearing overwhelmed. Thanks to her secret, I feel like I am beginning to “see the light.” Figuring that some of you may also be feeling pressed for time, I thought I’d share my new “find” with you and hopefully give you a bit of much-needed relief.
The Web site my friend turned me on to is www.flylady.net, a site for those of us who feel a bit disorganized at times, primarily because we have lot on our plates. The loads we carry at home, work and in other areas can create a feeling of chaos. At times, I don’t feel I know where to begin because everything seems important!
The premise of the program is to take small steps to restore order. Program creator Marla Cilley says things didn’t get this way in a day so don’t expect to sort them out in a day. Start by making a list of morning and evening routines to stay on track. Appointments are not listed here; they’re still on your calendar. These are just routines.
Next, break your home, work duties and projects into zones and tackle things one-by-one. Work on one task for 15 minutes, then move to the next thing. Take it piece by piece and, over time, things will come together.
Build time in your routines to do a little something for yourself. A few minutes spent doing something you enjoy can re-energize you and keep you from feeling as if you’re running on empty. It’s the “running on empty” feeling that gets you down over time!
Martha Cilley’s book, Sink Reflections, works in conjunction with her website. It’s an easy read and has some very helpful hints to get you started. So that’s my focus, for now anyway. Hope it helps some of you find a little peace if you’re also struggling to keep up with everything. If you have helpful hints, please send them my way. We can post them on www.mycharmonline.com. By putting our heads together, just think how much we can help one another!
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Starve a fever? Feed a cold?
Cold season’s here, and I know because I have one. I started thinking about the common things people can do to help get over a nasty cold … call the doctor, drink hot tea, eat chicken soup. But starve a fever, feed a cold? I wanted to research that a bit.
I turned to my three favorite Internet resources for answers: WebMD, Wikipedia and WikiAnswers. Hopefully you can learn a bit from my info, and maybe share some other helpful tips to feeling better fast!
WebMD talks on when to see a doctor If you have difficulty breathing, persistent fever, vomiting, painful swallowing, persistent coughing or persistent congestion and headaches, you should go see a doctor, stat.
WebMD talks on tea Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat. If you’re so congested you can’t sleep at night, try a hot toddy, an age-old remedy. Make a cup of hot herbal tea. Add one teaspoon of honey and 1 small shot (about 1 ounce) of whiskey or bourbon. Limit yourself to one. Too much alcohol inflames those membranes and is counterproductive.
Wikipedia talks on chicken soup Chicken soup is a good food for winter convalescents. Sipping warm soup can also clear the sinuses because of the steam ventilating into the nasal passages, serving as a natural decongestant, which also relieves cold and flu symptoms. Last, but not least, chicken soup can be beneficial due to the placebo effect of comfort foods.
Wikianswers on feeding or starving A cold lasts 7-14 days. As the infection primarily involves the mucous membranes of the head and neck, systemic challenges aren’t as pronounced. As the system isn’t as stressed as with a flu, there’s less need to reduce demands on the digestive system. It stands to reason that, even if you’re eating with a cold, less demanding foods (hard to digest foods, lots of food, complex foods) will be more supportive of the body as a whole. You MUST drink lots of liquids!
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)
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Pandora’s music box
Everyone loves music. It has the ability to calm us down, hype us up, make us laugh, make us cry. Music is essential.
A co-worker of mine is really into music. I mean, really into it. One day this week we were talking about new albums out on the racks and she said, “Hey, have you ever been to www.pandora.com?” I hadn’t. So I went, and now I’m hooked.
Pandora is a free Internet radio that not only plays practically any tunes you could think up, but also responds by playing selections that are musically similar to what you’ve chosen. You can provide feedback to the songs and create playlists that Pandora keeps on file for your account. It’s amazing, utterly amazing.
Check it out and let me know what you think!
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Longview’s new slogan
In March, Longview will have a new slogan! This week at a town hall meeting, the top three candidates were announced at a town hall meeting. And the nominees are (drum roll please …)
*Real, East Texas living *Your kinda Texas *Natural down-home beauty
Which one do you think would fit Longview best? Let us know! To find out more, and to vote for your pick, visit www.brandlongview.com
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Charm Night Out
“We really enjoyed it! Excellent seminars! All the vendors were well represented — especially the specialty shops. Several of the vendors were Longview’s ‘best kept secrets,’ as we were not familiar with them or even aware they existed. What a good revelation! We are anxiously awaiting the next Charm Night Out!” Georgia Redmond, Longview
We are delighted that so many of you joined us at our first annual Charm Night Out. The evening brought more than 650 ladies to Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center to shop, share and connect with one another!
There was something for women of all ages and stages, of course! The evening began with a tea party where moms and their little princesses snacked on lemonade and cookies as they learned the importance of good manners.
After that, the doors opened for the main event. Women browsed through aisles of fashion and fun, attended educational seminars on topics such as home décor and stress management, and, in the end, enjoyed a fashion show featuring the season’s bests from area boutiques.
This event was a way for all of us to get together and have some fun! It’s so important to take time out of our busy lives for some quality girl time, and there are plenty of ways to do this.
There are so many opportunities for women to gather in our area for events and causes. We took the opportunity of this event to donate to one such cause, and we certainly hope to do more for other organizations in the future. With the tremendous turnout from Charm Night Out, we were able to raise and donate $1,000 to the Women’s Center of East Texas! To find out more, see pg. 17.
Have you ever thought of teaming up with a girlfriend or two and volunteering for a local charity event or organization?
Becoming a volunteer is a great way for friends to connect and share in a rewarding experience. There are several places in Longview that constantly need volunteers — Women’s Center of East Texas, Hope Haven and Habitat for Humanity, just to name a few.
Grab your closest gal pal and decide how the two of you can spend time together while serving your community. You’ll see it’s as rewarding to your friendship as it is to the lives you touch.
Amanda McElhany & Holly Hines
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Tasty treats
The first time I posted a blog about cooking new things for my new husband, I got tons of feedback. Believe it or not, I successfully cooked everything that was suggested (without ever burning the meal or myself)!
Now that I’ve mastered a few main courses, I’d like to move on to desserts. What are some easy desserts I could whip up? (Hint: I’m a big fan of anything with peanut butter in it, although dessert is dessert … I like it all!)
Thanks, ladies!
Is he that magical?
As I’ve said, I love books; however, I’ve never quite grasped the Harry Potter phenomenon. Now young Harry finally has my attention.
In it’s mid-week debut, the fifth installment - “The Order of the Phoenix” - grossed a record-breaking $44.8 million at the box office, according to CNN.com. I was amazed!!
I must be missing something absolutely brilliant. Tell me, what is so magical about J.K. Rowling’s best-sellers? There must be some gals out there who know!
Charm Night Out
I’m so excited to invite you to join us for our first Charm Night Out - an evening for women to shop, share, have fun and connect with one another. Your Charm team is hard at work coordinating an evening that will be sure to bring all of us together for a night full of fun!
Charm Night Out will take place at Maude Cobb on Tuesday, July 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. Area businesses will bring out their very best so attendees may shop with ease - all under the same roof! Three seminars will be provided, focusing on different areas of interest ranging from mothers and daughters to home décor and even stress management.
The evening will culminate with a fashion show featuring the latest styles and trends from area boutiques and clothing retailers. Ten VIP tables will be available, so call to reserve a table for you and your girlfriends! You’ll enjoy delicious desserts, a special non-alcoholic drink and, best of all, premium seating at the best fashion show around!
In conjunction with this special evening, one lucky lady will be selected for a makeover, compliments of Charm and several area businesses. Plan to be there for her big reveal just before the style show begins. Read more about registering you or someone you know for this makeover by clicking on the Charm Makeover Contest link on the home page.
From 4 t 5 p.m., just before the event begins, we’ll open the doors early to our youngest Charm girls (ages 3-10) and their moms for a special tea party. Dress your little princess in her very best and come out early to enjoy an old-fashioned tea party. Space is limited, so call to reserve seats for you and your little lady today!
We hope you’ll plan to come out and join us for a fun-filled evening! It’s certain to be a night to remember so check out the newspaper and mycharmonline.com often to stay up-to-date on what’s ahead!
See you there!
Summer plans
What are you most looking forward to this summer? Charm asked our readers this question, and here’s what they said.
Now tell us what you think.
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What’s your (healthy) addiction?
I was born without one important female gene: shoe addiction. I mean, I like shoes and I definitely wear shoes, I just don’t LOVE shoes. Most of my friends are crazy about shoes … meaning, they take whatever is leftover from a paycheck and stock their shoe racks with new Steve Maddens and Gianni Binis. It’s their “thing.”
My “thing,” on the other hand, is for handbags. Even though I carry the same bag for months at a time, I’m always buying new ones. I keep my closet shelves full of cute totes, satchels, clutches and hobo bags. When I’m out shopping for something non-bag related, I make a beeline for the handbag department before I do ANYthing else. I’m nuts for a cute little (or big) bag to wear. Nuts!
So, what’s your “thing?” Do you have any addiction like shoes or handbags?
Memorial Day
One of the best things about holidays is a chance to spend time with family and friends. When the weather’s just right, as it was this past weekend, it’s fun to get together in the great outdoors for a good barbecue.
I went over to Lake O’ The Pines with my husband and some friends for a couple of nights under the stars. We pitched tents, made S’mores and even sang some good old campfire tunes (Kumbaya, anyone?)
How did you spend your Memorial Day weekend?
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Publisher’s Note
It is truly hard to believe that we are now publishing our anniversary issue! The year has flown by and I am so humbled by the number of compliments we continually receive from our readers and the extraordinary support we have had from our advertisers!
We held a small reception on March 20th to celebrate our first anniversary and would like to express our thanks to those who took time out to enjoy the evening with us. It was a wonderful gathering that raised awareness and a few funds for the East Texas Women’s Center with our silent auction featuring items from Hope’s Closet. Items and outfits from Hope’s Closet were selected by our lovely Charm cover girls and were on display throughout the evening.
I am particularly pleased to tell you that we have now launched our Web site, www.mycharmonline.com. It is our hope that the site will enable us to continually connect with each other between issues. It is meant to be a place of sharing for all of us. We will have weekly reader polls, beauty tips, inspirational quotes of the week and a chance to chat with one another through blogs. We encourage you to submit your favorite photos (those with girlfriends, your loved ones, etc.) so that we can all share special memories. The possibilities for this site are endless and, as we’ve asked you to do before, please let us know of other things you’d like us to include.
As a final note, I’d like to express my appreciation to the Charm team that has worked diligently this past year. As a group, we have put our hearts and souls into this project. I’ve already shared this with many of you, but Charm really is a fun project to work on. It doesn’t really feel like work at all. We laugh and enjoy the time we’re able to spend outlining each issue. Fortunately, we work well as a team and have been able to keep it fun, fresh and appealing to women of all ages.
Another invaluable resource was the external focus group we started with. We are so grateful for their willingness to share their ideas with us and tell us whether they thought we were on the right track or not.
We continue to encourage your participation as well. That’s what makes Charm work! Call, e-mail, stop by and say hi — whatever, but share your views and ideas. We’re looking forward to another extraordinary year Charming you!
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Beeeeautiful outside
How amazing has this weather been?! Today is the perfect day.
My bones are aching to be outdoors My favorite thing to do on days like this is grab a friend, jump in the Jeep and drive around until it’s dark. To me, there’s no better feeling than the wind in my hair and the sun on my face.
What’s your favorite thing to do on perfect days?
What’s that smell?
A good friend told me recently that I was stuck in a perfume rut. I just looked at her and told her it wasn’t a rut; I just happen to have a signature scent — “Light Blue” by Dolce & Gabbana (that I’m in love with)!
“Same thing,” she said.
Which made me think … she’s right. I need to see what else is out there. I need to give other scents a shot! I’m sure we’ve all felt this way at some point in time. It’s time to make a change. Where do I start?
Tragedy brings unity
When a single tragic event affects the entire nation, many of us turn to each other for comfort and support. We pick up the phone to call friends who live miles away, we greet strangers with a true sincerity and we make extra time during the day to focus on our families.
In a way, the mass shooting at Virginia Tech University shook us all. Although the campus is hundreds of miles away, our hearts have gone out to families and faculty who have lost loved ones.
This summer, one of my bosses is sending his 14-year-old son away to camp at a nearby unversity. Needless to say, my boss is concerned about his son being in a situation that is beyond both his, and with good reason.
Or is it? How do you feel about your family members or loved ones who are in similar situations? Does a campus shooting that occured hundreds of miles away give you cause for trepidation?
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Keys to a happy marriage
My hubby and I have been blissfully happy since we got married. That was June 2006, so technically we’re still in the ‘honeymoon period.’
But, I’m not that naive; I know there comes a time when the honeymoon period will come to an end and I’ll start noticing his socks on floor and his shaving cream in the sink.
So, I’m planning ahead. While working on Charm, I’ve met some amazing women who have shared with me the secrets of their lasting marriages. For them, these secrets have kept them in 20-, 40- and even 60-year honeymoons!
How do YOU do it?
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Mothers&Daughters
Charm asked mothers and their daughters when were you most proud of each other. Here’s what they said. Now tell us about your proud moments.
Latest comments
I really don’t have any advise on how to cope for that last child leaving the nest…I only know what helped in my situation. In March of 2006, my 21 year old son was ready to move out on his own. The blessing for me was that my first grandchild
... read the full comment by Brenda Green | Comment on Empty nest Read Empty nest
this text will be italic When my youngest daughter ‘left the nest’, I started cleaning my house, my way of ‘reclaiming’ the nest, so to speak. Although I miss her being at home, it’s nice to have her visit and remark
... read the full comment by Elicia Powell | Comment on Empty nest Read Empty nest
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... read the full comment by xelindm uscave | Comment on Shop green Read Shop green
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... read the full comment by xelindm uscave | Comment on Shop green Read Shop green