Thursday, February 14, 2008

Who-hoo! Valentine's!

First and foremost, you gotta check out this website:

http://quicksaysomethingnice.com/

It's just too much fun, and the quotes are good for a smile. You can even add your own!

My publisher came up with Valentine's Cards that go with the book -- and the fabulous Sallie Goetsch is re-designing my BeABondGirl.com website, and has posted them. If you want to get a sneak peek at the site, check out:

http://beabondgrrl.com/wordpress/

If you go to the blog, that's where the Valentine's Day Cards are located.

Have a great one! And be sure to pamper yourself, and (if you have one) your James!

Soli.

Monday, February 04, 2008

KCBS Health Etc with Dr. Oz seminar!

This Saturday, I attended the "Health, Etc." conference where Dr Mehmet Oz was the featured speaker:

http://www.kcbs.com/pages/236034.php?

(the photos aren't up yet)

What a fantastic event. I had imagined that Dr Oz would be "just as great" as he is on TV -- but he definitely was. In fact, he stayed late to answer questions from the hall, and was just super. I have been to seminars and seen (and met) folks from TV/etc., and often they are not what they "seem" to be on TV. If anything, he seemed NICER than on Oprah.

One of the things that I also did was wait in the (very VERY LONG, but fast moving) line to have my Glucose, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol tested.

My Glucose was 102 non-fasting -- which is normal (Less than 140). YAY!
My total cholesterol was 178 -- which is normal (less than 200). YAY!
My blood pressure was 139/93 -- which is WAY BAD and ABNORMAL. Yikes!!!!

As in, they said to see my doctor immediately. Then I talked with the doc who was there, who said that this had to be monitored and had to go down "like now," b/c it was stroke-level (the bottom number is the "baddie" tho they are both bad).

115/75 is good
120-129 on top and 80-89 on the bottom is "pre-hypertension"
130-159 on top and 90-99 is "Stage 1 Hypertension" -- the bottom number being the more important and "worse" one.
Then you are basically just about to die if you are over that.

SO ANYWAY, she said that I had to get back on exercising, b/c also my fat percentage was high. This does not surprise me, since after my wedding (oh, now 1.5 years ago!) my James and I have been the foie gras and wine and lolling King and Queen. But this freaked me out bigtime. No more red meat, blah blah, and NOW.

I heard once that it's when you get a "wake-up call" that you really get serious. I never really thought that was going to apply to me. I know, what a dummy. But I'm definitely still slim, etc. -- I didn't know I had a time bomb ticking away.

So that's my post for today -- after I get the podcasts done that I'm working on on "Inner Game," I'm going to be doing a few interviews with some doctors about health (Dr. Monte included -- YAY!), and also a hypnotherapy induction for free. Hey -- and I will use it!

Soli

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Podcast Four: Feng Shui

Click here to see what a Bagua map looks like (from www.wsfs.com):




I know it's difficult to "imagine" the bagua square just from my talking about it, so this should help. I tried to find one I could insert here -- but most of the ones that are available on the internet are "Magnetic School" and more difficult to understand. I think that this one should help to envision "what I'm talking about" in podcast 4!!!!!

Let me know what you think about the podcasts!

Solitaire

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Podcast Episode Two/Three: Resources

Hi Again!

Here are the resources that I mention in Podcast Episode Two and Three...

1. Podrunner.com: Here is a great podcast to download some tunes for your closet cleanout!

2. beatport.com: Here's another one!

3. ImageForSuccess.org

4. ebay.com and half.com

5. freecycle.org

And, if you're interested in reading up on the subject of Podcast Four, see if you can pick up a copy of The Western Guide to Feng Shui -- a click through is under Library on the BeABondGirl.com website :-)

Happy listening!
-- S

Podcast Episode One: References

SOME day, these podcasts are going to load into iTunes! I'm not sure what's going wrong -- frustrating!

That said, I'm going to list the references that go along with the episodes here... so that once they are working, this will be done :-)

Obviously, the number one reference in the podcast is my book, fEmpowerment: A Guide to Unleashing Your Inner Bond Girl. The link to purchase the book in a manner that gets me the "most dough" is through the homepage on BeABondGirl.com -- hey, I'm a shameless capitalist :-) This link goes directly to the on-demand publishing house that my publisher used, so there is none of the "50% discounting" that goes on when you sell a book through a bookstore (online or regular retail).

If you have Amazon.com credits, of course, be my guest and get it on Amazon :-) I only get 23 cents this way as the author -- but I'd rather you have the book and if Amazon is the way -- it's the way!

If you go to the Resources for the book on the Home page of BeABondGirl.com and click through on any of the books, you will be through a "portal" where you can then search for the book... and I get another 2 cents since I'm an "Amazon Associate." Yeah Yeah -- Shameless, Shameless, Shameless!!!!!

The links to the other websites that I reference in Episode One are listed under Resources on the main BeABondGirl.com website, but I will also note them here:

BeingJamesBond.com
MotivationToMove.com
FitnessRocks.org
BehindTheBarShow.com
[my heros!]

Thanks for reading!
"Solitaire"

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

My podcast is UP!

If you check the Homepage at www.BeABondGirl.com, you can download my first podcast! I have actually already done another one, but I have to wait for my James (the technical one of the relationship) to get it up there. It's also uploaded on iTunes.

Yippee!

New Year, New Habits (from advancedetiquette.com)

Syndi Seid is a client of mine, and I thought I would share her New Year's email here. She has a great "tip of the month" you can subscribe to -- always something that you can "put into action" to improve your life! -- Solitaire
++++
[Tip of the Month, AdvancedEtiquette.com]

Whenever the New Year arrives, it says to me… “Yippie! I'm leaving behind all the terrible stuff I did last year and beginning a new year with a clean slate.”

For me, a clean slate means New Year's Resolutions. Do you make them? Perhaps you did at one time, but stopped when you couldn't stick with them. The key is to make a list according to the SMART method… being Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reasonable, and Timely.

I used to list things such as "lose weight" and "make more money," yet know I will be contending with these forever... so I don't bother to list them. Instead, I work on goals and resolutions, some challenging and some mundane, to develop better habits and make me a better person.

Here are my eight New Year resolutions for 2008:

Say "please" and "thank-you" with every request.
This means not only with co-workers, but my spouse, family, and close friends, as well. I should treat the people most important to me as well as strangers.

Be on time for appointments and parties. The primary reason I am ever late is because I do not take enough time to think through and plan for traffic and other situations. When I leave enough time, I am never late.

Wait for the green light at all crosswalks. It amazes me how calm I become when I wait instead of crossing, even when I'm in a hurry. The extra few seconds don't amount to a hill of beans, compared to losing life or limb, causing other traffic jams, or other disasters.

Twice a week, send someone a card and note by regular mail. Thanks to Send Out Cards, it’s easy to build this habit. To all those I have said, “I’ll be in touch, “ or thought, "I wonder what's new with so-and-so," I am now taking action. The responses are well worth the effort---tenfold, at least!

Keep all shared items and areas at home and in the office clean and neat. I admit, I have been known to take a pair of scissors from a drawer and not put them back for my husband or others to use. I am also picking up after myself and cleaning all areas I've messed up before leaving the room.

Invite someone to lunch or coffee once a month. There are certain friends, co-workers, distant family members, and other acquaintances I'd like to know better. I will now do it by having lunch or coffee with these individuals, once a month. For folks far away, a telephone call will surely be a welcome surprise.

Make a habit of turning off my cell phone and other electronic devices the moment I enter a meeting, restaurant, theater, museum, or other public place.

Not to talk over or interrupt someone while they are speaking. This, I admit, is my worst offense. I get so eager to share information or ask a question, I forget to remain silent until it is my turn to speak.

How about you? Do some of these goals sound familiar and are you willing to make SMART resolutions for 2008? Here are some suggestions on how to achieve results and receive a reward for doing so:

Make a list of six to twelve items, based on displaying better manners, adhering to good etiquette, and generally transforming yourself into being a better person for life. Display this list in a visible place on your desk, on the refrigerator, or wherever you are likely to see it daily.
Send your list to me at doubleohsandy@yahoo.com as witness of your firm commitment. We'll check back in, by the end of 2008, and if you feel you've made your goals, I'll send you a complimentary gift of congratulations!

Do not tackle your entire list at once. It will be unrealistic and impossible to manage, and you will become discouraged. Choose one or two items each month. As the year progresses, you will make these a habit each month, then add more in subsequent months. By December you will have six to twelve new habits ingrained that will enhance your life forever.

Happy Practicing... and Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!!!! (The "Cracker Story")

I was sent this link this morning and thought I would share:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm6ktYq0Yxk%20&NR=1

You have to watch -- it makes me feel GREAT seeing it. So fun!!!

Over New Year's Eve, we have a big bonfire and invite everyone we know to come and throw in lists or representations of things they want out of their life in the new year. Then, after midnight, everyone throws in lists or representations of what they want IN their life, for 2008. One of the gals came with a new tradition -- she had a big round "cracker bread" (BIG), and she had everyone say what they thought the "representation" of the roundness meant. Unity -- the world -- etc. Then, everyone grabs a piece of the edge, and then on the count of 3 everyone breaks their piece off for the New Year.

There were about 8 of us when we did this -- and everyone broke the cracker off -- when I was bending mine, it cracked off the ENTIRE cracker except what was in everyone else's hand! Yes, the WHOLE thing. I started laughing, and the gal said she had never seen THAT happen before. I of course held it over my head and said....2008, "O" stands for "Oprah"!

Have a grand new year, all of you!

Solitaire

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Your Morning "Coffee" . . .

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor.

The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general...

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite.

Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering.

''You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems! "

He continued...'

'Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each other's cups....'' '

'Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the Life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us. God brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups. Enjoy your coffee!''

The happiest people don't have the best of everything - they just make the best of everything they have... So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly. Leave the Rest to God. And remember - the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

The $40 Gorgeous Day

Yesterday, coming from my pole dancing class, I'd parked about 2 blocks away from the building in which the class is held.

When I had driven into the city it had been a “pretty day,” but in the 2.5 hours I had been inside – WOW. It had become ~unbelievably~ beautiful.

The class is in the Cow Hollow area of San Francisco - which means you see the Golden Gate Bridge, sailboats, marina, etc – and so I started to walk slower….and slower….just amazed at the beautiful day.

I walked so slowly, in fact, that the 2 minute walk took me 15 minutes. And when I got to the car, I had a $40 parking ticket!

So, when asked today by a friend who is “enjoying” (not) the drizzly, cold, nasty New Jersey weather how the weather was in San Fran, I said that, in fact, it was not only gorgeous, it was a “$40 gorgeous” day!!

:-)