I think our emphasis on food may be a result of the great depression, at least on one level. I read somewhere that the children of the depression used chocolate and other food to "show" how well they were doing as adults and how they could provide luxeries for their children. I think we use our food consumption as a measure of wealth and well being. As a parent I find it hard not to offer food to a hurt or unhappy child. I know it's wrong and I catch myself most of the time, but it's almost like I am fighting to swim upstream.

ttfn, morningglory

Good morning Morning Glory

Your comment is probably very right and reminds me of something my grandmother told me.

After out family left Russia and went back to Germany, the girls considered the most beautiful and wealthy were chunky. So my grandmother struggled to fatten herself up by eating pototoes everyday. When she thinks back she laughs and laugh because she is sure someone has come out with the "Potato Diet".

Speaking of cultural reactions to food and beauty. I was recently reading about Ms. World. She is from Nigeria, Africa the Calebari tribe. The thing is though she is beautiful by Western standards (stick thin) in her tribe she is believed to be quite ugly. The Calebari apparently send thier women to fattening farms before marriage, because hips, breasts, and a large rump are valued in the tribe. HMMMMMM Something to think about.

So Morning since I enjoy speaking to you should we post a topic of the day? Do see a direction the thread is going?

Ms. Chris

Things I can't live without.... Dark chocolate, Peanut Butter, Crab Cakes, Bagels and Cream Cheese, and Chi Tea

My lowcal treat i love!

Light vanilla Ice Cream (Bryer's is best, Eddy's will do) 1/2 cup 110 cal

Toasted cocunut 1 tbsp. 35 cal
(Cocunut in the oven on broil, got to watch it carefully takes less than 3 minutes)

Chocolate Syrup 1 tbsp. 50 cal

Completely sinful for 195 cal. Less than 200 calories is easy to work into my day and I love it!


Ms. Chris

These are things that make me feel good that aren't food. Possible replacements for that look in the fridge. I encourage you to post your own.

1. Writing in my journal online and off
2. Getting my house cleaned
3. Getting a massage
4. Listening to a book on tape
5. Reading
6. Surfing the net
7. Dancing
8. Going to the gym
9. Hunting for bargains online/newspaper/hauling my butt to garage sales.
10. Watching a movie
11. Seducing my husband
12. Trying something new
13. Writing a list of goals
14. Figuring out to do things for myself, so far I have figured out (kinda) how to wax my eyebrows, change my oil, replace a water pump, touch up my roots, this week I think I will try press on nails vs. acrylics
15. Working on my little Chris Best Recipe Book

List away folks!
Ms. Chris

This is my list of things I like that aren't food. By the way, I really like this thread and your list Rochemist. And I really liked number 11 on your list.

1.Hmmm, this is related to food (but then, isn't everything?)I love watching the chefs on the food channel. I don't cook like that but they seem to do it so effortlessly.

2.I really like to read good books that I can lose myself in. Being a mother of 4 I sometimes need a really good escape route.

3. I love to talk. Not all the time, but really good conversations with people I love and care about can be very gratifying. I need my quiet time, maybe more than other people, but I also love being with people.

4. I love my day off, when my children are in school, and Don's at work and I have the day to myself.

5.I love #11 on Rochemist's list, only with my hubby.

6.I love watching a really funny or sad movie.

7. I love gardening and flowers

8. I love my children

These aren't in order of importance.

ttfn, morningglory

Rochemist,
I enjoy reading your posts too. I am more than willing to participate in a topic of the day, but some days I am just not too creative, so be patient with me, lol.

morningglory

Creativity is an excersise of the mind. If you don't use it you lose it. But I don't think anyone is creative all the time. I think John Cleese said it best, "You work on the law of averages, out of 5 days you will get 3 days worth of good work". By the way I loved your list MG, I think #11 is one of my favorites too.

So here is my next little topic thought:
Where do we learn to be beautiful from? And what does that mean exactly?
I think back to my childhood and I thought beautiful was my overdone aunts. You know them bleached hair, finger nails like claws, full make-up, big hair, down south they are called Dallas Dollies. I thought Dolly Parton was the most beautiful woman alive. Then when I hit about 11 being a suoermodel is what beauty meant, I wasn't fat but I THOUGHT I WAS HUGE! It made me depressed, I missed out on alot of things, and I dabbled in self-destruction. Now I am 30, I think beauty is in a smile, generosity of heart and soul, self pride and confidence, in being healthy. And based on that something about me still thinks Dolly Parton is beautiful

Ms. Chris

Good morning Ro and Morning Glory!!

Thank you so much for givin me the link!!! I hope you do not mind if i come in and post!

I think dolly is pretty too..but her beauty comes from her smile to me. It just looks like she seems to LOVE her life.

That is what i want.. a smile that says..i love me..and my life.

I love your thoughts...Ro...

this is an awesome thread!!!


Tracy

Ahhh Rochemist, you ask such difficult questions. I was probably quite pretty in high school. However, I had no confidence and so believed myself to be fat and not very attractive. My ex-husband hardly helped matters. I started college late in life (I was 27), I lost much weight, wore cute little mini skirts and silky shirts and I was sexy. But I weighed the same as I did in high school. The big difference was that I thought I was sexy, and I exuded a confidence that I think both men and boys found attractive.
My Don thinks I am the sexiest woman around. That really helps when I am feeling down. He follows me around and gives me compliments and is a real doll at times.
I love long, painted nails. I think those are very sexy. Especially if they are bright red and have little jewels on them.
I loved Joan Jett when I was younger. All that black leather and that black hair and so very confident in a man's world. I wanted to be her( I am a bit older than you Ro.).
I really want to be thinner so I can wear something sleek and black and look hot in it. Maybe something leather .
Well, I guess thats it for now.

morningglory

Morning ..Morningglory and Ro

Morningglory..i think you hit the nail..with that post. Sexiness is abou how we feel..Not what we THINK the mirror says. So I think you have a super husband who odviously loves and appreciates you..and thinks YOU are lovely!!


Hey RO!! Howare you??

Ps..i love these kind

Tracys of posts...

What are some of your favorite ways to relieve stress? How do you shake off the build-up of worries and regenerate?

I don't have tons of money or free time, but one of my favorite ways to relax and try to return to my normal sunny self is to go out for a leisurely dinner with my hubby. I love to go to Red Lobster and have crab legs, have someone else do the cooking, and to be waited on hand and foot.

Another thing that I love to do is to send the children away for the night so that Don and I can just relax, maybe go to Walmart alone, watch whatever we want on tv. We can kiss without anyone making gagging noises. We rub each others feet or backs or whatever. Just have a nice grown up evening.

I like to take my kids shopping to buy something they really, really want. It doesn't have to be anything big, just the togetherness can be very fulfilling.

I have already mentioned this in another post, but I love my day off with the kids gone, and Don gone and the housework done. It is how I truely rejuvinate and am able to face the week ahead. My children have very busy scheduals and I need to be there for them.
Ok, that's all for now.

ttfn, morningglory

Morningflory..you sound so wonderful in your ways to relaax.

How long have you been married??My hubby and I have been married for 7 years in Nov..and he..well the things that you mention he will never do.

How did you two get so close that you do all those special things together??

O.K. I'll try this one too....

Pizza....Pizza....Pizza I could eat it every day!
Tootsie rolls, an obssesion ever since I was a kid
Anything from Semolina's ( a local international pasta rest.)
Choch. of course
feta cheese YUMMY!!!

Gosh!!! I've never seen so many dark chocolate lovers at one time. I don't personally know anyone except me that loves it. Dark chocolate lovers UNITE!!!!!