Fashionista Friday: Fabulous Fittings

Photo courtesy of Ambros; FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There's nothing worse than an ill-fitting bra.

If you're pulling, tugging, squeezing, and adjusting throughout the day, you have the wrong bra on.  I know this because I wore the wrong size at several times in my life. 

I've had 4 children, and the girls have gone up and down and around...who could keep up?

About a year ago, I decided I was tired of my boobs popping out of the top of my bra, my skin looking like fat rolls in the back (that's the one place I don't have extra fat!!!!), and being uncomfortable in my bras in general.

I've been measured before, plenty of times - including being measured incorrectly a few times at a certain "Secret" store (wink wink)...I don't know what their method of calculation is, but it sure doesn't work for me.

Back to last year...I started researching how to properly fit bras and I found simple calculations that work beautifully, and the girls and I have been happy and comfy ever since.


I am going to give you the calculations, but you can also read my full article here. 

How to Measure for Bra Size

1.  Using a flexible measuring tape, measure around your upper body under your breasts.  Record or remember the number!  This is your band size.  If the number is odd, add 1".

2.  Measure around your upper body at the largest part of your breasts. 

3.  Subtract your band size from your largest part measurement.  If the difference is:

     Less than 1 - AA Cup
                     1 - A Cup
                     2 - B Cup
                     3 - C Cup
                     4 - D Cup

 

Example:  If your band measurement is 32 and your largest measurement is 34, you would have a difference of 2 which means your size is 32B.

I felt like the angels were singing the Hallelujah chorus when I finally got a good fitting, comfortable bra in the right size, and if you have been wearing the wrong size for years, you will know what I mean.

Go shopping and try on bras...do not just buy what is the right size.  Size is most of the battle, but you have to try on bras since different cuts and features will be best for you.   Here are some of my favorites:  (sorry about the formatting....it's driving me crazy and I'm out of time...field trip today!)

What's Cooking Wednesday: Canned Peach Cobbler

Delicious peach cobbler

I was in the mood to bake something summer-y, but didn't really have a whole lot of options as far as ingredients we have at home.  I'm in a "clean-out" week, which is a week when I try to clear out the fridge and pantry, use what we have on hand and avoid the grocery store.

So I had canned peaches and of course, regular baking staples.  I decided to try peach cobbler with canned peaches, something I've never done before. 

The result was yummy, sweet cobbler with a fluffy rather than crumbly topping, but I rather liked it.  Despite my determination that I was not going to be the one to test it, at 11 p.m. last night I caved and had some.  It was so good, I decided I just have to try it again using stevia or xylitol to make it less sugary and more figure-friendly!

Canned Peach Cobbler

Fruit Mixture
2 cans (28 oz. each) peach slices (I prefer canned fruits without added sugar, check your label)
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg (round the teaspoon a bit, not flat measured)
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 T. tapioca granules OR 4 tsp. cornstarch

Dough Mixture
1 1/2 c. flour
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
12 T. butter, softened (that's 1 1/2 sticks)
1/3 cup hot water

Sugar Topping
4 tsp. sugar
1 1/4. tsp. ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 425.

Drain and pat dry peach slices.

Mix all Fruit Mixture ingredients in a rectangular baking dish (mine is about 9" x 7"...don't fret over this...bigger than 8"x8" but smaller than a lasagna pan, you'll be fine).  Bake Fruit Mixture for 12 minutes.

Mix together dry ingredients from Dough Mixture, then cut butter into dry ingredients using a pastry blender or criss-crossing two forks until butter is worked through and dough is crumbly.

Mix hot water into dough just until completely combined.  Spread over baked fruit mixture. *Most cobbler directions tell you to drop it in spoonfuls.  You can do it that way too...I just like evenness and symmetry, etc., so it makes me happy to spread it evenly and not have any "naked" spots.*

Mix Sugar Topping and sprinkle liberally over entire top.

Bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

Serve warm or cooled, whatever your little heart desires!  I did not have any ice cream, but a nice good-quality vanilla would be wonderful with these peaches, I'm sure.

Wonderfully golden cobbler

Tightwad Tuesday: No Membership Required

My fabulous sneaks!

We can get caught up when embarking on a new exercise routine.  Some people get that machine they think will transform their desire to exercise; for some it's a workout video or a gym membership.

Since I'm getting back into the exercise thing myself, I've contemplated these things.

I have a gym membership that I've had for 3 years.  I've never stepped foot in that gym.  I drove there once...they were closed.

Cancelled.

I have a treadmill in my basement that is on the fritz.  It needs a new motor control board (about $100).  I've thought about whether I "need" this fixed.

I keep eyeing up exercise balance balls too.  Hmm, I think.  I might need one of those.

I also saw a cool Pilates machine on late-night t.v. the other week, on a home shopping channel.  I am a sensible, highly intelligent woman, but a little part of me thinks if I had that machine my hiney would look like it did when I was 21!
The truth is, everything you need to exercise is in you and in your home.


Walking and jogging require no special equipment other than proper shoes.  I found a great pair on sale at Kohl's for less than $50.

Push ups, sit ups, leg lifts, donkey kicks, lunges...they all require only your body as "equipment."

Check out this neat clip from the ABC show "The Revolution" about making your own weights from stuff around the house and yard:  Make Your Own Workout Equipment 

If you're already paying for cable television, why not check out the exercise programs available free on the "on demand" or "pay-per-view" listings?

The bottom line is, just choose something and do it.  This is going to be the answer whether you have a gym with $100,000 worth of equipment or you have good running shoes and a road, or a Salvation Army bike and a water bottle.

Face it, part of the reason we look for investment in exercise is because we think it will keep us going if we've spent money on it.  The truth is, all that does is boost the sales in the weight loss industry; it rarely has its intended result for the individual - you and me.

You just have to do it.

Monday Motherhood Musing: BubbaB8's Sports Drama

Our mini football

Before I start, you should know I'm not a "stage mom" or "performance mom."  I have no personal attachment to my childrens' activities in terms of their performance making me feel good about some latent childhood dream of my own.

I want them to do well for themselves.  I allow them to pick and choose their own activities.  I try to make it possible to participate in almost everything they want to try.

That said, I do believe that once they sign up, they need to complete a course, performance, or season.  Everybody with me?

My son, BubbaB8, has been looking forward to playing football with our local recreation council program.  This fall is the first year he will be old enough to sign up since the birth date cut-off came before his birthday last year, and the required age is 8.

I did, however, sign him up last fall for a 6 week private football program.  I thought this was a perfect way to get him into what practices would be like before signing up for the whole enchilada.  It was on Saturdays and he really enjoyed it. 

He was vacillating this spring between signing up for baseball or the spring football offered by the same organization from the fall.  He decided on football.

This Saturday past, he was not thrilled about getting ready for football.  He was slow and needed a lot of prodding.  We drove to the practice with his little brother in tow.

When I parked he refused to get out of the car.

When I got out and got my chairs and tote bag, he remained immovable.

Finally I physically took him out of the car.  He stood there with his back absolutely flattened against the side of the car and refused to move. 

I tried asking him what was wrong.  He just stared at me.  BubbaB8 does that.  I am supposed to guess what's going on inside his precious head.

I'm not good at it.

I explained to him that he chose this, and that, in fact, he enjoyed it.  I explained to him that I had a lot of things I could be doing, but I picked taking him to football as my priority.  I explained to him that it was expensive to sign up for football and expensive to drive there, and that was part of it too.

He was unmoved.

I told him I was going to potato-sack carry him to the field.

Unfortunately, BubbaB8 has gotten faster and stronger since the time in kindergarten when I used this tactic to "encourage" him to get out of bed for the school bus.  It worked then, but on Saturday he was wriggling away from me and people were staring. 

I told him to get back in the car.  I was very angry.  I felt like I was about to lose control.  I called my darling love, crying in frustration.

Eventually, I got in the car and told him I was disappointed.  I explained that sports stars don't skip practice because they don't feel like doing it (this is the reason he eventually gave me), that they do it especially when they don't feel like it.  I explained that the only acceptable reason to skip was a family event or illness.

I explained to him that the football program he had been waiting to sign up for was a much bigger commitment than just Saturdays.  They practice 4 nights a week at the end of summer, and a few nights a week once school starts, plus have games on Saturdays. 

I explained to him that I don't feel like cooking dinner every day, that I don't always feel like planning and shopping for food and storing it in the refrigerator, but I do it anyway.  I explained to him that adults don't feel like going to work every day, but they do it anyway.

He burst in with, "Yeah, but that's important stuff!"

Bam.

He doesn't think what he does is important!

Finally, a window into the Bubba soul.  They are few and far between.

I'm on a mission now.  He needs to know that he has a couple of jobs in life and that they matter.  School.  Being my son.  Being God's son.  Being a friend.  Being an active part of his team.

Poor Bubba.

I have never subscribed to the idea that kids should always be lifted up and told how fabulous they are no matter what.  Don't get me wrong, I encourage my children, treat them with love and I am proud of them, but I'm not a fan of the "everybody wins, everybody's the best, everybody at the same level" mentality that is prevalent in today's parenting world.

You win when you're the best and you're on your game that day.  You win because you worked at it.  You're awarded because you did something that stands out.

What would happen if we applied the way some sports are played to the armed forces?  Would we just make everybody a general because we wanted them to feel good?  Everybody in a high position of authority means chaos!

I'm not going to go on about that forever.

I think my Bubba has gotten a little lost in middle-child syndrome, and I know that's my fault.  I think there are instances where children need to stand out.  I think there are children who have an innate desire to stand out but don't know how to make it happen.

I'm on a mission now.  Wish me luck, and wish me luck for next Saturday!

By the way, I also chose consequences for his refusal to go.  I figured out that it costs me about $12 a week for this football program, and about $5 to drive there.  So he has $17 to work off.  He also wanted to have a friend come over to play, and I told him that was out for the weekend.  He was mad.  Good.

How do you make your children each feel important?