Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - The purpose of eye glasses

 

YouTube Video: The purpose of glasses

Monday Musings – What’s in your medicine cabinet?

 

Have you ever watched the movie Father of the Bride starring Steve Martin? One of my favorite scenes is when Steve Martin’s character visits his daughter’s future in-laws’ home. He asks to use the restroom, while there, he snoops through the medicine cabinet. Then touches a class mirror and it come off in his hand…which leads into my story for today.

One day, not so long ago, I hung out at my mom’s house after work, we watched a movie, had munchies, and I decided to stay the night. This wasn’t the first time I’ve stayed with her, so I keep a set of toiletries there. On this occasion, my son decides to infiltrate our girl’s night. He too stayed the night.

After a peaceful slumber, I got up, turned the shower on, prepared to step in, only to discover there was no soap. And that’s when the scavenger hunt began, with the medicine cabinet. Let me first mention that this is an upstairs bathroom that mom doesn’t use much. Her main room for relief is on the first floor.

I opened the upstairs medicine cabinet in search of soap. There was no soap, but I discovered something interesting… a 15-ounce container of cornstarch baby powder. It was not Johnson & Johnson, but an off-brand powder that looked like it had been there since my son was a baby, and he’s 25 years…not months.

I yelled down the stairs to my mother, “Do you think we can get rid of this old baby powder?”

She laughed then joined my search for soap.” Did you look in the linen closet?”

“Yes.” She didn’t believe I looked thoroughly.  I heard her footsteps on the hardwood steps leading upstairs.

Mom rummaged through the upstairs linen closet, she lifted towels, shifted items on the floor of the cabinet. She was successful, the hunt was over. Mom found a bar of soap. She was excited as she handed the soap to me. It was a bar of Ivory soap…an old, old bar. The label was stuck to the soap, and the writing on the label was faded.

I told my mom, “Thanks, but that’s ok. I’ll shower at home.”

Mom and I shared a hearty laugh, and I vowed never to go through her medicine cabinet unaccompanied.

The moral of the story, if I were to give it one, would be – don’t snoop through other people’s medicine cabinets, you may not like what you discover.

What’s in your medicine cabinet? If it’s old, throw it out.

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Death of a tooth

 

YouTube: Death of a tooth

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween Happiness - Where faith and fun intersect

 

YouTube Video: A Mother Son Halloween

A costume and a message

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Crazy Jobs

 

YouTube Video: Crazy Jobs

Wordless Wednesday - Comedy Relief - Dry Bar Comedy - Rahn Hortman

 Have you ever watched Dry Bar Comedy? Take a peek. Take time to laugh today.

YouTube Video Credit: Dry Bar Comedy

You Are What Your Wife Tells You. Rahn Hortman - Full Special

Monday Musings – 7 Benefits of Smiling

 

“A smile is worth 1000 words.” – Julie A. Walker

You may have heard the saying, “a picture is worth 1000 words,” well so is a smile. Simply put, this means a smile can convey more than words. Flip through your phone and reflect on the photos with smiling faces, laughing faces, or silly faces. What memories do those photos hold? What stories leap to mind?

I had an opportunity to hang out with a group of people after work, just to relax and unwind. The evening included a lot of smiling, giggling, and laughter. I laughed until my cheeks hurt, in a good way. The was a feeling of calmness, peace, and joy, the whole evening. Take time to enjoy the benefits of smiling. Below is a list of 7 benefits of smiling.

1.      Improves Mood - like laughter, smiling triggers the release of endorphins, and serotonin, which can boost your mood and reduce stress.

2.      Builds Connections – a smile can help create a positive first impression, making it easier to connect with others and build relationships.

3.      Increases Approachability – people who smile often appear more approachable, friendly, and trustworthy.

4.      Boosts Confidence – smiling can enhance your own sense of confidence and make others perceive you as more competent.

5.      Spreads Positivity – smiles are contagious. When you smile, it encourages others around you to smile as well, creating a more positive environment.

6.      Enhances Communication – Non-verbal communication, like smiling, can help convey warmth, empathy, and openness during interactions.

7.      Reflects Positivity and Happiness – a smile is often a reflection of inner joy and sharing it can brighten someone else’s day.

What makes you smile? Below are 7 reasons to smile.

1.      A random act of kindness brightened your day.

2.      Your favorite song came on the radio.

3.      You received an unexpected compliment.

4.      A stranger smiled at you in passing.

5.      You watched a funny video.

6.      The sun came out after a rainy day.

7.      You danced like no one was watching – because no one was.

Just for fun, here are 3 quotes about smiling.

1.      “Smiling is the WiFi of emotions – it connects you to everyone.”

2.      “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”

3.      “A smile is the best accessory. And its free!”

Take a few moments each day to pause, and smile about something.

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - The road trip

 

YouTube Video: The road trip...with a backseat driver

Wordless Wednesday - Finding Humor Through a Dream

 

YouTube Video: The Crazy Thing About Dreams

Funny quotes about dreams:

"They say don't give up on your dreams, so I went back to sleep." -Quotes, Funny, Sarcastic

"The future is shaped by your dreams, so stop wasting time and go to sleep!" -Cool Funny Quotes

Words of Wisdom - Crazy Wisdom - Fall into Fitness

Fall is in the air, it's time to "leaf" some things behind, and refresh. I know, it's corny, but I thought it was worth a chuckle. but really, fall is a good time to reboot, reenergize, and refresh those ideas, goals or projects you want to do before the end of the year.

My focus is on fitness and self-care. Actually my focus has been on fitness all year, but I feel like I need to recommit to my goals and modify where needed. Come with me on this journey. Check out my article in The Crazy Wisdom Journal - Fall Into Fitness - Seven Fun Ways to Ease into Fitness.

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Eyebrows Tell a Story

 

YouTube Video: Finding humor in the aging process

Monday Musings – What do you do when your travel plans take flight?

 

Ladies of Laughter Competition - A mother daughter moment

Have you ever heard the saying, “The best laid plans go awry?” The day my travel plans took flight is a true example of this saying. I arrived at the airport two hours prior to my departure time to ensure things would go smoothly.

My brother was on the same flight with me, which was unplanned because he purchased his ticket after I did. My young adult son was traveling with my mom on an entirely different airline. We were on our way to a comedy competition that I needed to be at by a certain time that evening.

I parked my car in short term parking and moved quickly pulling my carry-on bag behind me. As I strolled to the TSA line, I heard snippets of conversations around me, “My flight got delayed.”  “We just have to make the best of it.”

While standing in line I texted my brother, “Are you almost here, the line is moving pretty quickly.”

“I’m about 20 minutes away.”

I slipped my phone in my jean jacket pocket and prepared for disrobing – removing shoes, keys, and jacket. After completing check-in and heading to my gate, my phone buzzed, it was a text message from the airline saying, “Your flight has been delayed, your new flight will leave at 12:30pm.” This was two hours after my original.

I texted my brother and told him, no need to rush, our flight was delayed. Meanwhile, my son and my mother were boarding their flight. With time on my hands, I set my Fitbit, and off I went to track my steps.

As I rounded the first corner my pace slowed because of what I spotted to my right…bright lights, tall shelves, and table displays. Aah, paradise, it was a bookstore. Since my travel plans had changed without my consent, I made the decision to make the best of the situation. As long as the flight wouldn’t be delayed again, I would still make it to the show on time.

Everything was calm on my end, not so much for my son. He called me after they landed, “Ma, what time are you getting here?”

“In about two hours.”

“What do you want me to do with Granny?”

“Go to a restaurant for a while.”

“We tried that nothings really open yet. And the guy pushing her in the wheelchair is asking me where we are going. He needs the chair for another passenger.”

I said, “Buddy, you’re going to have to troubleshoot, use your resources. I got you to 24 years old, you’re going to have to spread your wings and fly.”

After he finished laughing, he said, “I guess I’ll figure something out.”

And he did.

My rescheduled flight departed on time, I connected with my family, checked in to our hotel, then caught an Uber with comedian friends. We arrived at the show in plenty of time to chat, snack, and relax (well, as much as my nerves would allow before performing).

If there was a moral to this story it would be, when your plans take flight, stay grounded and remain calm.

What has been your experience with plans that take flight?

 

Fun Friday - Humor Happy Hour - Finding humor in pretty things

 

                                           Youtube Video: Discovering that humor is all around us

Monday Musings – Writing is therapeutic – 7 ways for using writing to release stress

Letters have an impact. They get people to listen. Back in the day people wrote to Dear Abby, others wrote letters to the Editor. Then there are folks from the Bible like Paul who wrote letters to the people guiding them in how they should live.

Unlike Paul my letters would be short.

Dear God – Help!

Letter writing is one way that helps alleviate a little stress. Writing is therapeutic. For me, adding an element of humor to writing can provide a new perspective on any situation.

I was having a conversation with my son the other day. He was telling me about a time he hung out with a group of friends. They were giving him a hard time about the large amount of food he was eating.

One friend said, “D, why do you eat so much? Where do you put all that food, you’re not that big?”

My son’s childhood friend K chimed in, “You know his refrigerator was empty growing up, so he’s making up for it now.”

Laughter erupted from his friends.

I chuckled at my son’s retelling of the incident. Then I paused mid thought and said, “wait, K didn’t just take a dig at you, that reflects me. I buy the food for the house.”

“Next time you talk to K, tell him our fridge was NOT empty. I always kept a fresh box of baking soda in there.”

And that is how humor makes it to the top of my list of ways to reduce stress.

Below are seven ways to use writing to release stress.

1.      Letter writing – write a letter to yourself, your future self or past self. It’s a reflective exercise that can offer perspective and clarity.

2.      List Writing – making lists of your favorite things, bucket list items, or things you want to try. List making can be fun and calming.

3.      Write a Travelogue – imagine a trip to your dream destination and describe it in detail.  This is a way to mentally escape and relax.

4.      Songwriting – try writing lyrics for a song. It’s a great way to express emotions through rhythm and rhyme.

5.      Stream of Consciousness Writing – set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write whatever comes to mind without stopping. This is a great way to clear your head.

6.      Expressive Writing – write about your feelings or a specific event that’s causing stress. This can help you process emotions and gain insight.

7.      Gratitude Lists – write down things you’re grateful for, focusing on the positive can help shift your mood.

What is your favorite method for relieving stress? Is there one thing on the list above that you have not tried?

Fun Friday - Dare to have fun

A throwback photo - fun with a hula hoop in a store

When was the last time you did something just because it was fun? For me it happened yesterday. The sun was warm, not a cloud in the sky. It was my job to make sure the 60 people in my care were safe, and had a good time.

The soft leather seats of our motorcoach made for a relaxing ride to our destination - The Detroit Princess Riverboat. To set the atmosphere for our experience, I grabbed the microphone on the bus and let the group know that their bus was being taken over by Senior Services. Did I mention that everyone in our group was over the age of 50?

Back to the microphone...I flicked the switch on, tapped the top of the mic to be sure the volume was good, and began singing a Motown song. "

"I got sunshine, on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May..."

Everyone on the bus joined in, we were ready for the Motown Review that awaited us. We knew there would be dinner, dancing, and entertainment. What we didn't anticipate was a hula hoop contest, which leads to the video below.

After the Motown Review, the DJ took the stage and began playing hustle songs, other dance music, and then the hula hoop contest. When I saw the hula hoops come out, I pushed my chair back from the table where I was sitting. I weaved around other chairs and tables, and made my way to the stage.

The hula hoop is one of my favorite activities, so I engaged. I didn't have to win the contest (and I didn't), I just wanted to have fun. And I did.

Any time you can engage in a fun activity, do it.

 YouTube Video: A Hula Hoop Contest

Go out today and do something fun.

Wordless Wednesday - Motivational quotes about laughter

 

YouTube Video Credit: 5 Minutes of daily motivation

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - How do you handle weight gain? Laugh about it.

 

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - A smile connects people

 

Share your smile

Fun Friday – How to get your body summer ready – 3 Easy steps (maybe)

 

Have you ever heard advertisers make the statement, “get your body summer ready?” If you are beyond a certain age of maturity, this is not as easy as some people make it sound.

Let me paint a picture for you using the canvas of my experience. Some women say, “Oh, I don’t tell my age.” Not me. I will tell you my age, my credit score, my social security number, but I will NOT tell you, my weight.

Due to my menopausal midsection, my jeans have betrayed me. Trying to tuck in my tummy rolls is like working with a clump of clay. Trying to put a popped can of biscuits back into the container would be less taxing.

Before you begin working to get your body summer ready, answer this question: What does summer ready mean if you’re in your Golden Years? Here are three ideas of what a summer ready body means for the over 50 ladies.

1.      A body free of aches and pains.

2.      Being able to rise from a chair without grunting.

3.      You have bathing suit confidence. In my mind this is the moment you realize that the perfect beach body means having a body and going to the beach.

4.      Sweat acceptance - this means you made peace with the fact that you’ll be perpetually glistening (due to hot flashes).

5.      Being a Yoga Yardie – this involves stretching out with morning yoga in your backyard enjoying the peace and tranquility of nature.

Now that you have an idea of what it means to have a summer body, what are the steps to get there? Well, I’ve worked with a fitness coach, a nutritionist, practiced yoga, and meditation. Yet I feel like I’m in a fight of my lifetime…against my metabolism. Why can’t this journey be a little easier? Well, it can.

Three steps to get your body summer ready:

1.      Change your mindset – accept your body the way it is, bumps, lumps, and imperfections. Make small changes for steps toward the body you want. Give yourself time.

2.      Pamper yourself – when you feel good, you look good. A foot massage, full body massage, a facial, all good methods for pampering and taking care of your body.

3.      Laugh regularly – just because it’s fun and it can relieve the stress of worrying about whether your body will be summer ready?

What are your tips for getting your body summer ready?

Wordless Wednesday - Hump Day Humor with Comedian Brian Atkinson

 

Video Credit: Brian Atkinson World Series of Comedy

Wordless Wednesday - A dose of comedy - Comedian Adam Minnick

 When was the last time you laughed? Take a quick laugh break now and enjoy the humor of comedian Adam Minnick.

Dry Bar Comedy - The Worst Show to Watch with Your Wife. Adam Minnick

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - If the dress fits

 

Humor Happy Hour - If the dress fits

Unexpected happenings during a shopping trip

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Do you speak Yoga?

 

Humor Happy Hour - A yoga session gone wrong

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - When your son calls you old without saying you're old

 

Monday Musings – April is National Humor Month - What does a public restroom and disaster preparedness have in common?

If you have ever seen the inside of a woman’s large purse, you know it contains everything except the kitchen sink. That’s the way my grandmother would phrase it. Plainly stated, I could win that baby shower game where you have to find the items on the list, inside your purse.

An ink pen, a bobby pin, a band-aid, and business cards, all reside with other items in the deep dark jungle of my purse. I was glad I had those other items available on that fretful day I ventured into a grocery store restroom. There were no warning signs that told me to turn back, or ”pardon our dust.”

A scene from the fairytale, Goldilocks, and the Three Bears, flashed before me. There were three restroom stalls for me to choose from. I pushed open the first door and there was toilet paper strategically lined on top of the toilet seat. I contorted my face and moved on. Stall number two had long sections of toilet paper on the floor. I backed away.

Finally at stall three, afraid of what I might see, I pushed the door open with my foot. I slithered into the stall trying not to touch anything. When I attempted to slide the door lock, it wiggled and jiggled and barely closed. I looked up and was greeted by a large gap in the door frame. If anyone were to walk in, we would be locked in eye-to-eye combat.

That look when you're ready for battle

There was a battle going on between my conscious and subconscious. Do I hurry up and use the restroom and flee or take a chance on trying to make it home? That grocery store restroom was what I’d consider a disaster. The grocery store was only 10 minutes from my final destination, but I also wanted to stop to fill my gas tank.

I was prepared for my pseudo disaster. My purse had items I could use, and in my recent workout the instructor had us do squats and hold them. My decision was made. I hovered over the toilet, purse on my shoulder, and arms wrapped around my body, so I touched nothing.

I got out of that stall like the gingerbread man running from the fox. I looked to my right at the sink and said out loud. “nope not touching that either.” I used items from my purse to clean my hands – hand sanitizer, and hemorrhoid wipes (not mine, but that’s a story for a different day).

Disaster avoided.

What does a public restroom and disaster preparedness have in common? Be prepared for anything. Be anxious for nothing.

Follow me for stories on finding humor in everyday life. Until next time…keep laughing.

  

Wordless Wednesday - Women's History Month - More Than The Eyes Can See - Crystal P.

 More Than The Eyes Can See 2024 - Crystal P.

Comedienne Crystal P. displays more than her comedy talents. During this epic event she played the flute, the piano, and the saxaphone. She also sang, and did a little disc jockeying.

Celebrate a woman you know this month. Celebrate you too.

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - The Crazy Gift

 

The Crazy Gift - Uncovering humor in everyday life situations

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - When your little brother becomes your big brother

 

Humor Happy Hour 

Finding humor in a doctor's visit

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Football and Humor

 

YouTube Video: Football and Parenting

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - When a Mom Makes Friends

 

YouTube Video: Humor Happy Hour - When Mama Makes Friends

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - An Old Wives Tale Gone Wrong

 Humor Happy Hour - An Old Wives Tale