Pink Ribbon Spa Day

Yesterday I attended a Pink Ribbon Event of personalized skincare analysis and spa treatments, hosted by my good friend Nadine, at the Spa at SBA (Suzanne Bruce & Associates in Houston). Nadine and most of the other 12 ladies attending are all cancer survivors. I felt humbled in their presents, knowing that they have gone through a battle I can only presume to understand, and each one is a testimony of what real living is about.

We were asked to arrive without makeup, which may have kept a few Glamma’s away, but not this group. These ladies, not defined by their circumstances, are beautiful inside and out, make up or not. We were all there as a tribute to cancer survivors and to learn how to protect our skin.

Each of us was given a “Complexion Analysis,” which showed us what was happening on our skin, but more importantly under our skin. Wow … now there’s an eye opening experience. This analysis gave us percentile scores for texture, wrinkles, spots and pores depict our ranking relative to others of the same age, gender, and skin type. If you have never had one of these analysis, I highly recommend it.

The bottom line is … sun damages skin, but there are ways to prevent damage from getting worse, and there are definitely ways to prevent and preserve good skin. As Glammas we owe it to our children and grandchildren, girls and boys, to continue to encourage (nag, if necessary) them to use sunscreen, every day.

Running Hugs,
Glamma Grandma

Earth Day Quiz - Answers

How did you do? The correct answers are in bold.

Today is a day to remember that resources are limited and if we want our children and grandchildren to enjoy the world in which we grew up, we need to get everyone on board to make changes.

What are some of the things that you are doing to spread this message? Leave your comments.

1. When was the first Earth Day?

* 1962
* 1970
* 1973
* 1980

2. Which symbol means recycling?

* state silhoutte
* the EPA seal
* three arrows in a circle
* a heart

3. Which creates more pollution?

* the average home
* the average car
* about the same

4. Climate change may result from:

* Natural factors, such as changes in the sun's intensity.
* Natural processes, such as changes in ocean circulation.
* Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels.
* All of the above.

5. What are these kids doing?

* skipping school
* playing a game
* checking water clarity
* fishing for trout

6. AQI means:

* A Quince Inside
* Apres Quarantine Insights
* Aquatic "Q" Indicators
* Air Quality Index

A New Millennium GranGran

(My sister Angie, a Glamma Grandma for sure ... my mother Laura, and me)

Being a GranGran is really fine,
But today there is a new design.

I don’t even own a chair that rocks,
And why would anyone darn the socks?

The housekeeper is here to clean my house,
I’d much rather surf and click the mouse.

If you need me, call my office or try at home.
If that doesn’t work, dial the cellular phone.

You can Instant Message or send email.
I promise to reply in great detail.

Sorry, this weekend we’ll have to skip
Cause I’ll be gone on a business trip.

Yes, I used to paint, cross-stitch and sew,
Being on-line fills my time now, you know.

I may not “grandma” like they used to do,
And sometimes visits are way too few.

It seems life gets busier every day.
Guess that’s just the new grandma way.

But on one thing I’ll stay a stand,
Being GranGran is really GRAND!


by Shirley also known as GranGran

Paw Power

The wait is over for the Obama family and America … Bo has arrived! The six-month old Portuguese water dog moved into the White House at the beginning of the week and like everything else surrounding the Obamas, the paparazzi were on hand for the viewing.


According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children raised with pets show many benefits. Developing positive feelings about pets can contribute to a child's self-esteem and self-confidence. Positive relationships with pets can aid in the development of trusting relationships with others. A good relationship with a pet can also help in developing non-verbal communication, compassion, and empathy. Pets can serve different purposes for children:

• They can be safe recipients of secrets and private thoughts--children often talk to their pets, like they do their stuffed animals.
• They provide lessons about life; reproduction, birth, illnesses, accidents, death, and bereavement.
• They can help develop responsible behavior in the children who care for them.
• They provide a connection to nature.
• They can teach respect for other living things.

Very young children (under 3 – 4) need to be monitored around any pet at all time. They do not have the maturity to control their aggressive impulses and they may also be curious. My daughter, not fully understanding the implications, decided to put our dog’s penis thinking it was an extra paw. Luckily Snickers (our Golden Retriever at the time) adored any attention, even that!

Young children (under 10) can and should have some responsibility for their pet, but they are not capable of fully taking care of the pet. Once they are older however, a parent needs to expect their child to be responsible.

Children are not the only ones who benefit by having a furry friend. When my husband was hospitalized for a week last year it took the visit of two therapy dogs to bring him out of his stress and frustration at being incapacitated.

Petting a dog lower blood pressure and reduces stress-induced symptoms. A study conducted at UCLA found that dog owners required much less medical care for stress-induced aches and pains than non-dog owners.

A study conducted at City Hospital in New York found that heart patients who owned pets were significantly more likely to be alive a year after they were discharged from the hospital than those who didn’t own pets. The presence of a pet was found to give higher boost to the survival rate than having a spouse or friends.
(http://www.holisticonline.com/stress/stress_pet-therapy.htm)

I can’t leave this blog without showing you a photo of the Glamma Grandma's “grandchildren.” Yes, when the 3 kids moved out, more dogs moved in. Actually the golden retriever is officially my daughter’s baby. The black lab was given to my son as a college graduation gift. (Yes, I know … we tried to talk him out of it!). She lasted with him about 6 months, came home with him for Christmas and was immediately adopted by us as oppose to living in a house with 9 guys. The final “grandchild,” the Newfoundland was first a foster child with us while my sister was in Afghanistan. He lived with us for over a year and neither we, nor the other dogs, were able to give him back (which ended up being just fine with my sister).

So … meet my furry grandchildren … Chadwick (golden retriever), Kali (black lab) and Zac (Newfoundland)

Earth Day Quiz

Test your knowledge!

1. When was the first Earth Day?
* 1962
* 1970
* 1973
* 1980

2. Which symbol means recycling?
* state silhoutte
* the EPA seal
* three arrows in a circle
* a heart

3. Which creates more pollution?
* the average home
* the average car
* about the same

4. Climate change may result from:
* Natural factors, such as changes in the sun's intensity.
* Natural processes, such as changes in ocean circulation.
* Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels.
* All of the above.

5. What are these kids doing?

* skipping school
* playing a game
* checking water clarity
* fishing for trout



6. AQI means:
* A Quince Inside
* Apres Quarantine Insights
* Aquatic "Q" Indicators
* Air Quality Index

Earth Day Quiz taken from US EPA. To find out about events and volunteer opportunities in your community go to epa.gov/earthday.

** Answers to this Earth Day Quiz will appear in the Earth Day Blog on April 22, 2009.

Teaching Financial Literacy

Remember the “olden” days when children hung out at their grand parents homes and lessons were taught. I learned how to knit and sew from my grandmother and have passed the sewing down to my children (girls and boys) and the knitting to my daughter and grand daughters. As modern-day Glamma Grandmas we have a tremendous amount to pass down, everything from cooking to finance to family history.

For those interested in helping your grandchildren learn personal financial principles, checkout the “Money Savvy Generation,”(http://www.msgen.com/assembled/home.html) a company founded by mom and private banker Susan Beacham and her husband with the intent of teaching money management to elementary children before bad habits developed. There is now also an intermediate personal finance curriculum for young teens in grades 6 – 10.

Newly published “Millionaire Kids Club Books” (available through Money Savvy Generation) further reinforces the learning as the series of books teach a group of childhood BFFs (Best Friends Forever) that money can have four purposes: Save, Spend, Donate, or Invest. What a concept to learn at a young age.

Running Hugs,
Glamma Grandma

Happy Easter

Everything I Need to Know, I Learned from the Easter Bunny...


Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Walk softly and carry a big carrot.

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

There's no such thing as too much candy.

All work and no play can make you a basket case.

A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention.

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.

Some body parts should be floppy.

Keep your paws off other people's jellybeans.

Good things come in small-sugarcoated packages.

The grass is greener in someone else's basket.

An Easter bonnet can cover the wildest hare.

To show your true colors, you have to come out of your shell.

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

The Grandmothers Speak

Skype ... next best thing to being there!

If you haven’t discovered Skype, you heard it here first and you’re in for a real treat. Gone are the days of talking to your grandchildren by phone and having them not know who you are. Last night I sang a song to my 2-month-old granddaughter and as her eyes were glued to the screen of my son’s computer, I actually think she recognized my voice.

Skype is the next best thing to being there, for distant grandparents who want to continue to be a presence in their grandchildren’s lives. It’s a simple download: www.skype.com and set up and you can then communicate computer-to-computer, all over the world, for free. If both computers have cameras, then you can both see each other in real time. If there is no built in camera, an inexpensive web cam can be purchased and attached to the computer.

Once downloaded, you locate the person you wish to speak to and add them to your list. When the person you want to call is online, the Skype list on your computer will indicate this and the person calling simply clicks on the name of the person they wish to speak to. Your computer then dials their computer. It’s as simple as that.

Skype also allows you to call a landline for a small cost.

This GlammaGrandma fully intends to continue singing to my granddaughter as well as read books to her. The older grandchildren enjoying showing me items they have made at school or the latest dance steps.

For those with grand-pets, Skype can keep them from missing you when you’re on a trip. Two years ago when I was in Japan for several weeks, I called home and “talked” with my dogs. My husband pointed the camera so that I could see the dogs and they could see me on the screen. (GlammaGrandma’s love our grand-pets almost as much as our grandchildren!)

Running Hugs,
GlammaGrandma

Must Try these Products ... they WORK!

As a GlammaGrandma it’s always nice to find products that work as they say they will, and make life easier, and enjoyable. I recently accidentally discovered 3 such items, in random places, and I must share.

The first is called “Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover,” and it’s a miracle. It comes in a 2.5 fl. oz bottle (so you can carry it with you on a plane) and it works on oil, grease, paint, make-up, grass, clay, inks, blood, baby formula, spaghetti sauce, coffee, rust, tar, fabric bleed, turmeric, betadine … and most any kind of STAIN! It WORKS and with only one drop! It’s also environmentally sage, biodegradable, non-toxic, and has no chlorine or phosphates.

I found this product at Hancock Fabric store and I’ve also seen it in an embroidery shop, but if neither of these are available to you, check it out at www.grandmassoap.com.

For wonderfully fresh-smelling clothes try Eucalan for a whole new spin on laundry. A no rinse, delicate, wash for machine or hand washing, this product is lanolin enriched concentrate with scented oil in lavender, eucalyptus, grapefruit, or natural unscented. One teaspoon per gallon of water makes this 3.3 fl. oz. bottle go a long way. This product was purchased in a knitting store, but you can check it out at www.eucalan.com.

I only know one person (my mother) who enjoys ironing. For the rest of us, it always helps to find a product that makes it easier. “Mary Ellen’s Best Press,” does just that. It’s a clear alternative for starch that has a soil guard and wrinkle resister. It also leaves clothes smelling like lavender. I purchased this at Hancock fabric store also, but the website is www.maryellenproducts.com.

So GlammaGrandma’s, give these products a try and if there are others that you’ve tried and want us to know about, leave a comment.

Running Hugs,
Glamma Grandma

What's in the Name?

Being a GlammaGrandma means more then starving oneself into a size 2, wearing Jimmy Choo shoes, or having a house that fits into Architectural Digest. A GlammaGrandma has a state of mind that is beautiful, healthy, and happy. We take care of those around us and ourselves and we are interested and willing to try new things and push beyond our limits.

So what makes one feel beautiful, healthy, and happy? Perhaps it’s a walk on the beach or climbing a mountain trail. It could be a bike ride or jog through a local park. I recently jumped tandem out of a plane. It was scarier then anything I have ever done, but it certainly pushed me beyond my limits, and thus made me very happy.

What is your state of mind? What brings you beauty, health and happiness? What does a GlammaGrandma mean to you?

Running Hugs,
GlammaGrandma

You Can Never Have Too Many Books

Thinking about our grandchildren, a Glamma always attempts to spoil them rotten and this means we seek out the best of everything. I recently wandered into the local Borders bookstore and two hours later begrudgingly left with three bags of books… and a pretty penny spent. There are some “classics” that no self-respecting grandchild should have to live without and developing a good library for a baby starts him or her on the path to appreciating the written word. The following 10 books are on my personal “must-have” list.

1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd
The perfect bedtime book and even though you may have to read it more then
once each night, it slowly lulls your child to sleep.

2. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
My daughter and I loved reading this book. I would always hold her just a bit
tighter and let her know that I would always be with her.

3. On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
The child who is read this book will know that he or she is a significant part
of the universe. The parent reading this book will realize how wonderful their
new little miracle really is.

4. Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Find the little mouse with the banana on every page.

5. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam Mcbratney, Anita Jeram
The perfect snuggle up book that sends the perfect message.

6. Wheels of the Bus by Jerry Smith
Can a child get through childhood without this classic song? This book captures
the popular song with wonderful illustrations.

7. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Children learn counting and the days of the week as they watch a caterpillar eat
his way through the book.

8. Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss
I read this book so many times to my son that both he and I memorized it.

9. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
Counting and colors are easy to enjoy with this book.

10. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
After reading this book you must make green eggs for breakfast with your child.

Running Hugs,
GlammaGrandma

Welcome Glamorous Grandmothers ... and Friends

As baby boomers we are hanging up our “mommy” hats and beginning to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We are now having the pleasure of watching our children, (who knew it all), show us exactly how “it’s done.” In other words, our children are having children and we get to be the adoring grandmothers. The best part is that we have kept ourselves busy with careers, volunteer work, hobbies, and travel. We have kept our bodies in great shape by being active and eating well-balanced meals. We are fashionable, fit, healthy and happy. We get to “play” with our grandchildren, enjoy the time with them, and then go home and enjoy our peaceful, fulfilling lives, while our sons and daughters enjoy chaos of parenthood.

Running Hugs,
GlammaGrandma