Recent Posts

It’s National Nutrition Month- Celebrate Your Health!

By Nicki On March 3, 2013 No Comments

 

Over 30 years ago I made the switch from a sedentary, fast-food lifestyle to a relatively active lifestyle eating well most of the time.

I remember Christmas in 1979, it was a year after I lost 50 pounds (note-the weight loss followed my healthy changes, not the other way around). I was heading to my Grandparents house ready to overindulge in holiday fare. I felt that I had deserved it because I really hadn’t eaten any unhealthy food in so long. I picked up my plate and headed towards the buffet table. I felt like a kid in a candy store without adult supervision. I felt that I deserved to eat all of the foods I had been denied for so long. So, I took one of everything.

What I hadn’t realized is although I wanted every morsel of food on my plate, my body had been trained to crave what it needs not what I wanted. At that moment I understood the importance of listening to my body, not my diet head.

What’s interesting is that your body will often tell you what it needs, whereas diet head will scream for ice cream! I had completely dismissed the fact that I felt great because I had let go of junk food. Yet for some crazy reason I felt compelled to knock off an entire plate of sweets and foods I had given up over a year ago. That was until I reconnected with my healthy head.

Remember, it is the dieting lifestyle that sets you up to want the foods that your diet forbids. As long as you continue to follow diet rules you will continue to crave, desire, dream about  less healthy foods versus taking the steps to listen to your body and give it what it needs, healthy food.

As we recognize National Nutrition Month try to listen closely to your body. Think about how you feel when you eat well, versus how you feel when you eat garbage. Your body knows and is communicating with you all the time, you simply need to listen.

During the month of March, I will blog about nutrition in my ongoing effort to inspire you to stay focused on what makes you healthy, happy and productive. It all starts with what you put in your mouth!

Here’s to never wishing for more time, rather making the most of it!

Nicki

Who’s Your Favorite Child?

By Nicki On February 19, 2013 No Comments

I am the youngest of 3 girls. Combine that with being a Libra and I feel like I was dealt a pretty great hand. As the youngest, everyone says that the baby of the family gets off easy and is spoiled rotten. If you’re a baby you’ve likely heard that more than once. Is it wrong?

As a mother of four grown children, I see very clearly the advantage or disadvantage of a certain birth order. There’s no doubt that the first child has the toughest job. Dealing with parents who haven’t a clue and expectations that are often unrealistic. “How come he’s not potty trained yet? The book says he should be!” “How come she’s not speaking in full sentences? So and so’s kids are!” And the list goes on and on.  My Grandmother used to say, “The first child is the experiment child.” I believe that to be true.

I remember my Aunt telling me that no matter how many kids you have, you will always manage to find love enough for each.  I think a Mother’s uterus is a storage tank for extra servings of love to pass around as needed.

When my children were little, getting together with other mom’s was a weekly ritual.   The topic of favorite children was common one. I was asked if I could tell who my favorite child was. Hmm, I thought to myself, a favorite? How do you have a favorite? The other girls would shamelessly tout their family favorite position while I wondered if I had ever showed favoritism to my kids.

I can honestly say, even after all these years I have had a favorite but not kids- moments. Those opportunities when you’re able to recognize their unique talents and personality. Share a funny story together. Cuddle up with them when they’re sick or struggling. Getting an up close and personal glimpse of those qualities and experiences, those moments no doubt, a favorite.

I think having a favorite child is nothing about loving another child more, it might be more about a connection at certain times in their life. They have the natural ups and downs that come with growing up and there are times when you feel particularly connected to what a child may be going through. Again, not a favorite child, simply a favorite moment or connection.

Four kids and 27 years later, they’re all adults, leading their own lives, supporting themselves and giving back in their own way. I look forward to getting together with them as a group as much as I do one-on-one. Either way, it is then and only then I realize those sleepless nights, runs to the ER, never ending band concerts and school plays that’s given me the most incredible gift,  favorite moments. I guess if you’re going to have a favorite, that’s the best kind to have. What do you think?

Here’s to never wishing for more time, rather making the most of it!

Nicki

Sally Field Made Me Do It! Gray Expectations 11

By Nicki On February 10, 2013 6 Comments

Have you seen Sally Field lately? Well, here she is! Holy cow, at 66 the woman looks fantastic! I recently saw her on Ellen and I couldn’t believe it was her. Of course the first thing I noticed was- no gray.

Like Sally Field, I  am petite. At barely 5’2″ I can’t help but feel that contributes to looking younger than my 51 years. Sally Field is 5’3″ and looks no where near her 66 years. That and the combination of hair color definitely shaves off a few years.

Aside from no sign of gray (yes, I’m sure she colors it) she is vibrant, fit and easily looks 20 years her junior even on HDTV!

At the risk of slighting my lovely gray haired friends, I have to say that if she were gray she may not have caught my attention. I was really amazed at how youthful she looked and how she carried herself. I believe it is a total package. If you’re dying your hair, but feeble and unable to get around, you age yourself. If you’re gray, fit and energetic, you don’t. However, if gray doesn’t compliment you, no matter how fit you are, it will indeed age you. I’m experiencing that right now.

Therefore, I have to acquiesce to those who said gray hair does make you look older. I am beginning to believe it’s true, regardless of health, activity and energy. But here’s what is interesting, I’ve learned that my gray haired friends are not interested in the looking younger piece, they simply like the way they feel with their gray locks. And the same holds true for those who color their hair, they simply like the way they feel.

A quote by Yves Saint Laurent, “I have always believed that fashion was not made only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence.”  I believe this statement holds true for hair color.

So here’s my deal, I am so not a quitter. At times I can be annoyingly tenacious. Therefore, the decision to go back to coloring my hair leaves me feeling a bit vulnerable. First, I worry I may not have given the experiment of going completely gray a fair shot. So how do I really know? Trust me, I know.

One of my readers wrote, “Nicki it’s winter, no one looks good in the winter.”  Though I agree with her comment, I’d like to make the most of the winter blahs by doing something which elevates my self-confidence versus squashing it. Gray isn’t it,  for me anyway.

Second, I despise losing. And somehow I feel like I’m losing by not seeing this whole thing through. However at the end of the day, I set the challenge and went in to it blind and excited. Four months later, my sight is back and  excitement has waned. Conclusion? My experiment, my choice to change my mind.

So, yes, yes I’m giving up. I’m throwing in the towel (insert dramatic sob here). I’m back tracking on my journey. But wait, here’s the great part, I have not gone through this process in vain. I have garnered some gray-t insight. Here’s what I’ve learned.

• Never make a year long commitment public. It’s like posting you’re going to lose 25 pounds and someone sees you downing a chocolate shake. It sucks to get called out.
• No two people look the same- in anything! I have a whole new appreciation for gray haired women who wear it well and with confidence.
• Pay attention to what makes you feel good whether it’s wearing a certain color, certain clothing or hair style.  How you feel about yourself (regardless of what others think) can alter the course of your day!
• Whatever you wear, wear it with confidence.
• I needed a haircut!
• I don’t look good in gray- clothing or hair color.

So, the next time I come up with some great idea or experiment, perhaps one of you will talk me down from the ledge. However, with every new endeavor comes life lessons and during the last 4 months, I’ve learned some pretty great lessons, connected with some great women, and learned color is a personal preference, not a moral decision. Here’s to your fabulous color, whatever it may be.

Here’s to never wishing for more time, rather making the most of it!

Nicki

 

Superbowl Sunday never tasted so good!

By Nicki On February 6, 2013 No Comments

I’m a minority in my house.  I’m a pseudo vegetarian amongst die hard carnivores. However, out of my four children, one is vegan and one is vegetarian. When they’re home, they are my partners in crime! We’re always trying to find ways to sneak in vegetarian dishes to dyed-in-the-wool carnivores. Not an easy task.

Super Bowl Sunday like Thanksgiving is an open invitation to overeat and melt in to a comfy chair watching football. To me that’s a fate worse than death. Bloated and sitting. Where’s the joy in that? Am I missing something?

So, this year I decided to sneak in some vegetarian style goodies along with the traditional junk food that defines Super Bowl.

I posted these creations on my FB page and had an overwhelming response asking for the recipes. O.K. maybe not overwhelming, but enough to prompt this post.

So here you go. A couple of the vegetarian dishes that actually made the Super Bowl more exciting than Beyonce and almost as exciting as the blackout!

Mushroom Sliders  -  Makes about a dozen.

For patties:

24 oz. mushrooms (I mixed button, crimini and portobella) / 1 TBSP canola oil / 2 TBSP sliced shallots/ 2 TBSP sliced garlic / 3/4 c cooked brown rice / 1/3 c dry bread crumbs / 2 egg whites / 1 TBSP low-sodium soy sauce / 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce / 1 TBSP stone ground mustard / 2 TBSP chopped flat leaf parsley / salt and pepper to taste

For Sliders:

2 TBSP canola oil / Slices of Swiss cheese (I quartered the slice of cheese and places 1/4 on each patty) / 10 cocktail buns (I used whole grain) / 1 avocado, pitted and peeled and sliced lengthwise and then across.

Saute mushrooms in large nonstick skillet until nicely browned. Add shallots and garlic and saute for a couple of minutes. Remove from heat. Darin mushroom mixture in colander and let cool.  Once cool, place on paper towel and squeeze out moisture.

Pulse mixture in a food processor until minced, 2-3 times. Add rice, bread crumbs, egg whites, soy sauce, Worcestershire, mustard, parsley and salt and pepper. Pulse to combine.

Use about 1/4 c. mixture and shape patties. Cover and place in fridge for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 200

Heat oil in same skillet and cook patties until nicely browned on each side. Remove and place on cookie sheet. Place cheese on top of each patty. Put in oven until cheese is melted.

Meanwhile, toast buns in griddle (I buttered half the batch of buns, other half I left plain). Place patties on browned buns and top with a couple of slices of avocado.  Serve warm.

 

Banh Mi Spring Rolls

Makes 4-6 rolls

Rolls-

6 oz. firm tofu /2 tsp low-sodium soy sauce/  1/2 c. thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps /3 -4 TBSP of your favorite Thai peanut sauce/ 1 TBSP canola oil / 2 TBSP minced fresh ginger / 2 TBSP minces scallions / 1 TBSP minced fresh garlic / 1 /2 matchstick-cut carrots / 1/2 c shredded romaine lettuce / 1/2 c matchstick-cut cucumber / 2 TBSP minced fresh cilantro / 2 TBSP minced fresh mint / 6-8 spring roll wrappers (8-inch)

Brown tofu and and mushrooms in soy sauce and oil in a nonstick skillet breaking up tofu with spoon until it’s like ground meat and lightly browned, about 5 minutes or so.  Add ginger, scallions and garlic. Stir-fry about 1 minute. Remove from stove and let cool. Mix tofu mixture with carrots, lettuce cucumber, cilantro and mint and thai peanut sauce. (Avoid any sauce with HFCS).  Mix well.

Soften wrappers one at a time in hot water until soft, about 15-20 seconds. Place 1/2 c tofu mixture in the center of each wrapper; roll like burritos and slice in half. Serve w/ sauce. I add sriracha on the side.

Both of these recipes were inspired by Cuisine Lite- Fresh and Fabulous

Enjoy!

Nicki

Getting Personal with Gray – Gray Expectations 10

By Nicki On January 25, 2013 6 Comments

O.K. so I have to be completely honest. I’m sort of over it, the gray thing. No, I’m not going back on my plan just yet but hear me out.

As women, feeling good about yourself is extremely important. I surmise that’s true for just about anyone. For some it’s rockin’ a great outfit, or it may be pretty lingerie. For others it’s having an incredible hair day. I don’t know about you, but an incredible hair day ranks right up there with a chocolate truffle.

But let’s admit it, when we’re having a bad hair day or can’t find a single thing to wear somehow the day just doesn’t have its normal pizazz. When my hair looks great, I feel great. When I have the good fortune of actually pulling together an outfit that matches, (where are the adult Garanimals?) I feel like I’ve won the lotto.

So the gray. I feel like I have perpetual bed head. Remember I was telling you about the different textures of gray? Yeah, well I pulled the short straw, mines wiry.

I looked back on the comments from many of you and was reminded that it doesn’t matter what color your hair is if you feel good!  I know it’s early in the game, so how can I really tell?  Well, let’s run through a few of the comments I received when I started this project.

• “Why would you want to look old? As long as there’s hair color, I’ll never be gray.”  Since I embarked on this experiment, I have met some lovely gray haired women. I can’t really say it made them look older because they wear it so well. So I’m not ready to say I look old. Drab? Yes. I’m beginning to look drab which translates to feeling drab.
• ” I would never color my hair. I’m proud of every gray hair I have, I’ve earned it.”  Will wrinkles suffice? God knows I’ve earned those. Further, if you FEEL good gray that’s brilliant.  Regardless of hair color, most take the time to get it cut and styled because it makes them feel good. Therefore, it keeps coming back to personal preference- what makes you feel good?
• “The only reason I don’t have gray hair is because it washes me out, but otherwise I’d do it.”  Common theme, how one feels. If you look good, do it. But if you don’t feel good about yourself why keep it, right?
  

  Wiry gray.

I’m sure all of you have a color or style of clothing you never wear. You don’t wear it because it doesn’t suit you. I’m a brunette with olive skin, I’d never go blonde. Eeek! Not to mention my contrasting black eyebrows wouldn’t make for a good look.

At this point, it’s not that I don’t feel good about myself, I just feel like I’m wearing something that doesn’t compliment me. These thoughts take me back to the initial reason I started this whole thing.

Will the way I feel internally change?  Well, it has a little bit. I’m realizing that going gray is not about wrong or right, it’s what compliments me.  I don’t wear hats because I don’t feel good in them, while others do. Some woman glow in yellow, I appear jaundiced. The point is that we don’t wear things that don’t look good on us, and I don’t think hair color is any different.

So here’s where I’m at with this. I will continue on this journey because my curiosity is still alive and well. However, if I notice that I’m avoiding going outside for fear of people seeing  my hair well then it’s time to make a change. As my friend said to me, “Life is too short not to feel pretty.” I couldn’t agree more.

So another day, another bit of gray. For now, I’m good.  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

Here’s to never wishing for more time, rather making the most of it!

Nicki

Do You Believe in Second Chances?

By Nicki On January 20, 2013 2 Comments

Thanks to the Oprah interview, all the speculation about Lance Armstrong and doping charges have been confirmed. Though many people including me, thought for years that he was probably guilty of illegally enhancing his performance, I’m always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. Clearly my belief in a celebrated hero gone bad, made me stand back and reevaluate my thoughts on this mess.

There’s a saying, “The bigger you are the harder you fall,” and there’s no better example of that than with Lance Armstrong. About six years ago, I met the cycling champ and found him to be rude, cocky and clearly taken with himself. But, that was my experience and in his defense it was a huge fundraiser, he looked tired, and perhaps he was having a bad day.

So when all of this discussion about doping charges came out, I couldn’t help but think of my experience with him and honestly, I had little if any sympathy for him. But the truth is,  do we really have the right to judge someone when we neither know their story or their motives?

I heard an interview with Mark Wahlberg, (dreamy)  a couple of days ago and he said something that gave me pause. He was asked about his feelings regarding the faux Tour de France champ and he said, “Look, everyone deserves a second chance. I know I was given a second chance and it changed my life.”

I’m a proponent of second chances. I have seen people go through some pretty rough times and given an opportunity for a do over, they made a positive, powerful impact on the lives of others. So should the same courtesy be given to Armstrong?

There’s an awful lot of people that he screwed over.  There are a number of sponsors, teammates and fans that feel terribly betrayed. The fact that he’s a grown man makes the situation a little more prickly after all, shouldn’t he have known better? And then of course there are his children, what about them? What kind of teasing and chastising will they receive at the hand of those that are happy for the fall of this once revered champion?

I think this is a teaching moment. I believe that if someone has a second chance and fully realizes the damage that’s been done and is able to somehow make things right and go on and live a productive life, it’s worth a shot.

Who am I to say he should go bankrupt and be left out on the street? That’s not what our country is about, that’s not what being human and compassionate is about. Someone asked me before if a murderer or rapist should have a second chance? I can’t answer that because it stirs up a completely different set of emotions and circumstances which I’m not willing to touch.

Armstrong has done a pretty terrible thing, but he didn’t kill anyone.  He has lied and cheated his way to the top seemingly without  conscience. Perhaps there’s some mental illness going on there, perhaps it’s simply an ego that was so big, no one, not even Armstrong could control. And then of course there’s the power and money thing. When people are making a lot of money off of others, they want that meal ticket to keep providing, so there are plenty of greedy folks willing to help keep a lie alive in order to keep their wallet filled.

But again, it’s about second chances. I’m terribly disappointed to see someone that I admired turn out to be nothing but a great big faker. However, we can’t forget that his LiveStrong organization has raised an enormous amount of money for cancer. I can’t take that away from him nor can anyone else. So out of all of this, there was something positive. Perhaps that was the one truth in his life that kept him justifying all of the other stuff.

I hope he moves on, gets the counseling he needs and is able to somehow make things right with his fans, sponsors, coaches and teammates and most important, his family.

I know that if this were my son, I would hope that he would be given a second chance. But that’s a mother speaking, not those that have lost millions by his lies. Though at the end of the day, what’s more important, a life or money?  I know what I think, what about you?

Here’s to never wishing for more time, rather making the most of it!

Nicki

 

What if Your Daughter Were Homeless?

By Nicki On January 15, 2013 No Comments

As a mother of four children, it was mandatory that they attend college. I didn’t have the luxury of that kind of support, so I made sure that all of my children had the gift of a loving home and a college education. But what about those who don’t start off with a solid foundation? What about those that focus on simply survival vs. a college education?  As parents that want only the best for our kids, it’s hard to believe that there are parents who send their child out on the streets at 18, without money, tools or any idea on where their next meal is coming from. But it happens more than we’d like to believe.

As of this post, homeless youth, ages 18-22 are a fast growing segment of the homeless population here in Dupage County, Illinois. Women especially are vulnerable to homelessness for a number of reasons including, unstable parents, sexual abuse, untreated depression and trauma. A program that was started at 360 Youth Services called, THP (Transitional Housing Program) has been incredibly valuable and badly needed for young adults. THP has a program for young men from 18-24 and has been successful for 13years. The women’s program for 18-22 year old women started 5 years ago. During that time, they have housed, educated and inspired these young adults to eventually move out on their own, with a solid career and a bright future. However, this past fall the funding for the girls program was cut.

When the girls in the program were told about the cut in funding, they didn’t worry about themselves, the common question was, “What about all the other girls that need this program? What will happen to them?”  These girls know how valuable this program has been as most of them are in college, gainfully employed and acquiring the skills necessary to lead a productive, high quality life. This is all due to the program and their hard work.

But if we can’t get dollars raised for these daughters, they could be back out on the street. I don’t know about you, but as a daughter, mother, friend and advocate, this is unacceptable.

Won’t you join me in helping to raise the necessary dollars needed to keep a roof over these girls’ head as well as raising awareness about the need for this program? Currently there are only three programs like this in the state of Illinois, and one of them is about to be cut. Help me fight for these girls and a offer a bright future for them and the numerous others that need advocates.

Thank you for making a difference and giving these girls the opportunities they so richly deserve. Check out the video and please share it with friends, family, colleagues, or your social media circles.  Just one dollar, can make a profound difference! Won’t you join me?

 

Nicki

 

 

Will Vanity Prevail? Gray Expectations – 9

By Nicki On January 12, 2013 No Comments

O.K. I admit it, I’m second guessing my crossing in to the world of gray. This past week I was being interviewed for a video and after the shoot, it was brought to my attention that the videographer had me pegged at 38 years old. “Really? Wow!”  Then I was brought back to reality. Ugh, I’m going gray. Six months from now he’d likely guess my real age, maybe even older. (Vanity enters stage right). I immediately jumped to conclusions bringing on a cycle of negative scenarios of my gray choice. Further, this past week I mastered combing my hair as to discretely cover the gray that now dominates my part. That’s not a good sign, right? The fact that I’m still covering it up and now worried that I won’t look younger than my age? Damn the vanity!

O.K. I need to relax. First of all, it’s becoming more evident that the gray I anticipated will likely be salt and pepper. So, I’m not going to be Barbara Bush gray. Second, my hair is a contemporary style and I’m not wearing orthopedic shoes (no offense to those who do). Third, my whole reason for letting my hair go gray was to experience the process and see if colored hair not only made me look older but feel older. So, I need to get back to the motive for my experiment vs. my vanity. (Vanity exists stage left).

Maybe this is the first of many lessons of my experiment. What’s more important, how I feel or how I look? In the words of Vidal Sassoon, (here’s a link for you youngin’s that have never heard of him), “It’s more important to look good than to feel good.”  Personally, I think it’s more important to feel good internally in order to project a positive exterior.  I suppose that means if I feel good about my new hair color, I’ll look good. If I look good, I’ll feel good.

So lesson #1, Lighten up! Embrace the process. If I feel good, I’ll project it, if I don’t, I’ll change it. I’ve just got 10 months and 14 days to embrace the process and the new look.

Is it me or is time passing at a snails pace?

 

Here’s to never wishing for more time, rather making the most of it!

Nicki

 

 

Gray Expectations – Liberation or Panic? 8

By Nicki On January 6, 2013 4 Comments

I have to laugh when people come up to me asking to see my gray hair. Seriously? It’s only been 5 weeks since my last color!  It won’t be a Charlton Heston, Ten Commandments transformation, it takes time.  So, there’s no before and after shots yet.

I have to admit, there’s part of me that when I see the gray coming in I’m half proud and half in panic mode. The proud part of me likes the fact that I’ve dismissed societal pressure and I’m doing something that isn’t popular or trendy, or is it? The Libra in me likes things orderly and neat. That gray part of my hair coming in isn’t orderly and neat. It looks like I’m terribly overdue for a color appointment and I feel a bit discombobulated.  I find myself explaining why I have this gray streak in my hair. “Just so you know, I’m fully aware of the gray strands,  I’m working on an experiment.” Then I realize the lady at the grocery store couldn’t care less.

The other day as I was getting ready to go out, I looked in the mirror to find gray staring back at me. I was inches away from my mascara tube ready to dab that gray right out of my hair! I had to talk  myself down from the ledge, “No fair touching up your hair, remember? Au natural!”  I got over it, sort of, went out and completely forgot about it. That is until people started asking, “So where’s the gray?”

Interesting, women who ask me where the gray is say, “Oh,  I can’t see anything, you don’t have any gray. The guys seem to be intrigued and being men say, “Oh yeah, I see it coming in.”   As of today, I feel good about my decision. But today I have nowhere to go, it’s just me and my computer. My computer doesn’t care what color my hair is and as of this  moment, I’m not that interested either.

Here’s to not wishing for more time, rather making the most of it!

Nicki

 

January 1st- Just another day

By Nicki On January 2, 2013 4 Comments

Years ago I made it a practice to forgo resolutions. Although January is commonly known as the month to repent for past indiscretions, it’s no different than any other month on the calendar. Though I once was a resolution setter, like so many others I let my resolutions slide and by February, I was back to same ole, same ole. I felt guilty for the rest of the year. I began to realize that change requires two things, desire and readiness. Just because January is the designated month to “Just do  it!” everyone is pressured to make resolutions whether they’re ready or not. Not a good recipe for success.

The truth is that every single day of the year is an opportunity for change. Whether you want to quit smoking, cut your hair, go gray, change jobs, get out of a bad relationship, etc., January is probably the worst time to make the shift. Think about it, you’re coming down from the holiday high, feeling overwhelmed then making commitments that are probably far from realistic.  I don’t know about you, but come the second week in January, my decorations are down,  my kids are gone, the bills are coming in and quite frankly, I’m Debbie Downer.  Why would I want to add to January blahs by pressuring myself to make resolutions that I’m not really passionate about? Bottom line, I can’t be successful if I’m not making changes at the right time for the right reasons.

So for me, January like any other start of a month is simply a time to reflect. I take a look at what I’ve done to date that I’m proud of, and I also review the things that I could have done differently. No pressure, simply reflection.

Rather than making resolutions because we’re just supposed to, each day I see what I can do to make life a little happier, less stressful and more meaningful. I don’t need January to help me do that. Every day is a new day, a new opportunity to set a great stage for yourself.

At the start of every week, I set my intention to live my best life. I set my intention to go for the things I want, taking charge of my happiness and knowing that tomorrow brings yet another opportunity to make good on the things I didn’t quite get to.

As women, we put enough pressure on ourselves to do all and be all. We certainly don’t need one month out of the year to invite guilt for the next eleven. January can certainly be a month of evaluation, but rather than making resolutions that aren’t on track with your desire or readiness level, go for what makes you happy and fulfilled each and every day, not just January 1st.

Here’s to never wishing for more time, rather making the most of it!

Nicki