I got into a bad habit when I was in elementary school that has lasted through middle and high school and college. It continues to this day. I like to go to the bathroom in the privacy of my own home. I “hold it” until I get home; rush through the front door; run to the bathroom; slam the door, and do what I have to do. Public restrooms aren’t for me. They just aren’t my favorite place to use. I like doing my business at home.

Since I started working a year ago I have been fairly successful waiting to use the bathroom until I get home from work. My system has adjusted to this routine. Last week, however, I learned the hard way that I had better rethink this bathroom practice.

Continue reading "Going with the Flow!" »

Posted by Emily Prysby at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I hate change, any kind of change. I’m so affected by anything different in my life that I’ve kept our furniture in the same arrangement where it was placed when we moved into our house 30 years ago. I looked at the space before we moved in; figured out what should go where (where it would look the best), and that is how the furniture has remained. Over the years we’ve purchased new pieces, but they go in exactly the same spot as its predecessor. Some (my daughters included) may say this is boring, but I don’t care. My home always receives rave reviews from visitors and I remain comfortable in my surroundings. (The furniture is, after all, placed in the most suitable space for it in each room.)

This consistency in furniture placement isn’t the only thing that marks my aversion to change. I get depressed over things that would bring joy to others. It took me awhile to adjust to no longer being able to shop at my favorite plus-size women’s clothing store when I lost 170 pounds. (Now that’s a sad statement!) For months I would pass the store and firmly have to restrain myself from turning into the parking lot. I so wanted to see what new stock the store held even though it was no longer suitable for my smaller size.

Continue reading "Maybe Change Is Good!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For years I have been a failure in one (really more than one) area of my life. Always on the search for ways of saving money, I have been a “coupon clipper.” But alas! I’ve learned the hard way that the half an hour or more that I spend each Sunday night cutting coupons from circulars is most-often a waste of time.

I appear to know what I’m doing. I have a large accordion file with a multitude of pockets. Alphabetically I have labeled each pocket. There’s “baking,” “beauty,” “bread/rolls” and “breakfast” in the front of my file; “miscellaneous” at the back. Immediately after clipping the coupons, I place them in their correct pockets. This is a great first step and I do this well!

Continue reading "Coupon Clipping: It's Sort of My Thing!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 05:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A car full of kids! Now doesn’t that sound like sheer misery? That is what I used to think when my kids were young and I spent most of my time carting them from one activity to another. I learned the hard way, however, that these car trips were so much more than an inconvenience. They were the thread that tied together the family. They were the confinement needed to really get to know my children and for my children to know their siblings.

My kids are all grown up. They drive their own cars and go in their own direction. No longer are they sitting next to me or behind me in the closeness offered in a car. No longer are they sharing their joys and their woes in the extended conversations that once flowed on road trips. This information now comes in snippets over the telephone…or in emails…or in far-too-rushed visits. I drive alone…or with my husband. Oh how I miss all the youthful energy combined with steady conversation that once filled the car!

Continue reading "Bonding in the Car" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

My first business trip! I was thrilled when my boss said he wanted me to go to an exhibition in New York. It was to be a one-day trip and I was to bring back brochures, magazines and printed materials from exhibitors in our field. In addition, my boss gave me a list of people he wanted me to introduce myself to and to explain my role in the company.

I could do this! It was an opportunity to show my boss that his faith in me was well placed. I was ready for an exciting experience in, of all places, New York! I learned the hard way, however, that traveling for business isn’t such a wondrous thing and that this novice—me—has much more knowledge to gain if I’m to handle this duty better.

While preparing for the trip, I spent more time on my outfit than on anything else. I wanted to look professional, yet stylish. I tried on outfit after outfit and decided I just didn’t look up to par for New York. A shopping trip resulted in a new outfit complete with new shoes. (The latter turned out to be a big mistake.) I chose to take a large shoulder bag to handle all the materials I would collect. (Another mistake!)

Continue reading "Business Trip Woes" »

Posted by Emily Prysby at 05:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I lost weight and moved out of the sorority of plus-sized women, I decided I would never buy anything, not matter how much I liked it, if it was also available for full-figured clothing customers. I didn’t want to be reminded in any way of where I had been. I learned, however, that we can never move beyond our past, size included!

Recently I went shopping in a very tony store in a very upscale neighborhood. I was wearing a rather expensive outfit that came only in sizes up to 16. I felt right in place in this little number. Matching sandals and a purse completed the outfit. I felt like I belonged here, in this store, with the group of other slim and fashionably dressed customers. (Opps! I mean “guests.”)

Then it happened. In this particular shop—excuse me, the place I was in was spelled “shoppe” in an attempt, I am sure, to mark its “breeding” in the retail class system—I saw something that caused me to shudder. There was my outfit on…well…an extremely large woman. Her outfit was definitely larger than a 16 and maybe even a 3X (the same size I wore before I lost 170 pounds!)

Continue reading "Closet Sisters...For Sure!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

People think I’m crazy, and maybe I am, but I learned the hard way that packing all my hosting activities into a short period of time is a good thing. I save a lot of time, money and aggravation.

This week I am having a barbeque for 20 on Thursday night and a bridal shower luncheon for 30 on Saturday. This may sound like a lot of work—it is—but the advantages of hosting two large events within a day of each other is, for me, the best way to go. I only have to do major house cleaning once (I’ll tidy up after Thursdays’ event on Friday) and I only have to make one shopping trip for groceries, decorations and paper goods.

The flowers that will brighten my house for Thursday’s festivities will still be beautiful on Saturday. This, alone, will save me some bucks. Also there are sure to be left over cans of pop and bottles of water and wine when my guests leave Thursday night. These will be added to for Saturday’s gathering.

I’m grilling chicken and corn Thursday night. I need cooked chicken and grilled corn (off the cob) for my Saturday salad. I’ll be able to grill what I need for both events once. What a time saver!

Continue reading "Easy Entertaining!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 07:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I’m back in the dating game and I’m learning it’s not as much fun as I thought it would be. For those of you who have been following the trials and tribulations of my life in my blogs, I recently broke up with my boyfriend of more than five years. I’m trying on-line dating, as well as the old-fashioned way of meeting men. Both approaches have been interesting…and that’s an understatement!

Thus far, the old-fashioned way seems to be what’s bringing men to my door. I’ve met a few guys through friends and although they are as nice as advertised, they haven’t been as perfect for me and my friends told me they would be. (Maybe my friends really don’t know me!) There have been some pluses, however, to these friend-introduced dates. I’ve had good dinners in nice restaurants and I haven’t been pressured for “payment” afterward, if you get my drift! (I’m sure they don’t want a bad report going back to the matchmaker.)

But I want more than a nice dinner. I’d like someone with a sense of humor, good personality and good looking. So far my friends haven’t seemed to have found anyone for me who meets these qualifications. Also, just because I’m on the short-side—I’m 5’2”—doesn’t mean that I should only go out with short guys. (My friends just don’t get this although they all know my former boyfriend, who is over six-feet tall.)

Continue reading "Needed: One Good Man!" »

Posted by Emily Prysby at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NOTE: Before you read this blog, I want to ask you for some help. I am currently writing a book on maintaining a healthy weight after weight-loss. I need to interview people who have maintained their weight-loss weight for a number of years. I am having problems finding such people because most dieters—up to 95%--gain back the pounds that they lose. If you have been successful in maintaining a healthy weight after reaching your diet goal or you know someone who is, please contact me through the comment section following this blog. Below is my struggle with yo-yo dieting. Hopefully, it will inspire you to avoid my mistakes.

If ever there was something that I learned the hard way, it’s that most everyone, myself included, gains back lost weight. I lost 170 pounds in 1997 and vowed that I would never, ever gain it back. I had assumed that I finally knew the secret to lifelong healthy weight. Ha! I’m just like the majority of the masses who lose weight, gain it back, lose it again, etc.

First I gained back 50 pounds. It was easy. I took on the mentality that I was “done” with all this dieting. I had reached my goal and now I was finished! This is the worse mindset for me or anybody else. You are never done with healthy eating and regular exercise. They must be part of a lifelong lifestyle. I knew this, but I forgot. I returned to my bad eating habits and the three C’s—cheesecake, chocolate and cheeseburgers (fast food ones, of course)—and I lessened exercise efforts. The 50 pounds didn’t magically return. I went out and brought them back!

Continue reading "HELP!!!" »

Posted by Sandra Dalka-Prysby at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

My friends want “honest” opinions on just about everything, including clothes, hair, weight, job and their significant other. To accommodate their requests, I have given them my honest opinions. If my opinion is less than favorable, I even try to soften it so I don’t hurt their feelings. I’m learning the hard way, however, that my opinion is expected to be the same as theirs'. They only want “honesty” if my opinion agrees with their thinking.

When am I going to learn? When am I going to stay away from the “honest opinion trap?” At the rate I’m going I will lose all my friends. (Fortunately, I have a lot of friends but…)

One friend has a new job. I know that the company has a questionable reputation and is always in search of large numbers of new recruits. I learned this from my own year-long job search when I asked others—those in the know—about the company. “Bad” and “illegal activities” were the comments I heard.

My friend never told me about joining the company until after she accepted the job. I didn’t know what to do. Should I tell her? What if I’m wrong? She didn’t ask my opinion, should I say something anyway? I was in a quandary. Do I tell her what I know or should I let her find out?

I went to my boss, who is a respectable and knowledgeable businessman, for some direction. He, too, knew about the questionable company and advised me to tell my friend. He said the company operates with a “cult” mentality. “If you are a good friend, you must tell her,” he said. So I did.

Continue reading "Opinions Anyone?" »

Posted by Emily Prysby at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)