Category: Wellness

Mary Ann

Do you remember when the Avon lady would come to your home?  Talk about customer service – beauty products at your doorsteps.  As a youngster, I loved the visits because I got to try all the new perfumes, and if I were lucky, I was given a sample or two. The tiny lipsticks were so cute.  

Then as I got older, along came Avon’s Daisies Won’t Tell.  It was a women’s cologne that had a perfume version for girls or something like that.  At last, I had my very first perfume.  I was hooked on good smelling things, and there is an actual term for that – CognaScenti is a person who has a passion for perfume. 

Daisies Won’t Tell lasted into teens and by that time I started to wear Rapture from Avon that came in a beautiful green bottle.  I thought I was so sophisticated.  By the time I got to college I was wearing Ciara and Charlie from Revlon.  These were the perfumes I took into my young adult life and wore until I was introduced to luxury perfumes.  For a time, I wore La Panthère de Cartier and Casmir from Chopard- pricey but oh, so lovely. Sometimes it was hard to find them.  This was prior to online ordering.   

Then into my middle years, I used Calvin Klein’s Obsession and most recently, I began wearing CK’s Euphoria.  All the perfumes that I have used over years are florals with exotic hints of patchouli or sandalwood or vanilla.  I guess that is why I am attracted to those fragrances.  They all have these common elements 

 I would say that Euphoria is my signature scent.  It is a fragrance that I love to smell, and I always get compliments from both men and women when I wear it. Little children always tell me that I smelled good – budding CognaScentis. The Calvin Klein Company says Euphoria has stood the test of time, and it is for all ages.  This long-lasting perfume made from high quality materials remains a world-wide favorite.  I guess I will be wearing it to my final days.

Coco Chanel has a famous quote about perfume, “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.”  She emphasized that perfume is an essential part of a women’s personal expression.  It is a way that women can leave a powerful lasting impression, so you should always wear perfume even if you are home in your sweats.  You never know who will knock on your door, and a lovely perfume can make you unforgettable!  Hoping this blog reminded you of your own perfume journey. We are all CognaScentis at heart!

Perfume Gallery

First Row (L to R) Daisies Won’t Tell, Rapture; Second Row (L to R)) Ciara, Obsession; Charlie; Third Row (L to R) Euphoria, La Panthere de Cartier, Casmir

Mary Ann

The world seems grim right now!  Everywhere you look there doesn’t seem to be much joy. So, what do we do about that?  I think we need to bring more humor and laughter back into our lives.  You know the saying – Laughter is the Best Medicine?  Maybe the world needs a big dose of it now, but where do we begin? 

We could take a class in laughter.  There you try different kinds laughing such the queen wave while you walk around laughing or the Hawaiian laugh as you do the hula while you laugh.   There are endless possibilities of different kinds of laughter.  I took such a class, and you can’t help but laugh when everyone around is doing the hula and laughing.  The purpose is nonsense, and that nonsense makes you laugh.  However, laughter helps lower stress, alter moods, and helps the heart.  

There is laughing yoga which uses breathing exercises and laughing with no poses and laughter therapy which involves watching funny movies (there is a reason for Dumb and Dumber) or shows or reading humorous books.  When I need a smile or a chuckle, I think of certain TV shows that gave me a good belly laugh. They were so funny that I have never forgotten them.  

The first of my Comedy Collection was an episode of the Ellen DeGeneres’s comedy sitcom, Ellen – a comedy show way before The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  Ellen was enthralled by Martha Stewart.  She loved everything Martha Stewart, so she decide to create a Thanksgiving dinner, a perfect meal that Martha would admire. Of course, nothing went as planned.  Her oven broke so she tired cooking the turkey in the dryer.  You could see the poor bird flipping around through the glass door. The whole episode continued with disaster after disaster. Well, at the end, the guests came and among them was Martha Stewart herself – a happy ending with Ellen meeting her entertainment hero. 

The second in the Comedy Collection was from Sex and the City. Main character, Carrie, loved and I mean loved fashion.  Remember all the zany outfits?  Carrie is asked to model some clothes for New York City’s Fashion Week.  Her wildest dreams had come true.  So down the catwalk she struts trying hard to do the model walk, and at the end of the ramp, she falls for all of NYC fashionistas to see.  I literally fell off the couch laughing.  I still giggle when I think of the show.

An episode of Friends was the third in my Comedy Collection.  Ross and Rachel accidently locked their baby in their apartment and the window was slightly opened in the nursery. The two of them are in the hall imagining all the terrible things that could happen to the baby.  Now remember that the infant baby is in a crib and the window is only open a few inches.  However, they are sure the baby is going to fall out of the window and with each new imaginary scenario, they would freak out even more.  By the end they were sure a hawk would fly in the window and steal away the baby.  Remember this is New York City.  They finally get in, and the baby had napped away the hour they were panicking.  As parents, we have all been in similar situations imagining horrors happening to our sleeping babies or teenagers.

If I need to lift my spirits, I just think of those shows, and I find myself laughing.  I will end with a story of the funniest experience of my life.  It always makes me laugh.  When I lived in SC, I lived 10 minutes from a movie theater.  I could decide at the last moment to go to see a film.  On one Sunday afternoon, I decided to go see a movie.  I was going to just make the show, but I had to get popcorn and a drink.  I hurried in getting my ticket then my snacks.  The film was in the last theater in the complex.  I walked up to the entrance.  There was a door to left and one to the right.  I decided to go in the one on the right.  I entered and it was completely dark.  Had I walked into another world or maybe Narnia?  I started to reach out in the darkness and found the wall.  I tapped down the wall until I felt a broom handle.  OMG, I was in the broom closet.  I started laughing and continued tapping in search of the door.  Once I found the door handle and was ready to turn it, the door opened.  There stood a man with his popcorn and soda preparing to enter the theater.  He was surprised to see me as I was surprised to see him, and then I said, “It is the broom closet.”  At that point, we were both hysterically laughing with popcorn flying everywhere. We gained our composure after some repeated tries and eventually entered the other door.  He joined his date, and I found a seat still trying to stop laughing.  I often thought that this would have been a great way to meet your future husband, a great romcom beginning!

As I have written this blog, I have been laughing at my go-to Comedy Collection.  I hope this will inspire you to start your own collection.  I know you have some shows, movies, or books that make you grin. You are already on your way!  Our laughter can help the world find some joy and maybe not be so dark.  

February brings us Galentine’s Day. The term was coined on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation when Leslie Knope, the fictional Deputy Director introduced the term. “It’s like Lilith Fair without the angst. Plus frittatas.”  Galentines refers to plutonic “girlfriend” relationships. Galentine’s Day is usually celebrated on February 13.

I first heard the term several years ago when one of my single female friends was distraught about not having a male partner with whom to celebrate Valentine’s Day. That year, she gave me a box of chocolates, each shaped like frogs, that said “you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince.” It was funny … and fun.

Fast forward to 2025. Galentine’s Day has become almost as popular as Valentine’s Day. Retail establishments market self-care products, restaurants offer specials, branded greeting cards, and gift items can be found everywhere!

Our local domestic violence organization has an annual Galentine’s Day fund raiser on the Saturday before Valentine’s Day. No program. Tickets get you a breakfast with mimosas, photo booth, and the opportunity to purchase women-focused products and services. The event is two hours to honor and enjoy female acquaintances and friendship in a vibrant, happy atmosphere while helping a serious cause.

Another organization which is women-centered is offering a screening of “The M Factor: Shredding the Silene on Menopause” as a Galentine’s Event, later in the month.

Women often forget the importance of having female friends. The sheer joy of being with other women elevates your life, especially as we retire and continue to age. More importantly, having friendships yields happier, more productive lives. Galentine’s Day is the ideal time to honor our friendships and remind each other how valued our relationships are. Even after I moved my mother from her home town into my home, her 80s and 90s-year old girlfriends kept in touch.

Celebrating friendships can be low-key or you can go all out. You can invite ladies for charcuterie and a glass of wine, go to brunch, play games, have a sleepover in a hotel – be creative! Find ways to enjoy your girlfriends. And even if you are not a party planner or don’t have the energy to host friends, you can make phone calls, send a card, or craft an email. Use this as a time to reconnect!

Galentine’s Day has become so popular that other “groups” are getting on the celebration bandwagon.  Palentine’s Day is a gender neutral version and Malentine’s Day is for men to celebrate their friendships.

Yet we ladies know, the best day of February is Galentine’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate our friendships with women of all ages, all stages. Happy Galentine’s Day, Friends!

Mary Ann

I bet by now you know that I love books.  I am a bibliophile, truly addicted to books.  From an early age, I remember getting a Golden Book when my mother went to the grocery store.  Do you remember reading The Pokey Little Puppy? We had a whole collection by the time I began to read.  

Then you go to school, learn to read, and Scholastic Book Clubs began.  Every month a flier would come full of new books, a reading nirvana!  My father was a high school teacher in the same building that I attended elementary school.  When the flier came, I would race to his room after school to share it with him.  My father would give me $3 or $4 dollars to place an order.  The paperbacks were $.35 or $.50 at the time. The money went a long way, and I could dream, dream, dream about all the books I would read.  I remember that Pippi Longstocking was a favorite.  Didn’t we all want to be Pippi? 

When I got older, I could take the bus to our little town and get my library card.  That card opened the world for me.  I discovered Victoria Holt and Daphne du Maurier. Those books had a hint of romance that was just right for a young teen.  Then a bookstore opened in the town, and as soon as I was old enough to work, I applied for a job.  I worked there during my high school and college years often spending more on books than I made. 

On my 21^st birthday, my parents gave me all the hard-bound books that Victoria Holt at written at the time.  It was one of the most special gifts I ever received.  It began my book collecting.  I then needed a bookshelf, so I made one of cinderblocks and wooden boards.  Did you make such a bookshelf?   My ex-husband and children gave me the remainder of the Holt books, so I have the whole collection. 

As the years passed, I collected and read so many books.  Around my house I stack cairns of unread books.  There is a word for that – Tsundoku which is Japanese for the stack of books you’ve purchased but haven’t yet read.  If there is a word for it, I feel there are many fellow book hoarders out there besides me.  When I do go to a bookstore, I am enchanted, under a spell, and always leave with a bag of books that I add to the ever-growing piles.

Even with Kindles and Nooks – I have both — your library grows.  I read current fiction and non-fiction on them.  It has cut down on the number of physical books, but still the number of digital books grows.  I do love the feel of a real book in my hands, even the smell of it, but Kindle makes life easier with traveling whether on a subway or a major trip.  I do need to join the library to use their digital books or Libby to save money.  I hear that zlibrary is an excellent app for free books– I need to check it out.  You should too.

I have moved several times, and each time I do, I give boxes of books away to friends or the library.  I just gave 75 books to local thrift shop.  It’s not like I don’t try to get a handle on my passion for books.  I have found homes for all my schoolbooks – that was 40 years of books.   At least someone else can use them, and the books will help children.  

When I look back on my life, I sometimes think that if I had all the money back that I have spent on books, that maybe I wouldn’t have needed to save for retirement.  However, I really do not regret a penny that I have spent on my love of books.  They are my dear friends.  It has always brought me great joy!  Though, I am toying with the idea of working in a bookstore again…. 

Mary Ann

When I would come home from school and was upset on the newest playground kerfuffle, my mother would say, “go make a cup a tea.”  I would go in the kitchen, heat a kettle of water, wait for it to boil, find a tea bag, and get the milk and sugar ready to make the perfect cup of tea.    It wasn’t that the tea held a magic potion to solve my problems.  It was the process of making of the tea that slowed everything down, and it would give me time to settle my ire and just breath.  The first sip of the tea immediately relaxed my body, and my attention then focused on enjoying the tea rather than my problems. 

There must have been a whole branch of English on our family tree, because we all were tea drinkers rather than traditional America coffee drinkers. We always had Lipton tea with milk adding a little of sugar to sweeten it.  Often, we would have tea and toast for breakfast.  Tea was a constant in my family’s life. 

Growing up, I was not a fancy tea drinker, but as I matured, I became a tea connoisseur.  It is such a treat to try different blends of tea, and there are endless varieties on the market today.  My favorite tea is Paris by Harney & Sons. It is a family run New York City company.  They offer 300 teas to sample.  Paris is fruity (currents) black tea that features vanilla and caramel flavors with a hint of bergamot.  The loose-leaf tea comes in silk sachets. To get the best taste use hot water, not boiled, and seep for 4 to 5 minutes.  I do less time, but the tea must have a rich brown color.  The Harney & Sons website is full of information about all their teas with instructions for a perfect cup.  You can purchase the tea there, or of course, you can get it on Amazon and can use their subscription service to have tea delivered regularly to your home. 

Last Christmas, a friend gave me a tin of Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice tea.  This is their most popular tea world-wide.  It is perfect for a cold, winter’s day – a great cup of tea to imbibe by the fire.  Another new discovery is Provence that has captured the region with apricot, lavender, and lemon.  I like this tea all by itself – no cream, no sugar.  It has a wonderful aroma. There are so many yummy teas from Harney & Sons that I have years of possibilities.  Though, I tend to keep enjoying my favorites.

I also love to go to a tea shop and enjoy a high tea with all the little sandwiches and pastries.  A fond memory was having tea at the Brown’s Hotel in London.  The room was filled with chintz sofas and chairs nestled around fireplaces.  The tea is slowly paced so you can enjoy every morsel and savor the delicious tea.  We should all start doing afternoon tea – a special way to end the day! 

However, the best cup of tea I ever had was on the same trip.  I had it a non-descript restaurant on the way to see Stonehenge.  It was not a fancy place, but the cream they used was clotted cream which turned the tea into a masterpiece. I have tried to recreate the cup of tea but to no avail.  It is close, but it is not that magical cup.  I would probably never find the little restaurant again. It is just a lovely memory.

I still make a cup of tea when I am troubled. The ritual is calming and by the time I finish drinking it, I gain a new perspective on life.  Maybe I need to learn how to read tea leaves to determine the outcome of my worries or just make another cup! 

Note: The English have a tea ritual called Cream Tea that is tea served with scones, jam, and clotted cream.  The order you put the jam and clotted cream on the scone determine if is Devon or Devonshire Cream (cream first then jam) or if is Cornish Cream (jam first then cream). Read more about Cream Tea on the Internet!  Who knew?

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays – if you can actually classify it as such. A holiday is “a day of festivity or recreation when no work is done” according to the Oxford Language Dictionary. In America, as in some other countries, Halloween is recognized as a fun day to adorn ourselves in costume, decorate the house and yard, and share goodies with neighbors – especially the children. And celebrating with family and friends is a great way to shed stress and build wellness.

My fourth-grade teacher – an unmarried woman who never had children – piled on the homework that year on Halloween. She thought it immoral that children would go door-to-door begging for candy.  I will never forget how angry she was when talking about Halloween. Her comments in that witchy tone of voice left a lasting impression. I thought at the time, how sad for her, not to be able to enjoy the laughter and camaraderie surrounding the day.

Fast forward to today. Several years ago in my current neighborhood I would hand out more than 250 pieces of candy. The doorbell rang so much that I finally resolved to standing at an open door awaiting the little ghosts, goblins, witches, princesses, knights, and more.

I so enjoy decorating, although I stay away from the gory, opting more for the delightful skeletons, pumpkins, and witches hats and brooms. In the past I had to make my own décor as decorating for this celebration has not yet caught on. But now! So many options!  One year I sat skeletons at a table with witches hats hanging overhead. I won Yard-of-the-Month because the neighbors enjoyed walking or driving by. Last year the skeletons were raking and planting flowers.

Interestingly, Hallowe’en has been recognized by other names. Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Eve. In the liturgical calendar the day is for remembering the dearly departed*. Some believe the tradition was influenced by the Gaelic / Celtic festival of Samhain. The day has long been celebrated in Ireland and Scotland, bringing the traditions to North American the 19^th century.

Whatever the history, Halloween has become the beginning of the holiday season for many of us.  My brother would call this time of year ChristhanksOween. Our family celebrates a lot of October birthdays through his which was early in December. Several religions celebrate various  traditions during this time of year.

Regardless of one’ religious  beliefs, Halloween has come to be celebrated widely as a fun day for kids of all ages and stages to express themselves through costume, sharing delight with family and friends. It’s a day for letting of steam in a jovial way. So from my [haunted] house to yours, Happy Halloween!

*A Mexican holiday for which we also decorate and remember our loved ones who have passed is Dia de Los Muertos – Day of the Dead – celebrated on November 1 and 2.

I just came home from my medical massage, feeling all ooey gooey, body relaxed. My granddaughter mentioned “lines” on my face – indentations from being face down on the massage table.

My first encounter with medical massage was about three years ago. Suddenly my back seized. I was in pain. It hurt to sit, stand, lie down, and move! Unsure how to deal with this phenomenon, I went to a favorite resource: Google!

The search yielded a couple of medical massage locations near me. The first one I called couldn’t get me in for a week. The other got me in the next day.  Upon arrival I met a lovely young lady (younger than me!) who had me explain what was going on. She took notes, drawing on an outline of a body. Satisfied that she knew what needed to be done, she asked me first to sit on the table.

After a series of stretches, I was invited to lie on the table. Then she proceeded with a massage, pulling and stretching along with the regular massage rubbing.  At the end of the hour, I was upright and mobile.  Judy gave me instructions to do some unique (to me) stretching exercises. Within a day or two I was completely pain free.

That was the beginning of a happy relationship.  Since that first encounter, I have seen Judy once a month. My monthly massage visits seem to keep me supple – moving better.  Granted I realized the importance of exercise, so I began with simple stretches, core building, and eventually walking and riding my stationary bike.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not an exercise nerd and by no stretch of the imagination (pardon the pun) an athlete.  I do enough to keep my 70-something body moving with minimal pain. The best outcome has been the friendship I have developed with this lady who is my daughter’s age. We have a mutual respect for each other’s skills and perspectives.  She is fun, intelligent, adventurous, and extremely kind, not to mention quite knowledgeable about the musculoskeletal system.  While I believe I get a lot more out of the relationship than she, I still believe it has been a winning combination for us both.

For more about Judy and her services, see: https://www.edmondmedicalmassage.com/

Mary Ann

The Week is a magazine that features a wide range of topics like other news magazine; however, The Weekpresents many points of views on any given subject. It is a very interesting publication, and you can easily stay abreast of current events in the country, the world, and popular culture.  Although it is a bit pricey, it will keep you well-informed.  

 In their book section, The Week will highlight a particular author and have him or her share 6 books that have influenced his or her life.  It is always fun to see if I have ever read any of the books. Of course, I have started my 6 most influential book list.  I need to be ready when I become famous.  Actually, there are only four books, so I have room to grow.

The first book that I treasure is Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning.  Frankl was a psychologist and Holocaust survivor.  He found while he was incarcerated in the death camps that humans had common principals that were fundamental to the human condition.  In a nutshell, Frankl said that people need purpose, people need love, and people will all have challenging times, and it how they decide to handle them that will determine their happiness.  I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this book quoted in other books and articles. It is all about attitude, and Frankl said it in just a few words.  

The second book is (The) 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.   The habits include Be Proactive; Begin with the End in Mind; Put First Things First; Think Win/ Win; Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood; and Synergize.  The seventh habit is Sharpen the Saw that advocates leading a balance life of self-renewal.  Even though this is a 30-year-old book, it is relevant today.  These principles can determine the quality of your life.  I return to this book time and time again for guidance. Covey has also written a leadership book and a book for teens that incorporates his principals.   

To Kill A Mockingbird is my third book. This work of fiction is a favorite because it is a story about a man, lawyer Atticus Finch, who does the right thing despite his personal beliefs.  What a lesson for today!  I read this in 9^th grade – Thank you, Mrs. Thomas – and I reread it as an adult. It was more meaningful when I was older.  Some of the language is inappropriate for today – I totally agree, but if you go deeper, there are lessons for us all.  

 

Anything by Anne Lamott is my fourth selection.  I just love what she says and how she says it.  She is a funny lady who coins phrases that sticks with you.  She has written many works of fiction and nonfiction about her life – she has had many challenges as most of us have had. Her collections of 7 small books of essays are my favorite. You can read one or two essays a day and let her words percolates through your soul.  Her latest book is Somehow with essays about love.  Dusk, Night, Dawn; Help, Thanks, and Wow; Almost Everything; Small Victories; Stitches; and Grace are the remaining six volumes.  I have read this series twice and plan to read them again next year.  I always garner some nuggets of wisdom with each reading.  Thank you, Anne Lamott. 

Now, I have read many, many great books both fiction and nonfiction. I think what sets these books apart from all the other books is that I reread them and refer to them frequently.  They are part of me.  However, I do look forward to finding the other two books to round out my six most influential books.  You never know when I will become famous! 

Mary Ann

In the fairytale, Sleeping Beauty, the princess Aurora pricks her finger on a spindle needle, and her entire life changes as she falls into a hundred-year, deep sleep.  I, too, have been pricked by needles, and my entire life changed as well.  For me, acupuncture is what has changed my life!

During the Covid epidemic, I developed a pain in my hip.   When we could go to doctors again, I went to an orthopedist. I was sure that I would have to have a hip replacement.  I was already for the diagnosis.  After x-rays, an MRI, and a physical exam, I was told I had just a little arthritis. Whew!  However, I still hurt.  The ortho doc sent me to physical therapy and to an acupuncturist.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.”  The Mayo Clinic website (mayoclinic.org) explains acupuncture in even greater detail.

Hmmm, acupuncture!  I have heard about it.  Was it voodoo medicine or was it now mainstream medicine?  I was going to give it a chance because I didn’t want to be in pain anymore.  The ortho group gave me a recommendation for a local practice. I called and made an appointment.  I was ready for this adventure into alternative medicine.

My acupuncturist, Eileen, was a very caring practitioner.  She spent a long time trying to learn about me and my medical concerns.  She patiently took me through each step of the process explaining what she was going to do.  To begin, I was on my stomach, face down on a massage table. Then Eileen began to insert the needles.   Some needles went in without any pain.  Other needles did prick for a moment as they were inserted, but the pain quickly dissipates.  Eileen constantly asked about my comfort and would adjust the needle if it were uncomfortable. I wore my own clothes, and my top or pants were adjusted to insert the needles – all very respectful.  Once the needles were in place, I was given a call button in case I need help.  Then I quietly rested for about 15 minutes or so in a darken room with New Age music playing in the background. Eileen returned and removed the needles. The needles did not hurt when removed.  I flipped over, and Eileen did another set of needles on the front of me. Again, I rested for 10 minutes or so doing the same procedures, and then the session ended.  Eileen said it sometimes takes a couple of sessions to see results.  

I was pleasantly surprised how the acupuncture helped my pain.  After a few sessions, the pain ceased.  I have continued working with Eileen for the last two years, and she has helped me with a variety of issues.  For example, if I have sinus issues or allergies, she had needle placement to treat those conditions. Eileen always takes time each session to review my current state of health.  I may look like a pin cushion, but I don’t care because I am not in pain and many other conditions have improved.    

 If you have a fear of needles, or you are not seeing improvement, acupuncture may not be for you.  However, it is worth a try.  Check with your primary doctor for his or her thoughts.  Acupuncture is better than giving people opioids for pain. Mainstream doctors are now recommending acupuncture.  Nevertheless, you want to make sure that your acupuncturist has been properly trained.  Eileen went to school for three years and frequently takes recertification classes.  She is certified by the state. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine can give you additional information on acupuncture certification and finding qualified practitioners.   

Acupuncture is not covered by Medicare unless it is given by an MD for back pain. I would also check out your insurance before you begin treatment. The procedures run around $100 per session, at least, in my area.  The NCCAOM is lobbying to change insurance coverage.  With time and more research, I hope that this Eastern medicine will integrate with traditional Western medicine to help people. This has been my story, and I am very thankful for the needles that changed my life.