Category: Uncategorized

Under Seat Air Travel Pack Hack

 Traveling by air just isn’t what it used to be, is it? Years ago it was rather luxurious and exciting to travel by air. Sorry. Those days are long gone and we passengers have to reinvent how we approach the crowed conditions on today’s airplanes. We have to try and make our passenger experience of getting from one point to another easier and less of a hassle.

How to pack a carry-on for vacation that fits under the airplane seat? Why go through the hassle of baggage claim and struggling to find bin space when you travel. Slip it all under your seat. This video tells you how to pack a small suitcase that fits under you airplane seat.
Safe travels!

Copyright © Sandra Hart

Finding Your Sense Of Style

What are the different  types of fashion styles? Do you know which category you fall into? Maybe you are a hybrid. One who mixes several different styles to make your own. This whole process is much less complicated than you might think.  Once you have understood your personal fashion choice group, it can actually simplify your life when shopping for new outfits.

According to enkiverywell.com each fashion group can create a common theme and they each have their own unique characteristics. A fashion style is like a character sketch that describes a personality out of a fashion theme. For example, if you have a classic taste in clothing, you may be drawn to classical themes in apparel consciously.


CLASSIC


Classic style may express comfort, but actually it focuses more on quality and popular styles such as white button-down blouses, ballet flats, a wide-legged trouser and leather boots. Classic apparel has a superb fabric and impeccable tailoring. It focuses on clean uncluttered lines and formal balance, which expresses a sense of stability. If you have this type of fashion, you are showing simple elegance in your wardrobe.

Bohemian 


Bohemian style is characterized with artistic interests like arty style. However, the difference is that Bohemian style focuses on some exotic patterns and textures. The free-spirited Bohemian draws inspirations from the gypsy look with their intricate patterns, peasant blouses, multiple chains, head scarves, and also hippy ponchos and tie dye jeans. Bohemian is well known for features that are considered non-traditional in appearance.

EXOTIC 


Exotic style focuses on something very uncommon, striking yet excitingly different. A traveler who comes from another exotic land may show exotic style. Exotic style is often mysterious and intriguing. The clothing style centers on long flowing lines that has rich smoky colors, embroidery, mysterious ornate patterns, jungle prints, mosaics and iridescent textures and shiny jewelry, etc.


CHIC


One of the popular types of fashion styles is the chic style. “Chic” is often synonymous with “trendy” or “fashionable”. People who favor this style prefer classic and stylish designs that are striking and smart. For example, the garments are always well tailored and the accessories are well chosen. Chic style means having clothes that have strong colors but not garish

Flamboyant 

“Flamboyant” is associated with “dramatic”. However, between flamboyant and dramatic, flamboyant is more energetic and outgoing. The main characteristic of flamboyant is being flashy. The clothing of this fashion style are often asymmetrical, exaggerated flouncing, fringe, multi-colored, and splashy. At most times, flamboyant fashion style can have outlandish prints or intense bright colors.


Romantic


Romantics are often called as hopeless or even incurable, but in reality, she is not looking for romance but is hoping for romance. A romantic is idealistic and often unrealistic. The apparel often includes flowers, hearts, ruffles, flouncing, soft fabrics which have gentle curve lines and accessorizes with lockets and cameos.

Sophisticated

People with sophisticated style are not easily satisfied. Similar to classic, these people want high quality. Aside from high quality, distinction and culture polish which is beyond the elegance are needed. People who appreciate sophisticated style are often socialites or want to be one. In fact, these people dream themselves as connoisseurs who value haute culture and luxury.


Traditional


Traditional fashion style shows the wholesome and sensible “girl next door”. These people’ characteristics are practical, polite and always dress appropriately. Their styles are classic since most of the apparels are time-honored favorites. A girl with this style often wear a plaid flannel shirt or pea coat. She also prefers the classic black dress as long as it suits the occasion.
Glamorous 

Glamorous style shows a dazzling look accompanied with refined drama. But it also has a subtle allure, which can be between dramatic style and sexy style. Similar to flamboyant style, the clothes often get everyone’s attention. Most of apparels are deep to bright, however, not really intense. A glamorous style is never complete without diamonds, silk and satin.

Which group are you?

Copyright Sandra Hart©2017

All Rights Reserved.

Jump In With Both Feet


Image by Owen Buggy

Richard Branson, CEO AND FOUNDER of Virgin Group recently posted in a blog: 
“Dreaming is one of humanity’s greatest gifts. It champions aspiration, spurs innovation, leads to change and propels us forward. In a world without dreams, there would be no adventure, no moon landing, no female CEOs, no civil rights. What a half-lived and tragic existence we would have. We should all dream big, and encourage others to do so, too.”

This perspective has been my mantra since I was a teen creating a ‘dream-memory’ board in my bedroom tacking up pictures of things I wanted to happen in my life. Even then I realized that these life events would not just appear like magic. I knew I would have to work hard toward my goals, but those pictures gave me a structure to my dreams and gave me focus. 

My life has had some valleys that I didn’t ask for, side roads that were big detours and extra high mountains I was forced to climb, but those major dreams I had as a teen in her bedroom, mostly came true in varying degrees.   

I have always encouraged my children to follow their dreams, think out of the box and when everyone tells you it can’t be done – prove them wrong by swimming against the tide and DO IT! 

Those are the dreams that come true! When no one believes in your ideas, you believe in yourself and have the last laugh through your success. Nothing stops one’s dreams in their tracks like the power of fear and needing outside approval. If you don’t really believe in your dreams, they will evaporate in all the hot air around you.

 My having lived almost eight decades, I can assure you that if you still have unrequited dreams, it is never too late to make them come true. Jump in will both feet and make them happen. The last laugh will be yours and the naysayers will be left with, “Gee, I should have done that!” Too bad. Their loss. You beat them to it!

Copyright©Sandra Hart 2017

All Rights Reserved.

Elizabeth’s Story

Each encounter we have in our lives creates the fabric from which we are made. 

Copyright©Sandra Hart

All Rights reserved

It’s Never Too Late

It is never too late to follow your dreams no matter how old you are. We all have different chapters in our lives, going to school, choosing a career, earning a living, raising a family and finally planning and enjoying your retirement years. Maybe life’s early realities pushed your dreams aside, but there is no reason you can’t pick up those dreams now and make them happen. Where there is a will, there is a way. Learn to play an instrument, go back to school. If you want it badly enough, you can make it happen. If I can do it, so can you!

THE SHADOW OF MOTHERHOOD 

As mothers, especially a single mother, as was dealt to me with the death of my husband, we sacrifice, nurture and work selflessly with both the heavy weight of parental responsibility and at the same time struggle to embrace the joys that come from raising humans we love like no other then, now and into eternity. Did I ever dream that when they were ready to leave the nest, it would be so far away? 

Diaspora. How times have changed in just one generation. I often envy those families whose children are able to settle near them. It would be so nice to have family gatherings on the spur of the moment. Sunday dinners around the table with grandchildren and extended family members is but a dream for me. Sometimes that is a hard reality to face. 

Fortunately for them, my children have had to move to where their interesting work took them. Unfortunately for me, they are all a long, long drive, or a winged trip away. It’s doable now, but the older I get I think about when it will not be so easy to hop a flight to be near those that I love so dearly.

I moved away from home when I went to college and never called my parents home mine again. I had dreams of my own that couldn’t be realized there. But, honestly, I never thought of how it must have affected my mother. Until lately. The shoe is on the other foot now for me and It doesn’t feel good at all. Isn’t the saying ‘just walk a mile in my shoes’? I now know how my mother must have felt when both of her children never permanently returned to her warm nest. 

They say a good mother raises her children to be able to fly from the nest and spread their wings. Even though we know that is true and the unbridled happiness for our young is real, our mother-wing feathers are plucked bare, knowing life will never be the same. 

In the end I have comfort in knowing that I have been blessed, that part of the way,  they were to walk with me. 

https://youtu.be/K7hMJ8Xvyf4

Music by Emerson Hart and Tonic©

 Life and thoughts and just about everything under the sun. The only order to it is life itself as lived. Natural chaos! I am married and have three grown children who are interested in breeding horses, flying and creating. My youngest is the lead singer/songwriter of the Grammy nominated band, Tonic, Emerson Hart. So here I am, wanting to read about you and at the same time bringing you along with me to mine. I hope you will find me just as interesting as I do you! Hop aboard.

Find me here:

https://sandrashart.com (blog)

http://sandrahart.net

@screenactor on Poshmark

@sandrashart/ twitter 

@sandrashart on Instagram

https://Pinterest.com/SandraHart

amazon.com for Sandra Hart books
Copyright©Sandra Hart 2017 All rights reserved
Find me here:

https://youtu.be/9qFU91JDuWY 

Life Over Sixty With Sandra YouTube Channel

https://sandrashart.com (blog)

http://sandrahart.net

@screenactor on Poshmark

@sandrashart/ twitter 

@sandrashart on Instagram

https://Pinterest.com/SandraHart

amazon.com for Sandra Hart books

THE SEA INSIDE OF ME


Along with beach living the natural evolution of things once living in the sea or sandy soil has always fascinated me. I find a visceral beauty in the final stages of nature’s cycle, dried up or cast away by the wind, afterlife uprooted and washed ashore by the angry sea that no longer has use for that which has ceased to exist.  
Nature’s loss has always been my gain. For forty-five years I have walked along the beaches scavenging nature’s junk that to me are works of art. Things of beauty free for the taking.  


I have filled my garden with rusty anchors and  drift wood tumbled and carved into masterpieces by the sea like no other artist could. Rainbows of smooth colored glass shinning like treasure chest jewels in the wet sand, shells of all sizes and shapes, and if I am lucky a starfish will catch my eye and find a final home in my large copper kettle in the center of the coffee table. Poseidon and Neptune look down upon us wearing clay crowns of coral twisted and frozen by death into elegant inertia forms.  


Throughout the years pots have been filled with dried palm fronds and over-ripe pods dropped to the ground to make way for new green growth. This evolution is my artistic supply fulfilling my love for all things related to the sand and sea.


How can I explain it. I guess it is just the sea inside of me.
Copyright Sandra Hart© 2017
Life Over Sixty With Sandra on YouTube 

  

Friendship

 

Two Friends – Daniel Ridgeway Knight


“Like the sturdy Day Lily, true friendship has strong roots and life that returns and grows in abundance year after year. But like all things in nature, neglect it and it will surely die.” Sandra Hart

Our good old friend Webster defines friendship as ” a person attached to another by feelings or personal regard.” In thinking about this article, I have tried to recall the true friendships in my life that have been able to withstand the times of change, distance and turmoil. I have eight names, exclusive of my family, that come to mind.

It was rather shocking to me that these are the only human strings, old and new, that I could attach to my longevity kite. Over a span of 60 plus years I have gathered a small circle of those with whom I have closely shared high personal regard and feelings. Some of these I see more than others, but they are all in my personal bag of marbles. I care about them.

Feeling like a recluse and with my tail between my legs I began my research and found that I am not alone. The average person, if honest with themselves, have only a handful of lifetime relationships that have weathered change, distance and turmoil. We may have made many acquaintances in our lifetime, but few are soul mates that would be willing to sacrifice their needs for ours.

Think about it. Life has thrown us all loops. Who in your life has been and will be there unconditionally when you feel that you are about to be thrown under the bus?
If you have such friends that are connected to defining moments in your life wouldn’t it be nice to let them know you care that they are there in your bag of marbles. While you can.
Excerpt from Read Between My Lines by Sandra Hart, Myartisansway Press 2007 ©

The Burden Of Strength

Today while I was in my car waiting for the light to change, I saw a young woman struggling carrying an enamel bed headboard under one arm and the footboard under the other, sometimes switching it to her shoulders as she walked along the street. Just watching her struggle just for those few minutes moved me and made me think about how hard a woman’s life sometimes can be. When we find ourselves alone, women most often find solutions and we persevere no matter how hard the challenge, or stress on our lives and bodies. 

I remember my grandmother who while raising her 10 children on a daily basis cooked for her entire family as well as the farmhands. As if that wasn’t enough, she made all of the clothes for her children, fed the chickens, planted and tended the vegetable garden, and gathered fresh eggs for morning breakfast. 

She baked and cooked everything from scratch in her kitchen on a coal stove that she had to keep fired.

 She used to scrub the wash on a washboard, stirred a hot cauldron of soapy water to get them clean and ironed the clothes with a heavy sad iron. She needed at least two irons on the go together for an effective system: one in use, and one re-heating. I remember the sound of the sizzle when she sprinkled a few drops of water on it to see if it was hot enough. 

Through it all, my dear grandmother managed to have a smile on her face all day long. No wonder she and many other women of her era died in their fifties and sixties. 

 For too long we woman have a hard time sometimes saying ‘no’ to what is believed to be ‘our jobs’ as over- worked-solution-solving caretakers.  

 Now I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. Our families benefit from who we innately are and can do. I have to be honest with myself, although I am two generations away from my grandmother, I am guilty as charged and I’m not too sure I can ever change. It’s become too much a part of my DNA. 

How about you? Does the shoe fit? 

Copyright©Sandra Hart.    All Rights Reserved

Find me here:

https://sandrashart.com 

(blog)https://sandrahart.net           

@screenactor on Poshmark

sandrashart/ twitter 

sandrashart@Instagram                      

amazon.com for Sandra Hart books

Waltz With Me My Love

Dance. Oh, how I have always loved dancing, don’t you? By myself as a child, or in the arms of a lover nothing is closer to heaven than lightly swirling around to music that makes my heart sing. Waltz, foxtrot, jitterbug, the monkey or rumba, it doesn’t matter to me.

Emerson Hart©and Tonic

Song and dance have been with us far back in recorded human history and has been an important part of celebratory rituals. It’s so true that dance is a way to find yourself and loose yourself at the same time.  

Unless, that is, your heart is dancing a clumsy two step in your chest. Dancing with your feet is one thing, but a dancing heart is another.  

Unfortunately, I was born with extra electrical pathways that under certain circumstances cause my heart to palpitate and loose sinus rhythm. These unwelcome ‘dances’ began in my twenties, but since my heart was otherwise basically healthy, I just had to tolerate this non-synchronized orchestra that lived in my chest. 

It became a way of life for me until in the 90’s a new procedure called  radio frequency ablation was developed to eliminate extra pathways in the heart. Tiny cathodes are run through the groin veins to ablate the dancing pathways. At the time it sounded scary to me, but each 12 hour episode of rhumba were scarier, so I opted to have the ablation.

Now, one thing they didn’t realize, or take into consideration then is that those electrical nerve pathways can grow back. So here I am once again saying goodbye to my heart’s unruly dance, one week into recovery from updated modern medical advances in electrophysiology and radio frequency ablation. 

My procedure lasted about three hours and I was released the next day. My doctor showed me a photograph of my heart with the ablation points and it looked like a pearl necklace all around my heart. He said when they thought they were through, adrenaline administered would show other electrically charged pathways. I was a dancing fool inside my chest!

So far, I am following the doctor’s orders and not lifting anything over 10 pounds or bending over and just taking things easy for a few weeks. He told me I might have increased dances in my chest, perhaps for as long as three months while my heart is healing, but already they are short little tap dances that do encourage me everything is healing just fine. 

The pinpoint scarred areas created by the cauterization, once healed, will block and interrupt those crazy dancing impulses by taking off their tap shoes and sending them into retirement.  

Trust me, the next dance I do I hope it will be with only my feet and with someone I love.  

©Copyright Sandra Hart 2017                            

All Rights Reserved

Find me here:

(Blog) https://sandrashart.com https://sandrahart.net

http://twitter/sandrashart

http://Poshmark/screenactor 

http://Instagram/sandrashart

http://Facebook/lifeoversixty

amazon.com for Sandra Hart books