I love wearing tip top t’s because they are comfortable, clever, and I like the extra length.  My favorite is the Superhero t-shirt in hot pink, but I call it my “Supermom tshirt”.  It’s empowering, and the color is vibrant and fun - like bubble gum!

  This is a photo of me wearing it at the Disney Princess Half Marathon Expo Hall.

I’ve been wearing the weightlifter t to yoga class, but I guess it’s time to buy a “breathe” t instead.

Raffi

Bastikia  historic area in Dubai all wearing tip-top living t’s.  Looking good gang.

I love the Tee! It is oh so comfy…..and it reminds me to breathe! and that is what I need right now. Thanks for the speedy delivery!!!!

and sport the hot, edgy t just like PINK.

So what - rock it out!

by Vana Shipton

I have started not buying in bulk, this might sound crazy, we got into a rut of eating the same preserved foods…now I  shop like European folk who go grocery shopping just about every day.  I buy very small quantities and I  can cook what I feel like that day for my family.  This has made supper more fun and tasty.

As for mornings, I will simply slip on my walking  clothes, no make-up necessary which will cut lots of time in the early morning rush, and go walking straight after I drop the kids off at school.

Thereafter, I can enjoy a shower and put my make-up on in peace.

Enjoy the last chapter of that book, put all in order if you can, throw away what isn’t used or give it to someone, clean out and ponder on the more free time that you have created with more peace…hopefully.

 Vana Shipton

I got a call from a good friend this afternoon to join her and some other friends to a movie tonight, which made me sigh with relief that the end of my work-day was nearing and that I had to freshen up to go out.

I was  expecting to enjoy the movie Julie/Julia, but not as much as I did, what a pleasant surprise, it was certainly like soul-food.  It made me feel safe and familiar although I have never been to France I thoroughly enjoyed the thought of going there one day.

We often feel  exhausted, overwhelmed and spent and find it hard to give ourselves permission to enjoy, for just a little.  The more I enjoy these innocent and fairly cheap evenings  with friends the more I want to do it and the more beneficial they become.  I feel happy and content afterwards, so go on, give yourself permission to a great movie…since I’m greek…Kalí óreksi!.

Vana Shipton

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t enjoy exercise but I do see the benefit in it.  Our bodies obviously need it for health purposes and it will look good in turn.  One of my favorite parts is the mental silence or mental shower as  some  call it.  The bliss of no cell, no email, no computer, no tv, no input what-so-ever, just the slight cool breeze coming off the shore while I walk.  My all time favorite part is when I’m done and showering, knowing I have done it and that alone puts  my mind at ease. So go ahead  put on a great looking t-shirt, and get some mental bliss, everyone will benefit from it, most of all you and your family.  I’m sure they too will appreciate a happy mom.

Vana Shipton

Vana Shipton

My daughter and I went through my regular day which consists of making the house look half way decent, then dishwasher and washer/dryer.  Now that everything was more  or less in it’s place  and  all the machines  where  doing the  work, the sound of productivity is music to my ears.  We  could now settle down to money earning work.  We took a ride to the post office and bank and then off to the home office.  My little one logged on for me and check that all the sites and links were working and up to date, we then proceeded outside to the beautiful weather in our back garden and  photographed 2 journals, after she took the photos we  loaded them up on computer, chose the best ones and posted them on the  website.  That was one big chore for me that went smoothly.

I had 200 postcards to mail out so she proceeded to stamp them, after being tired about 10 minutes  later we had  a drink and took a 5 minute break.  She finished her homework and were off again out of the house.

We quickly took the car for a wash as it was starting to grow arms and legs of its own.  Then the surprise if she was a good assistant, which was a simple manicure.  We had lunch with dad and her sister, they received their “paychecks” for the mornings work and we then swapped kids.

In the afternoon, my other daughter photographed 2 other books, posted them on the web and logged on again, to check all is  well, and running smoothly.  I took care of some emails while she worked on her essay.  We finished off the work-day by completing the 200 postcards which are now ready for mailing on Tuesday.

We are going to finish off the day with a surprise visit to Starbucks, she has  been begging me to try coffee.  Not so sure she  will like it.  Let’s go see.

I had 2 wonderful and helpful assistants, the day went by very quickly and easily and by the smiles  on their faces, it looks  like they had  a good time.  It was a good bonding day.  How was my husbands day?  I have no idea yet.

Vana Shipton

We were discussing how… hmmm, multitasking is not a good word… how super efficient we were.  Over the first 49 minutes we discussed:  being picked up, war in the middle-east, prescribed medication, having rhinoplasty, not to TEXT while driving, meeting old friends, neurotic tendencies, how to get a seat in the front end of the plane, TEXT messages sent to the wrong folk, age spots, self-medicating, ungrateful university students, gas prices, sugar prices and flour prices, lack of food on national flights, how many peanuts are distributed on national flights depending on the morning or night the flight attendant had, family services and drug addiction.

In 49, minutes…it was definitely time for another glass of wine.  When I went home much later that night, I felt so much lighter, happier and definitely stronger to take on tomorrow’s challenges.

I have mentioned this before, going out with friends just for the sake of it, is terribly important to ones mental health.  To simple dinners, good times and most importantly…good friends.

Vana Shipton