Angelina's Choice

Angelina Jolie is a controversial figure.

Some people think she's a talented, tattooed actress; some think she stole Brad Pitt from Jennifer Aniston and tops the weird chart for wearing (second husband) Billy Bob Thornton's blood in a vial around her neck. 
 
Some people admire her work as an ambassador to third world countries; some think she adopted too many kids, birthed too many and should marry Mr. Pitt.   

Some have sympathy for her because her mother died fairly young from cancer; some criticize her for being estranged from her father, Jon Voight.

She's certainly led a colorful life, and this week, she made headlines again when she announced she had a double mastectomy (and reconstructive surgery) because her BRCAI genetic testing revealed she had an 87% chance of developing breast cancer.

Wow.

Whatever your view of Jolie, this recent decision probably has you thinking about cancer and motherhood and femininity and breasts.

I assume Jolie is a multi-faceted woman, just like all women are.  She made some provocative professional choices, and we would not be political allies, but I have felt a kinship with her since she made the announcement she is choosing life over natural flesh.  Given the same circumstances, I believe I would strongly consider doing the same thing.   

Jolie's mom died of ovarian cancer at 56.  Ovarian cancer is not breast cancer, but they are both estrogen-fed.  Jolie, who is known for her sensuality and having a hunky life partner, decided her breasts were not worth dying for.  Her womanhood, femininity, and value are not reliant on her breasts.  She still views herself as beautiful and productive and whole without them. 

Life is more important than breasts.  If only women everywhere, young and old, could understand and embrace this.

In this country, breasts have been idolized and glamorized and exploited to the point where twelve-year olds who are late to sprout them begin to hate their bodies.  This is completely misguided and so damaging.  Our breasts are not who we are. 

What we think, how we care for others, what we create, what we contribute - that's who we are.   Our bodies are aging  "earth suits" that propel us around the planet thinking and caring and creating and contributing.   These are the things by which we will be remembered.  Breasts are nature's method of feeding our babies (but not the only method) and we need to stop viewing/offering them as playthings and marketing tools for a greedy world.

I applaud Jolie for making a loving, sacrificial choice for her six children and their future.  She wants to be in their lives for as long as possible, to guide, protect, nurture, and love.  This trumps all else, as it should.  I'm sure there was a grieving process for Jolie when she decided to remove (at the moment) healthy tissue, but her wisdom in looking long-term at her life is admirable. 

Breasts, diseased or healthy, should not define any woman.  Even women who have survived breast cancer eventually report they are tired of talking about it.  They want to go back to work, run a marathon, move to the country, write a book.  They want to take back their lives, which they still have because they chose it over a body part that has sadly and erroneously become the epitome of a woman's sexual value.   

Jolie has shown us that womanhood is about courage, strength, sacrifice, love, and wisdom.  It has nothing to do with breasts.

 

Veggie Tray Do-Over

I love to recycle and re-purpose items because it makes me feel like I'm being a good steward of the world's stuff.   There certainly is a lot of stuff on the planet and the longer we can use a material thing, the better.  I'm a Pinterest fan mainly because there are hundreds of ideas there on how to fashion something new out of something old. 

As I was doing dishes the other night, I realized the plastic relish tray I was about to toss might work as a junk draw organizer.  (The more I re-purpose things, the faster I'm becoming at seeing the treasure in the trash.)  This was the original veggie tray.

I washed it and trimmed off the flat bottom lid.  By trimming off another half inch from the edge of the tray's rim, I found it fit beautifully into my kitchen junk drawer.

The paperclips are in the broccoli square, the rubber bands are in the carrots square, the pens are in the celery/dip rectangle, etc.

Is this cool, or what?

Veggie trays come is different sizes, so you can measure the space you need to fill and buy accordingly.  Here is a larger version and a four-square cutie. A large one or several little ones could create total bliss in a desk drawer.

Eat your veggies AND organize a drawer.   You colon and your paperclips will thank you.

Off topic....some of you know I'm a contributor to the Mommy Mormon Writer's Blog.   I'm not Mormon, but they like me anyway.  If you'd like to read my May post at MMW, here's the link:     HURRY UP AND WAIT.

I write about the scatterbrainiest month I've had in a long time.  I swear, God likes to mess with me.  

 

Containing Myself

Something happened two weeks ago that I've been looking forward to for a year.

Orlando opened The Container Store.

If you already have The Container Store where you live, you are one lucky duck. 

The Container Store to someone like me is bliss.  In a box.  Or a bin.  Or a basket.   I love to sort and organize and compartmentalize.  It helps put my life and heart and mind in order.  No matter what's going on in the world, if my kitchen drawers are tidy, I'm a happy camper. 

My daughter and I attended the opening of the store and entered to win all kinds of things.  We didn't win anything, but we didn't care.  We stood in line with all the other people to buy laundry rods and non-slip hangers.  We got ideas for her kitchen (she's closing on her house in 10 days) and took pictures of things we want to purchase later.  I was like a kid in a candy store.

One of the best things about The Container Store is that it gives me ideas.  I love to re-purpose items, and as an avid couponer, I'm always looking to save a buck or two.  I didn't want to spend thirty bucks on a hair dryer holder, so I took a picture of what the store offered and then came home and fashioned my own holder - involving two squared 'S' hooks (from Ikea, and probably Home Depot) and a plastic jug.

I trimmed the cleaned out jug (this is a bleach bottle, but I suspect a milk carton would be fine too) to 'fit' my hair dryer, my lower cabinet door and the allowed space inside the cabinet.  I made two slits with an Exacto knife into which I slid one end of the squared S hooks.  

I cut out a circle in the bottom of the jug to catch the tip of the barrel of the dryer to add some anchoring, but you wouldn't have to do this if your dryer is small, or your container is deep. 

There ya' go.

A portable (if we ever move), inexpensive (the hooks might have cost five dollars) hair dryer caddy that gets the dryer and its clunky cord off my bathroom counter.

I love this caddy so much, I open my cabinet when I'm in the bathroom just to look at it. 

Thanks, Container Store!  (hee-hee)

Another nifty re-purposing idea coming up...