Tag: #ConnecticutBlogger

Lucky 7

There’s something about the number 7 that is lucky for me.  Here are a few reasons why:

  • I am one of 7 children
  • My birthdate 2-14, with the single digits added together, equals 7
  • My actual birthday 14, divided by my birth month, 2 equals 7
  • My first name Lajeune has exactly 7 letters in it
  • The first letter of my first name L and all of the letters in my last name Hollis equal 7
  • And finally, the city I was born in Newport (RI) has 7 letters in it

Speaking of the number 7:  7 years ago, after experiencing excruciating stomach pains, I finally got a colonoscopy and was subseqently informed by my Gastrointestinal doctor that I had colon cancer A Place of Desert…(almost) 4 years cancer free.

At my pre-surgery consultation I told my soon-to-be Yale New Haven Healthcare surgeon, Dr. Schlessel, that I had already planned a trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina the following month (July) to spend some quality time with my niece, great niece and 3 great nephews from New Jersey.   I also told Dr. Schlessel I had already rented the condo, the mini -van and even bought additional car insurance…

Incidentally, while this was all happening, I was getting some serious opposition from different people in my life who felt that I was crazy to take the trip.  They all pretty much said the same thing: ‘you have Cancer, what if something happens to you on that long road trip?!?’  I listened to everything these folks had to say and then asked my surgeon for his honest advice.  He said (and I’ll  never forget it)  “Go!  And when you return we head straight to surgery!”  Here is a what I remember of that fateful trip:

The mini van

You can’t take a long road trip involving children without the use of a mini-van (smile).  I rented a Chrsyler Town Car Mini-Van for our 10 day vacation…I left New Haven, CT very early on a Friday morning in mid-July and approximately 2 1/2 hours later, picked up my niece, great niece and 3 great nephews from their home in New Jersey.

 

This mini-van was equipped with all of the amenities…

 

After about 4 or 5 food/gas/bathroom-break stops along the way (each time resulting in a driving-duty swap with my niece Keedah) we made it (18 hours later!) to Hilton Head, SC.   Miraculously my stomach did not bother me at all the entire time and my energy level felt pretty normal…

 

Hilton Head, South Carolina

My first thought was:  Hilton Head is lovely.  This was my first time here and I was so impressed with the look of the town as well as the good vibes I felt in the air.   The endless sunshine didn’t hurt either…But first things first, our ‘home away from home’ for the next 10 days:

 

The condo complex

We had a mini-nightmare when we arrived after Midnight in Hilton Head Island. Our GPS took us to the wrong condominium complex!   Apparently there are a ton of condominium complexes in Hilton Head plus the roundabouts throw the GPS’s off.   Long story short, we almost  thought we would be sleeping in our mini van the first night as my key would not work to what we thought was our unit.  Thank God the realtor was up and returned my frantic call.  He quickly re-directed us to the right complex and we were happy, tired campers.   Whew, that was close (smile).

 

This is the complex where we stayed, and, as it turned out, one of many condominium complexes in Hilton Head

 

The grounds…

 

More of the grounds…

 

We spent our first morning in town doing some heavy duty grocery shopping at the Piggly Wiggly.  Incidentally, I never worked so hard in my life while on vacation – I was the hostess, the cook, the waitress, the bottle washer, the driver and the dirty clothes washer (smile).

 

Let the fave-TV-show fights begin…this happened each and every night around 7pm-ish – the fights over the remote control – and this was also when, because of my illness, I would start losing energy and retire for bed…

 

The outdoor pool at the condo complex

It sure was nice to have a pool at the complex for those few occasions when we did not feel like packing up the car and heading to the beach…

 

Beautiful outdoor pool at our condo complex

 

The kiddies all enjoying themselves in the outdoor pool

 

My rambunctious great nephew Rasoul being thrown into the pool by one of the residents

 

Coligny Beach Park

I was so impressed with the South Carolina beaches (they truly are beautiful).  However, one of the nearby beaches – Coligny Beach –  stood out!   The sun, the sand, the surf  was unbeatable!

 

We all loved Coligny Beach so much we came back almost every day!

 

My great nephews Kenyon, Ahmad, Jr. and Rasoul and my niece Keedah all “Beaching” at Coligny…

 

Sand play and jumping into the waves, life is good (smile).

 

My niece Dimitrica (who drove down from her home in North Carolina) to spend 4 days with us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My great niece Rashidah and great nephew Kenyon enjoying the endless sunshine; my great nephew Rasoul playing in the sand and me, contemplating the waves

 

My niece Keedah and I enjoying our new beach umbrella and chairs (we stopped renting the beach umbrella and beach chair after Day 1) my great niece Rashidah and great nephew Kenyon “Beaching”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me and my great nephew Rasoul enjoying our time in the sun – by the way, I discovered that all of that Vitamin D every day was good for my illness…

 

Savannah, GA

We decided to spend Day 5  of our 10 vacation days in this beautiful, cultural city which was less than an hour away.

I had heard nothing but good things about Savannah and I liked what I had  watched on The Travel Channel.   So it was a no-brainer to take a Day-cation there, especially since we were so close to the border.

Once we arrived, the first thing we did was head to the free ferry to quickly explore the 4 corners of the city…but not before feeding the meter…

 

My great nephews Kenyon and Ahmad and my niece Keedah wait while my niece Dimitrica feeds the meter

 

Free ferry ride with a scenic view of the Savannah river

 

The actual ferry boat

 

My niece Keedah and great niece Rashidah inside the ferry boat

 

My great nephews Rasoul and Ahmad, Jr. and I enjoying ice cream we had picked up at one of the 4 corner stops on the ferry boat ride.  Despite my appetite, which I must say was pretty decent, I was still losing at least a half a pound a day…
My niece Dimitrica shopping in Savannah

 

The kiddies sightseeing in Savannah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for lucky coins in Savannah

 

Clowning around in Savannah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in Hilton Head, SC

We spent the remaining days of our vacation  ‘Beaching’ at Coligny or ‘Pooling’ at the condo complex.  We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in most days and truly enjoyed the lovely weather.  I was starting to feel tired earlier in the day now so I was glad it was nearing time to head back.

And driving back was much easier as well because this time we left on a Saturday night (approximately 12Midnight to be exact) and drove straight through the night with only one or two stops – getting back in record time the following Sunday.

Can’t say I’ve driven so far since that time but it was most definately an adventure to remember (smile).

And, as a bonus, I was not only tanned but refreshed.   And as my surgeon would have noted, ‘ready for surgery.’

 

 

My Clean Living Life – Part V

I can’t believe that I am already into my 7th year of clean eating!   MacMillan Dictionary defines clean eating as “a diet that is based on eating whole foods and avoiding processed and refined foods.”  If you were to tell me even 10 years ago that eating clean would be a way of life for me today I would’ve called you crazy (smile)…

Backstory:  In June of 2011, I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer so (post-surgery and during chemotherapy) I started my journey of clean eating.   I have to admit that it has not always been “easy breezy” and, as a matter of fact, it has sometimes been a real struggle because it takes both time and effort to think and eat clean…

 

 

Also, I work on 100% commission in Media Ad Sales so I am on the road alot – that being said, I sometimes don’t have time to eat a healthy, clean lunch.   The quick and easy option (junk food) is not only plentiful, but very appealing  to the eyes.  From time to time I give into those temptations…

 

 

And I have to admit that oftentimes when I am stressed I tend to go crazy in the “snacky” foods department…

 

 

Plus every now and then (mostly weekends) I’ll have bacon and eggs (not exactly clean eating) but certainly comfort food…

 

 

Late night eating is never a good thing but occasionally  I can’t help myself and I give into those delicious satisfying cravings in the middle of the night…

 

 

Thank God for my daily workout regime at the Edge Fitness Club in Hamden, CT…

 

 

And that (God willing) there’s a tomorrow to start over with to try and eat clean, once again (smile).

 

 

 

Brace Face

I am sooooo excited because I’m about to turn 56 years old next week and my braces are coming off – wait, what?!?  Really?!?

Like I have mentioned before in previous blogs, I do almost everything backwards (smile) so its’s only fitting that I would be sporting braces during my middle aged years (double smile).

As it turns out, I am in good company…

As a matter of fact, more and more Adults are sporting clear braces (or Invisalign) now than ever before.  In most cases Adults are comprising up to 50 percent of Ortho patients today!  And, according to the American Association of Orthodontics, any age is the right age for ortho care.

By the way, insurance usually does not cover orthodontics for adults over the age of 25…I found that one out the hard way…

However the good news for me was that my braces are light and clear, unlike back in the day when they were heavy metal.  Eeeck!

And I’m proud to say that I only have 8 of them – all on my upper teeth – (4 on each side) which is what my orthodontist suggested.

So here are the top 2 reasons why I decided to get braces (besides my regular dentist, Alan Friedler, DMD recommending them):

  •   Looking to close the gap between my two front teeth
  •   Looking to decrease my overbite.

My Orthodontist told me it would take up to one year to achieve these goals so I figured:  ‘I’m not getting any younger’ and ‘Now is as good a time as any…’ (smile).

 

Me, before my braces…

 

Me, sporting my clear braces…

 

Here are some helpful tips if you are an Adult considering braces:

Daily Maintenance:

Good news: you may brush with an electric toothbrush – it doesn’t get in the way of the braces at all.

You need to rinse out your mouth and brush after each and every meal.

You need to floss daily and often…

You need to use the wax they give you in your “kit” on a regular basis to keep the wire from the braces from cutting into your cheeks.

Monthly Maintenance:

You have to make appointments to visit the Orthodontist at least once a month for check-up and tightening – look for an orthodontist that first of all comes highly recommended and secondly is convenient to where you live and/or work as those 4 week visits come up rather quickly!

Watch what you eat:

Here’s what I truly enjoy eating but have a tough time with now:

  • Sushi
  • Pizza
  • Grilled Chicken
  • Steak
  • Popcorn

Here are foods the Orthodontist recommends you eat with braces:

  • Dairy – pudding and soft cheeses
  • Bread – sliced lunch bread, soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins
  • Grains – pasta, noodles, soft cooked rice
  • Meats/poultry – soft cooked chicken, meatballs, luncheon meats
  • Seafood – fish without bones, tuna, salmon, crab and crab cakes

Cost:

It cost me around $3700 but again that was just for a total of 8 braces on my upper teeth…most Ortho offices do offer monthly payment plans which helps…

Post Braces:

When my clear braces are removed next week I have to wear a thin wire removable retainer for up to 8 weeks (full-time) and then another 4 weeks (part-time).

That brings me smack into Summer – free of braces and ready for my next adventure~ Yay!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doxie Love!

Anyone who knows me knows I love me some Doxies!  “Doxies,” short for dachshunds, are those “short-legged, long-bodied, hound-type dogs.” Dachs meaning badger, hund meaning dog.

Dachshunds originated in Germany and were developed to “scent, chase and flush out badger and other burrow-dwelling animals.”   Some people refer to them as the Hot Dog, or the Weiner Dog or even the Sausage Dog.  I just call them adorable (smile).

So whether I’m on a staycation in Connecticut or on a real vacation in the U.S. or Abroad, I am often on the look-out for what my girlfriends have come to know as a “Cute Doxie Surprise.”  These are the moments when I spot a Doxie in an unexpected place and go nuts – running after it, taking pictures of it, rolling down my car window to ask questions of the pet parent, etc.

Fun fact:  While Growing up Hollis in Groton, CT, a neighbor named Mrs. Brown  had a beautiful long-haired golden Doxie aptly named Goldie Von Bruen.  Goldie gave birth to a litter of full-bred Dachshund puppies.  I’m not sure when but at some point my late mother Jean did something kind for Mrs. Brown that caused her to offer my mother one of her prized and valued Doxies at no charge.  My mother happily picked out a male puppy.  We were so excited because this was our family’s very first canine pet.  My older brother Michael came up with the name.  He called him Rapper and it stuck (smile).   Rapper was a standard (or loooooooooong) red, smooth-haired dachshund with a good disposition.  Dogs were not pampered back in the day so Rapper was not “walked,” rather he ran from the house, sometimes disappearing for days at a time (smile).

This is the closest image I could find of what Rapper looked like back in the day as I could not find any of the Polaroid pictures we took of him!

The closest thing to what Rapper looked like

Rapper mostly ate from our plates (often times eating what we didn’t want) despite the fresh, dry dog food sitting in his bowl on a daily basis…

And it was apparently clear who Rapper loved the most –  my mother Jean.  So much so that when she and my father Jonie B went out on a date, we Hollis girls would take turns putting on my mother’s coat, hat and shoes to trick Rapper into believing she was still home.  It worked like a charm (smile).

5 years ago I had two Doxies of my own…I was living in New Haven, CT at the time in a 90-year-old Colonial style house that I owned in the Edgewood neighborhood.

Crimson!
Coby/Coby/Coby & Crimson

I named my 2 Doxies Coby and Crimson Hollis.  Coby was a black and tan smooth-haired, male miniature Doxie and Crimson, a red, smooth-haired female miniature Doxie …They were equally energetic, loveable and fun so lots of good memories were made in that house.

I adopted them both from the same breeder in Canterbury, CT.   Coby was just 3 months old when I adopted him and I had him until the ripe old age of 17 (in people years).   Unfortunately he died of kidney failure in May of 2012.  Coby was 8 when I adopted Crimson, a “breeder dog” who wasn’t producing many pups so the owner “fixed” her to sell her off.  On top of this Crimson had social interaction issues since in her world adults coming to visit were coming for the sole purpose of taking away her puppies so I was able to get her at a much lower price than I did Coby.  She was 4 1/2 when I adopted her and lived a happy and “normal” pet life to the age of 9 before she was struck (1 month after Coby passed!) by a hit and run driver on a busy residential street.😥  Life was rough without my 2 Doxies but the passing of time eventually healed my  broken heart…

Today I am an Insta girl who loves her Instagram pix and I’m happy to admit that the majority of my own collection of saved pix are of the Dachshunds of Instagram.   Here are just a few of my personal faves with my very own captions:

Are you talking to me?!?

 

Do these glasses make me look fat?

 

What do you mean no hoodies?!?

 

Special delivery!
Is it the New Year yet?!?

 

Halloweiner!

 

No caption needed

 

No caption needed

 

Pretty in Pink!

 

Don’t hate me cuz I’m beautiful!

 

Crusoe the celebrity dachshund

 

If I have to do the laundry every week, at least I can look cute!

 

Doxie Love – it’s no small wonder that my fave breed, the Dachshund, according to the American Kennel Club, remains one of the top 10 breeds of dogs in the United States.

My Clean Living Life – Part IV

I am a super proud Colon Cancer Survivor(since August of 2011) so eating “clean” is an essential part of my life.   I’m also Lactose Intolerant so I’m ever mindful of making the right food and beverage choices.

Here are just some of the products I find make it easier for me to lead a dairy-free life:

I eat cereal every morning so milk is a major part of my diet.  Before I even realized I was Lactose Intolerant I had already made the switch from whole milk to 2% milk and then finally to 1% milk so switching over to Almond Breeze Almondmilk (Original and Unsweetened) suits me just fine.

I love love love cheese so I was super excited when I found out I could still have cheddar cheese, a personal fave, as well as any of the “hard” cheeses as they are easier to digest than the “soft” cheeses and therefore do not upset my stomach.  For cheddar cheese, I prefer the CABOT brand…

When it comes to yogurt there are so many options today but I tend to gravitate towards Yoplait lactose free yogurtas it just tastes better than most of the other dairy-free brands flooding the market.

I used to love to slap a dollop of whipped creme on top of my pie or cake during the holidays.  Instead of using whipped creme, try this simple recipe to make your own dairy -free version:

  • Use one can of full-fat coconut milk (Thai Kitchen organic Coconut Milk is a good brand to use)
  • Plus one tablespoon of  local honey for sweetener (optional)

Whisk the two ingredients together for up to 4 minutes and you’re good to go!

During the dog days of Summer (which is honestly the only time I think of ice cream) one of my fave dairy-free choices is Breyers Lactose Free Natural Vanilla as it’s simply delicious.

If you are a salad lover like me, scratch the heavy blue cheese or ranch dressings (or other milk-based dressings) and switch over to the lighter Balsamic Vinaigrette (Wish Bone makes a tasty version…)

And finally,  I’m an avid snacker so I found that Hummus easily takes the place of  creme (“soft”) cheese, its way better for you plus it tastes good too!  Sabra Classic Hummus (or its many equally delicious varieties) makes a healthy satisfying dip whether you’re snacking on raw veggies, crackers, pretzels, and/or baked chips.  Yummy!

So whether you are Lactose intolerant or not, Bon Appetit!