The Gift of Grandma
When I think about my grandma, I feel grateful for having known and loved her. My grandma was a domestic goddess – a magician really. She could make something out of nothing; she had no choice. Every penny counted, and dollars had to stretch like Gumby. Since necessity is the mother of invention, this woman who hailed from a much different time and space than my own had so many special and creative gifts and practical knowledge for which she never gave herself reasonable credit. I knew my Grandma well and in ways that remain sacred. One being her kitchen ingenuity. I loved to watch her cook!
The only way I like eggs are fried over-medium, but I inevitably crack my yolk 99% of the time during the flip – hence the egg becoming dog food or trash. I was lamenting to her once about this frustration when she informed me she hardly ever flipped her fried eggs – which to date are the best I’ve ever had. She told me in order to cook the top all I had to do was steam the top after frying the underside – a bit of water and a lid and voila!, no flip required!!! I’m pleased to report, (if I can remember to keep my burner at temperature that is not too high) my eggs come out the way I like them most of the time. Thanks Grandma!
Grandma Hacks
If my grandma had such incredible knowledge about the stuff of everyday life, I am certain the other women of her generation and those before had a litany of household remedies, tips, and tricks for any domestic obstacle – I guess in our 21st century, we would call them “hacks”. That got me wondering what were some “Grandma Hacks” for beauty that might still be useful. Here are some you can try:
Protect Your Hands – Can you see the Joan Clever-esque woman at the kitchen sink with the rubber gloves up to her forearm? Or can you see the white gloves on her as she strolls through the grocery store? There were gloves for chores, gloves for gardening and gloves for going out. Instead of being busy finding the world’s greatest hand lotion, grandma was in the business of protecting her hands from the harsh chemicals in the cleaning agents and the environment. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…
Use Lemon – It’s not just to flavor up your water! Grandma used lemon and water in equal parts (applied with a Qtip) to cure acne because the antibacterial properties in the lemon break down the bacteria that causes those pesky pimples. Lemon is also great to whiten fingernails, lighten hyper pigmented areas of the skin, and even to highlight your hair in summer months!
Sleep on a Silk Pillow Case – Want to wake up looking more like the women do on television (without the lighting, makeup, or staff)? Silk is better for your skin and hair than cotton. Cotton pillow cases crease the skin because it continuously tugs at the delicate parts of the face and neck creating wrinkles. Cotton also absorbs the hydration your face is replenishing as you sleep. Silk is also hypoallergenic so you will breathe more easily and reduce allergy-related symptoms all while it maintains your perfect body temperature. Furthermore, a cotton pillow case contributes to frizzy hair and the dreaded bed-head.
Actively Take Care of Your Skin – whether they were moisturizing with sour cream, honey, fruit, cocoa or shea butter, olive oil, or Ponds Cold Creme – these frugal and inventive women were going to their kitchens, not the drugstore to tend their skin. They understood that hydration was key to maintaining a supple, natural bright and glowing face. Additionally these women knew the power of exfoliation to sluff off the dead cells – they mixed some granulated sugar with their soap a couple of times a week.
Dress Up Your Eyes and Lips – Grandma knew lipstick and lashes were the keys to femininity. Grandma didn’t go to the curb, let alone into public without these cosmetic essentials. Applying your mascara first lends itself to needing less other eye makeup as does a tamed but full eyebrow. Embracing the power of all things woman, she wore lipstick because she understood it as a symbol of beauty and strength throughout time. Lipstick showcases your face…don’t be afraid…lipstick is magic and gives a woman confidence.
So Grandma I’m certain would have had some relationship hacks for us as well that were pretty standard practice in her time. Now that you’ve used some of her beauty tips to keep your partner’s attention, here are some ways to keep the fire stoked.
Grandma’s Relationship Hacks
Turn off the Device and Put Down the Planner. Be acutely reminded of how you love the way your partner looks, smells, speaks. Look into one another’s eyes and gain intimacy through gazing. Simply be together and deem it sacred time without technological or logistical distraction.
Be Fully Present. Engage your senses in that time and space only. Don’t be checking your watch or phone – make your attention in that precious moment undivided and therefore, special.
Open Your Mouth. You can never tell someone how you appreciate, like, respect, honor, or enjoy them enough. Don’t wait until you are unable to say all the niceties and compliments to the one you love – directly. Swallow your pride if need be – you aren’t weak for relaying what is on your heart.
Commit to Grow Together. People change – that’s the rule, not the exception. Follow through on a promise to work through the changes together, even when that’s ugly or messy. It is unreasonable to expect another to solve your problems – use one another’s strengths and complimentary personality traits to build eachother up.
Focus on Inner Beauty. The person is not their body – the body is going to age – the person you meet will not stay the same. Make certain you are appreciating the who of the other person and not the what.
Tell the Truth. The truth is the ultimate liberation and the great leveler. Don’t aim to be ‘brutally’ honest – why would you be brutal to the one you claim to love? Even if the truth is a difficult one, it is the only foundation for long-lasting relationships.
Be A United Front. Working on your relational issues with one another ONLY is paramount. It is not advantageous to work it out with others – this produces structural damage in the relationship. Some things need to remain private because outsiders only have their one-sided perspective. And certainly don’t put your business “in the street” of social media – no good can come from that.
Be A Cheerleader. It is imperative that your partners biggest support and encourager privately and publicly is you! Stay positive and optimistic. Celebrate the small things frequently, as they end up being the big things. When a situation is inherently negative, find the positive in the lesson learned and keep the focus there.
Keep Your Promises…And Then Some. Do more than what you said you were going to do. Remain devoted even when you don’t feel like it. Love is a verb so show your love by making ‘above and beyond’ the standard in all ways. Love is anticipating the needs and desires of your beloved.
Remain True. To be loyal to God and Country pales sometimes in comparison to remaining loyal to a person. Without becoming a sacrificial lamb for them, choose to walk beside them through the battles as a comrade in this life and forgive often. Don’t confuse this for enabling or supporting unhealthy behaviors. There is no greater gift than love expressed as loyalty.
I am certain Grandma had her stuff together in many ways that we don’t these days. These “oldies but goodies” are worth some consideration.
Sources:
www.thebeautybean.com/skin-2/beauty-secrets-learned-from-grandma
www.beautyandtips.com/beauty-2/10-grandmas-beauty-tips-that-work-like-a-charm
