Thank Benjamin Russell Jr. for Sweatshirts

I freely admit that when the temperature drops into the 30's outside, I wear a sweatshirt and sweatpants inside. Yes, I'm cold-natured since I've lived most of my life in a hot climate.

Even though I have central heating, I keep the thermostat at 69 or below so my wardrobe of sweatclothes gets trotted out. I have colorful shirts but mostly navy, gray, and black sweatpants.

You may laugh that I follow fashion "rules" when it comes to sweats, but why not be stylish if one can be stylish in sweats.

This morning when it was below freezing, I said to Darling Hubby, "I don't know who invented sweatshirts and pants, but I'd like to thank them.

Of course, that started me on the research trail of whom to thank. As it turns out, it was Benjamin Russell Jr., a 1926 football player who was tired of itchy wool jerseys and had an idea for an all-cotton practice football jersey.

He went to his father who turned Junior's idea into reality. Thus Russell Athletic was born with the production in 1930 of the crew neck sweatshirt. 

Of course, the label sweat was attached to the cotton jersey shirt because men who wore it played football—one could justifiably call it iron man football back in those days—and they sweated.

TODAY'S SWEAT CLOTHING

If you have a sweatshirt with a triangular piece set in at the neckline, then you have a traditionally styled sweatshirt. 

In today's world, that triangle of cloth, originally meant to collect perspiration and to keep the neckline from stretching out, is often missing. 

Most sweatshirts are loose-fitting garments with long sleeves and a crew neck,and they're still designed for warmth, and the best, in my opinion, are 100% cotton. 

Russell Athletics still makes and sells a quality sweatshirt and pants. Darling Hubby has some Russell Athletic wear that is about 10 years old, and the garments still fit well, retain their shape, and are soft and comfortable.

WOMEN AND SWEATS

Ironically, the first pair of sweatpants for women was introduced in the 1920s by Émile Camuset, the founder of Le Coq Sportif, who saw them as pants a woman could wear for comfort and ease.

Yet, it seemed to take a man "inventing" them for men for them to become commonplace. Was it that the idea didn't cross the Atlantic, or perhaps the French design was different from the American design?

Now the Fashion Police deride any woman who appears in public in sweats. Personally, if I'm wearing sweats and need to go to the store, post office, etc. 

I do not hesitate to appear in public. In fact, if I lived in a cold climate, I probably wouldn't wear anything but sweats 24/7.

In the 1960s, sweatshirts began sporting more than a university's name. Slogans, mottos, and graphics began appearing on them.

I found this "Booktrovert" sweatshirt on sale today at Amazon for $15.99 and couldn't resist ordering it.

In the late 1970s, bright colors began to be offered in sweats, and women adopted them immediately.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I love my sweats in the winter, and I love that they are offered in every size range because I wear a petite, and it's so hard to find pants short enough for my petite size, and long enough for my model-height daughters. Sweatclothes manufacturers do a good job of this.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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February 2025 - 99¢ Sale Book

Good Winter Morning to you!

Here on the Texas Gulf Coast, it's 32° F. But wait, it's going to get even colder with mid-twenties forecast for tonight. 

That means it's great for staying inside, under a warm blanket, and reading.

You might want to stock up on ebooks because this winter storm hitting the country is going to hang around a few days.

I know there are a lot of 99¢ sale books so take advantage of that.

The ebook edition of SCENTS AND SENSUALITY, one of my most popular romantic comedy novels is on sale this month.

I've been reading the AI-generated summary of what reviewers say. I guess this was done to aid readers who don't have the time to read individual reviews. For this book, here is the Amazon AI summary of reviews:

Customers enjoyed the book. They found the story clever and enjoyable, with a background story about creating perfumes. The book included humor and action, making it a great romance read for those who enjoy humor. Readers appreciated the well-researched storyline and felt the characters' reactions.

ABOUT SCENTS AND SENSUALITY

Perfumer Amanda Whitfield no longer sees the science geek when she looks in her mirror—thanks to the makeover her best friend gave her.

But inside she still feels like that geeky girl. 

She knows all about the Science of Sex Appeal, in a purely intellectual way, but when it comes to a practical application of the knowledge, as in Romance and Sex, Amanda draws a blank.

Desperate for a date to her cousin's wedding, Amanda, follows her best friend's advice to portray an empty-headed hottie whose bra size is a bigger number than her IQ. She'll do whatever it takes to get a date for her cousin's wedding because there's no way she'll go without a man on her arm.

Enter a matchmaking mom with a son to marry off. Computer genius Harrison Kincaid is fed up with his mother's crazy schemes. He's determined to teach her a lesson, but, first, he must deal with her latest prospect, Amanda Whitfield. He hatches a plan to ensure that Amanda will kick him to the curb.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

For only 99¢, heat up your stormy winter evening with this comedy of errors romance. Happy reading!

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Review - The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry - Netflix

I watched the most delightful movie last night. When I say delightful, I mean that it had interesting, compelling characters, an emotionally moving plot, and a setting that, if you're a book lover, you'll adore.

The story is about love and loss and new love and new loss and the heartbreaks, challenges, and triumphs along the way. In other words, it's about life—in this case, a life lived well.

Oh, and there's a bit of mystery too which I knew the answer of immediately, but you may not. However, when you find out what took place and why, you'll see that it's true.

I laughed, I cried, and I immediately texted my daughter to tell her to watch it. Now I'm telling you.

The film was a 2022 American comedy drama with the screenplay written by Gabrielle Zevin who also wrote the book on which the movie is based.

Directed by Hans Canosa, it stars Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, Christina Hendricks, David Arquette, and Scott Foley. Actually, I watched the movie to see if Nayyar had managed to get  a role where he wasn't the comic relief—usually the rather crude comic relief.

I'm happy to report that the movie and his performance were wonderful. 

I'm always a sucker for any movie about booksellers, bookstores, writers, readers, and books. I really enjoyed this one. If you have the same love for anything to do with books, watch this. If you're not a Netflix subscriber, you can rent it on Amazon or some of the other streaming services.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

It's rare to find a movie like this. In fact, I'd say this is family viewing except for a couple of scenes. Let's call it PG13. Watch and enjoy.

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Monday Magic - Free Computer Virus Check App

When you receive a URL in an email or message, do you dither about it and wonder if you should delete it, open it, or just leave it alone?

That happens when I get jokes from a friend. It seems to be legit, but people can get their computers hacked, and the email that goes out is a lure to get someone to click it. Then your computer is also hacked.

If you're tempted for whatever reason to click a link or go to a website you don't know, the best practice is to check out the link, the file, or the website with VirusTotal, this week's app you should consider using.

Their mission statement is: "Analyse suspicious files, domains, IPs and URLs to detect malware and other breaches, automatically share them with the security community."

This free—for non-commercial use—app is easy to use. When the home page opens, you'll see the search bar at the top where you can enter a URL or IP address. In the middle of the page, you'll see the selections: File, URL, Search, and a box below to Choose File.

VirusTotal is like a second opinion to your antivirus software.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Anything that helps you deal with the scams and tricksters out there is a good thing. Sign up for a free account today.

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Sunday Thoughts - Weather Lore

Yesterday, my brother Vernon and I were talking about how weird the weather has been this year. Eighty one day and forty the next. Rain, snow, tornadoes, and all the other anomalies.

That led us to memories of our grandfather who had an old saying about weather to fit every occasion.

You see, our grandfather was 100 years old when he passed. My mother was his only child, and she was born when her parents were in their forties.

They were from the 19th century, and she was from the Roaring Twenties. It's mind-boggling to think how my grandparents were born a decade after the Civil War ended. They saw 2 world wars, Korea, Vietnam, and from horse and buggy to astronauts.

My mother wrote about it all in her memoir, Memory Lane, which I helped her put together and publish in 2008. I included a chapter on Weather Lore in the book. Today, I thought I'd share a little from the book which is still available in print on Amazon.

EXCERPT, Memory Lane: My Sentimental Journey

"I greatly admired my father. I remember how he had pithy little sayings to fit every occasion, and they always sounded wise and wonderful. What really amazed me though was his wealth of weather lore. Remarkably, he seemed able to accurately predict what Mother Nature would do.

"This was back in the days before CNN and The Weather Channel so everyone was more in touch with the elements and the earth. People had to depend on their ability to predict weather so there were many imaginative ways to do so. Here are a few of my father’s sayings about weather."

(1) Thunder in February means there will be a cold spell or a frost the same number day in April.

(2) If the weather fairs off at night it won’t stay that way very long.

(3) Thunder before seven; rain before eleven.

(4) A ring around the moon means it will rain within twenty-four hours.

(5) Early Easter, late spring. Late Easter, early spring.

(6) Rain the first three days of the beginning of the month means there will be more rainy days than clear days in that month.

(7) If you see lightning in the north, look for rain within forty-eight hours.

(8) Dandelions blooming in April means a wet July.

(9) Rain on June 1 means pecan trees won’t bear.

(10) Big wooly caterpillars appearing in late summer means a hard winter ahead.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

By the way, that's a photograph of my mother, age 3, on the cover of the book. Her right foot is blurry because she was tapping it impatiently, hating that she had to sit still instead of being allowed to go play.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Saturday Share - Easy Hot Cocoa vs. Instant Mix

 On dreary cold, rainy days I like to indulge with a cup of hot cocoa. In the past, I would buy the large canister of (name removed since I don't want to get sued). In reading labels on several of these mixes, I learned that the ingredients are about the same on all of them.

This started as a short post to give you my healthy, delicious recipe for a cup of hot cocoa that's an alternative to the mixes you buy at the store.

That recipe is at the end of this post if you want to skip the research I did on these instant hot chocolate mixes.

Since I'm all about staying healthy, I think it's important to share with you what I discovered about the questionable ingredients in instant cocoa mixes so you can make an informed decision before consuming them.

Questionable? OMG. This led me down a rabbit hole, and I learned far more about the ingredients that convinced me I didn't want them in anything I consumed. Those ingredients begin with sugar and corn syrup (2 forms of sugar!!)

This is what I learned about the ingredients that are listed after the sugars and what can be surprising side effects from them. Here's what I learned about those ingredients in order of prominence.

Modified whey—a form of whey protein that has been altered through chemical, physical, or enzymatic processes.

Potential side effects: digestive issues like bloating, gas, nausea, and diarrhea. Those with kidney problems should consult a doctor before consuming modified whey as it may put additional strain on the kidneys.

Cocoa processed with alkali—this is what is called "Dutch-processed" cocoa which means the cocoa beans are treated with an alkaline solution like potassium carbonate. 

This neutralizes their natural acidity and results in a milder taste, darker color, and improved solubility. Unfortunately, it also reduces the beneficial antioxidant content (the flavanols) which is the main health benefit of cocoa.

Hydrogenated coconut oil—coconut oil that has had hydrogen added to it to make it more solid and extend its shelf life. This hydrogenation process creates trans fats, which can increase one's risk of heart disease.

Nonfat milk—milk that has had all of its fat removed. This is a good source of the benefits from milk, but the problem is that the fat was removed and replaced by the hydrogenated cocnut oil.

Salt—1 serving gives 170mg sodium which is 7% of the daily value. To give you an idea of what amount that might be, 1/4 teaspoon is 575 milligrams so I guess 170mg isn't too much.

Dipotassium phosphate—can cause side effects like muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, and gastrointestinal issues as well as allergic reactions like itching, swelling, rash, and difficulty breathing. 

Mono-and dyglycerides—a type of food additive classified as emulsifiers. They help mix oil and water together and are typically derived from vegetable oils. They are considered generally safe if consumed in normal amounts. 

Problems arise when someone consuming them are also eating a diet high in saturated fats. (I imagine since these ingredients are in many food products people can consume too much without realizing it.) Potential side effects can include increased risk of heart disease if consumed in large quantities. 

Natural flavor—Wow. This one is really problematic because food manufacturers are not required to tell consumers the source of the natural flavor. 

Sources considered natural are fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and even animal products. It's used to enhance the taste of the product in question without adding any nutritional value.

You should know that "natural flavors" may come from plant or animal sources, but the process of extracting and manipulating the flavor compounds happens in a lab.

Be sure and read my follow up on Natural Flavors that publishes Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

I think the "generally considered safe" label probably doesn't mean anything because the potential for allergic reaction is real since the consumer doesn't know the source of the flavor. Where's the transparency regarding souce, processing, etc.?

Then there's the moral issue of people who are vegetarian who may be consuming a product from an animal source. 

MY RECIPE FOR EASY HOT COCOA

This may take a couple of minutes longer than the "instant" hot chocolate mixes, but it's healthy.

Here is the basic recipe. Adjust amounts according to the size of your cup and your taste.

Ingredients

1 microwave safe mug (I use a tall one as shown at right)

whole milk

1 tablespoon Hershey's Cocoa Powder

boiling water

1 tablespoon sugar (I use organic sugar)

small pinch of salt

Directions

(1) Pour milk into the mug, filling it to the halfway mark.

(2) Heat the milk in the microwave to very hot

(3) Remove from microwave and add cocoa powder. Mix well. I have a tiny whisk I use.

(4) Pour boiling water to fill the mug.

(5) Add sugar and salt and whisk well.

That's it. You get natural ingredients, the health benefits of real dairy and real dark chocolate. You control the amount of sugar and salt, and you get nothing weird with potential side effects.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

The more I learn about what's in our food supply, the more determined I become to eliminate as many as possible from my kitchen and the food I prepare.

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Get Your Flirt On - It's Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day! Flirt with the one you love because flirting isn’t just for attracting a man or woman for that initial contact.

Flirting should be part of the ongoing relationship. Just because you’re settled into a relationship doesn’t mean you can’t add sizzling sexiness to the mix and have some fu doing it.

In my romantic comedy, Scents and Sensuality, heroine science geek Amanda  gets lessons in flirting from her free-wheeling best friend. Too bad her BFF didn’t give her the tips below!

By the way, if you have small children, it’s probably best to wait until they’re asleep. There’s nothing that takes the sizzle out of a romantic interlude like a child banging on the bedroom door and hollering, “Mom, Fido barfed on the rug.”

Older kids probably have music blasting into their ears or they're glued to their phones or video games so no worries.

HOW TO FLIRT USING A ROMANCE NOVEL AS A PROP

1. Have your lover read to you. Aloud. A love scene from your favorite romance novel.

Did you ever see the movie, In Her Shoes (written by Jennifer Weiner), starring Toni Collette as Rose, Cameron Diaz as Maggie, and Mark Feuerstein as Simon? 

There’s a scene where Simon, pursuing spinsterish Rose, finds the romance novel she has stashed away. He picks it up and begins to read this torrid love scene aloud.

He finishes the passage, turns to her, and says: “I don’t know about you, but I’m officially turned on.”

2. A variation of the above: you be the reader. Same result.

3. Don’t want to read? Buy an audio book. Queue it up to a scene you love. Run a bubble bath for two, turn on the audio, and dive in.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Flirting with your significant other is akin to “dancing like no one’s watching.” It takes courage. Carpe nocte. (Seize the night.)

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Love to read? Sign up for my free Newsletter, I LOVE READING. Once a month, you'll receive exclusive content and news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases.