I can't understand several sentences,help!

[Jenny Lau]

Recently, I have read an article, it talks about a woman meets her former lover after her husband’s death, and gets happiness. But there are some sentences I cannot understand:
1Ageless aromas breezed from concession stands carry-ing memories of my teenage years.
What does “concession stands”mean? By the way, the story happens on the beach.
2 My husband’s controlling directives forced me into a Stepford wife existence to promote his advancements at work.
What does “ a Stepford wife”mean? I cannot find the word “Stepford” in the dictionary.
3My husband died. For the first time, I took control of my life. Somehow, I managed to keep all the balls in the air, except for money.
What does it mean by “keep all the balls in the air”?
4 Lately, I had been thinking, if I could drop a few ponds and tone up this mess, I could settle down, again. But this time, do it right.
I have no idea about “drop a few ponds” “tone up this mess” “settle down”, what does the sentence mean?
Would someone be kind enough to help me? Thank u!

 

[RonBee]

1Ageless aromas breezed from concession stands carry-ing memories of my teenage years.

Concession stands are places where people sell food and drink.

2 My husband’s controlling directives forced me into a Stepford wife existence to promote his advancements at work.

The Stepford Wives (from the movie of the same name) were women who were controlled by their husbands and "programmed" to serve their husbands. They acted like automatons (robots).

3My husband died. For the first time, I took control of my life. Somehow, I managed to keep all the balls in the air, except for money.

It's a metaphor for juggling. A person who is keeping all the balls in the air is coping but is having a difficult time of it. She has to make sure she doesn't drop any balls.

4 Lately, I had been thinking, if I could drop a few ponds and tone up this mess, I could settle down, again. But this time, do it right.

You almost certainly misread that. To "drop a few pounds" is to lose weight. To "settle down" is to choose a life that is less exciting and less stressful than previously.

8)

 

[Jenny Lau]

You've done a great help, Ronbee, thank you very much indeed Only one thing, I still can't understand the phrase "tone up this mess" in the last sentence, could you explain that again?

 

[RonBee]

You've done a great help, Ronbee, thank you very much indeed Only one thing, I still can't understand the phrase "tone up this mess" in the last sentence, could you explain that again?

That's a toughie. I can see how one might clean up a mess, but I don't know how somebody would tone up a mess. Perhaps a little more context would help with that one.

(Say: "You've been a great help.)

8)

 

[RonBee]

You've done a great help, Ronbee, thank you very much indeed Only one thing, I still can't understand the phrase "tone up this mess" in the last sentence, could you explain that again?

That's a toughie. I can see how one might clean up a mess, but I don't know how somebody would tone up a mess. Perhaps a little more context would help with that one.

(Say: "You've been a great help.)

8)

 

[Jenny Lau]

The story tells that a woman met with her first lover on the beach after her husband died. And the man appeared when she was daydreaming, thinking about her wrong marriage, her unforgettable first boyfriend, her figure and her future.
This is the context. Is it helpful for you to understand the phrase?
And by the way, thank you very much for telling me the mistake in my English sentences

 

[shane]

Lately, I had been thinking, if I could drop a few pounds and tone up this mess, I could settle down, again. But this time, do it right.

In my opinion (and I could be wrong ), this woman thinks that she needs to lose some weight, in order to look better. Therefore, I think she is describing herself as 'a mess'. If she can lose a few pounds, she can tone up (make fitter, healthier, less fat on her body) her mess of a body

 

[RonBee]

Lately, I had been thinking, if I could drop a few pounds and tone up this mess, I could settle down, again. But this time, do it right.

In my opinion (and I could be wrong ), this woman thinks that she needs to lose some weight, in order to look better. Therefore, I think she is describing herself as 'a mess'. If she can lose a few pounds, she can tone up (make fitter, healthier, less fat on her body) her mess of a body

That makes sense to me.

8)

 

[Jenny Lau]

Thanks a lot, I understand it now

 

[shane]

Woo! I helped!

 

[RonBee]

There are couple of interesting mentions of the "Stepford Wives" here: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/suzannefields/sf20030619.shtml

8)

 

[Jenny Lau]

Thank you, Ronbee, you are so kind