Wouldn’t it be luverly…..

When this pandemic is over, here are some things I am SO going to do…(list evolves daily..here is today’s..)

1. Kiss and hug my husband, and dance until our knees hurt.
2. Go into my local Starbucks and apologize for every time I complained that the coffee was bitter.
3. Head straight to the beach, at night, sit under the stars and send wishes of Eternal Peace to all who lost their lives.
4. Have my BFF Mary over for a disco dance party…again, the knees!
5. Stop treating my kitchen like a hazmat zone, and just cook without fear.
6. Stop cleaning each and every item purchased from the grocery store before putting them away…hours of my life I will never get back.
7. Meet the single mom I connected with online who is looking for a surrogate grandmother for her five-year-old Daphne.
8. Get my hair cut and the dog groomed…I don’t know who looks worse!
9. Go to Mission on the Bay and listen to live music!
10. Go to the Beauport Hotel and have a martini at the bar that overlooks the sea.
11. Celebrate my 35th wedding anniversary with new plans, as yet unknown.
12. Walk into my library and hug each and every one of my librarian buddies, who I miss terribly.
13. Drive Main Street and Route One, and celebrate the businesses that survived and mourn the ones that didn’t.
14. Go see my mom, and retrieve all the books I lent her over the past three months.
15. WEAR LIPSTICK AGAIN, SANS A FACEMASK! YAY!
16. Continue the meditation practice that got me through the tough days.
17. Vote for Trump in November….sorry, but he, Pence, and his team did a great job, starting with prohibiting air traffic from China in February while Biden called him a xenophobe for doing so. Thousands of lives saved because of it…who was right, and pro-active there, Joe?
18. Meet up with as many friends and relatives as I can..absence DOES make the heart grow fonder.
19. Keep taking the vitamin d, c, zinc and elderberry supplements that kept me healthy.
20. Get on my knees and praise the God I worship, who has never, ever dropped me..and to thank him for another opportunity to get it right…..

What will you do?

Start thinking about it, as we are getting closer to the end!

Have a luverly weekend~

 

Love in the time of Corona~

It’s all been said.  We’ve Googled “how to stay safe?”, we’ve Googled “how many have died in…?” and we’ve scoured the internet for Lysol wipes and Tylenol.

Not much left to do but accept, REALLY accept that this will change us…in big ways..and forever.

However…,

I see some amazing things happening.

I see more people out running than I have since the 70’s boom~

I see neighbors talking over fences…(I’ve been in a new town for 9 months and I swear, I never saw a neighbor before this month…I thought I moved into a very well appointed ghost town..I wondered where everybody was??)~

I see women sewing face masks, channeling modern-day Rosie Riveters.~

I see large alcohol distributors using their products to  manufacture hand sanitizer~

I see people in parks and online, playing with their kids. AMEN!

I know of one family that was seriously estranged, and now they are all quarantine under one roof, together again and healing.~

I hear more people talking about faith and God, or the deity they worship~

I see people eating better, building up their immunity~

I’ve seen the most amazing teachers, posting videos to their students, keeping them positive and challenged in tremendously hard times…Oh, how I wish I had teachers like these as a child!  I may have actually LIKED school!

(Colleen Delaney, your son Matt is a treasure..what an incredible teacher/mentor.!)

I feel, somehow, like we have become more humble and compassionate in the face of this scary unknown.

I have had this feeling all week that God is whispering “I will give you all ONE last chance to get this right…”

I hope so.

It’s going to be a long haul, even after the virus subsides…..

The economic impact will be felt for a while, but collectively, I really believe we will be ok, and maybe even a whole lot better…

As for me, I’m doing a lot of meditating, and that is REALLY helping keep my spirits up.

I have mentioned in previous posts that Oprah and Deepak Chopra sponsor free online 21-day meditation programs that are great…

They put this one up this week for those who are so inclined..and it’s terrific.

 

 

I’m exercising myself and my dog more, and he’s SO pleased..

I’ve also been doing more reading, which is my ultimate joy.  I’m reading a lot of books about how the mind can heal the body, and the many ways we can achieve that.  Fascinating stuff. I always thought the human brain was capable of SO much more than we give it credit for.

The best selling book “Radical Remission”, by Kelly A. Turner, and a new docuseries on Hay House have absolutely held me captive all week.

 

Harvard trained physicians and scientists, side by side with nutritionists, energy healers and Reiki masters, tackling the phenomenon of thousands upon thousands of people who have healed themselves of very dire diseases.  Some even without conventional medicine, using the power of the mind along with a toolbox of other things.  It’s so worth viewing, as it’s full of hope and positivity…what we need most now, no?

and of course, nail polish!  Now don’t get me wrong…I’m not being completely trivial and vain here….

I saw this online and thought “that would look so nice in the Summer”..which got me thinking, we ARE going to have a Summer….an optimistic thought among all the despairing ones.

So I ordered it, and decided I am wearing it as soon as it comes, and every day until this awful time has passed, as a re-affirmation of HOPE…Every time I look and my white nails, I will be reminded to hang on to my HOPE of a brighter tomorrow.

And HOPE lights my path~

Stay safe, love big and be kind to everyone.. we truly are all in this together~

We Shall Overcome~

As this week we celebrate the iconic Dr. Martin Luther King, I have been hearing these words everywhere. “We shall overcome”.

I had tremendous respect for Dr. King, and especially his vision that people
“not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Words I try to live by.

Having said that, I’ve decided to use these words in today’s post, and I hope it doesn’t trivialize his important sentiment…that is certainly not my intent…

But, HELL, it’s January, we are FREEZING in Boston, and we need to have some fun!

SO…

Here are some things that will help Overcome this  miserable month of dark and cold..

We Shall Overcome the Winter Blues, tips tried and true….

If you haven’t seen this show, The Kominsky Method, you MUST!

A comedy for and by adults, we blew through all eight episodes in a weekend and laughed ’til we hurt.

Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin are adorably brilliant as aging males facing their Golden Years, with an incredible cast that includes Paul Reiser, Jane Seymour, Danny DeVito, Ann-Margret, Jay Leno, Patti LaBelle, Elliot Gould, Kathleen Turner, Alison Janney, Bob Odenkirk and on and on….SO GOOD!

We Shall Overcome~

The constant misplacing of our beloved cell phones!

Head over to Bandolierstyle.com and check out these super functional, yet elegant and fashionable cell phone holsters…

 

These little gems are the “eye glass holder” of the 2020’s, for we (sometimes forgetful) chicks…Let’s face it…our cell phones, like it or not, are as important to us as our beating hearts….(Who among us has not had an almost heart attack at the thought we may have lost our precious phone??!!!)

Uber Fashionista Gwen Stephanie knows, right?  And if it’s cool enough for her….!

 

We Shall Overcome cabin fever~

By calling up your best friend and heading to the theater to see the MOST amazing performance you will see on film in a long time..

Perfect to chase the Winter doldrums, Renee Zellweger is MESMERIZING as Judy Garland in the film Judy, and is a shoo-in for best actress Oscar…You heard it here first, now go and see this poignant film of the legend in her later years…I just loved this performance!

 

Next, We Shall Overcome dry, winter skin!~

Like most women, I used this next product back in the 70’s in the bath…then heard it repelled mosquitos so I purchased more online last summer. (It worked!)

I never liked to take long baths, as I found it very drying on my skin.

Then I moved to a house with THIS TUB,

 and all bets were off.  I HAD to find something that would allow me to soak, and frequently, without shedding like a snake.

So I pulled out Skin So Soft by AVON, and applied it directly to my skin after my bath.

I’m amazed to say that my skin has never been softer, and I’m 61!  I have used every lotion, cream, etc. recommended by friend or dermatologist, and nothing has worked like applying this oil directly to my skin after my loooooong, hot soaks.

You can find it online at AMAZON.COM for $16.99. The original oil with is a miracle worker for me…

Finally, We Shall Overcome all the negativity that is swirling around us these day, by picking up this book~

Simple Abundance: 365 Days to a Balanced and Joyful Life by Sarah Ban Breathnach .

This book literally saved my life when it was first published in 1995, and has just been revised and re-released with new content for THESE TIMES….

As a stay at home mom in ’95, with three lively boys, I found the days sometimes long and the well often running dry….

This book taught me how to see my life differently, by looking at the everyday gifts I had, and by giving GRATITUDE for those small things.

The book became an international best seller and was #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list for over two years!  It clearly resonated with women everywhere and was embraced by Oprah herself, who called it “life changing”.

I have re-purchased it 24 years later, and it is STILL speaking to me, setting me on the path to peace and and an appreciation for the simple beauty and joys in each day. They are there if you look for them, and this book is an excellent guide.

Morning coffee, a page read, and I’m all set to face the day.

I wish that for all of you!

Here’s to Overcoming, and here’s to the enjoyment of simple things..

Have a lovely week~

 

 

 

Nothing to fear but fear itself~

Well HELLO! Long time!

Since I last posted, I turned 60…and then 61!  Lots has changed since the fifties…

I sent my beloved dad to Heaven where he is now Alzheimers free and sitting at the head of God’s table..

I moved, again, to the home of my dreams…we call it “Peaceful Pines”, and it will be the final stop on the journey for us.  Hundreds of  pine trees, an enormous soaking tub and a she-shed to die for…

…being renovated, updates to follow.

What more could a girl need?

So…aging…scary right?  Well, maybe..depends a lot on your health and your outlook.

I received a text from my sister, Nancy, last month. She had just spent the afternoon at her local senior center for the first time, and was, well…traumatized.

She looked around and texted “my brain was screaming that this is not what I want for me. I do not want this to be my future.”

I texted back that,

1. You need to stay the fuck away from senior centers…You are too young at 63 anyway.
2. You need to find healthy, vibrant beautiful role models of aging, and hold on to them with both fists, tightly.

Your outlook truly makes all the difference in the world.  You can go to a senior center and watch old ladies line dance, or you can seek out women on social media who are rocking to their own ageless beat…

Here are a few of the ladies who set me straight…

Barbara Hannah Grufferman, Author of “Love Your Age: the Small Step Solution to a Better, Longer, Happier Life”, was a sedentary wife and mom turning 60.  She was watching a marathon one morning, cheering on the runners, and thought “I wish I could do that”…with the urging of her family, she started small, joined a runners club, and three years later, has countless marathons and ultra-marathons under her belt.  AND she’s drop dead gorgeous.

I found Barb and started following her…but her inspirational posts were all about running.  I sent her a slightly terse message saying “all well and good, but can you talk about another form of excercise for those of us who can’t run?”

Her response: “why can’t you run?”

Me:”because my hip is sore and I’m too old and my joints ache and I have this old running injury from 1992, and blah, blah, blah..”

Barbara: “so WHY can’t you run? Find a coach who can train a senior runner and give it a try!”

Ok, Babs, I get it….

And it just so happens I have a seasoned, marathon running husband who knows more about the sport than any person on the planet…he trained me to run injury free and…

Several months later, I ran my first race in decades, two weeks after my dad died…

and I ran two more after that!

Take THAT old ladies, and thank you Barbara and Hubby!

Buy Barbara’s book and find her on IG or FB.  She’s also been on several national morning talk shows. She’s a rockin ball of healthy, optimistic energy, and someone to model your  60’s after.

 

Another great gal I found on social media is Dian Griesel of Silver Disobedience (LOVE that name!)

She also has a great book “The Silver Disobedience Playbook”, and a daily blog.

She writes such positive, get you moving pieces, and is a 60+ model with Wilhelmina New York.

Check her out on social media.

Finally, I think my very favorite inspiration comes to us from Across the Pond…Meet Margery Owen..YouTube sensation.  This clip when viral, and took my breath away.  I wanted to shout from the rooftop of Peaceful Pines, “Hallelujah, there’s HOPE!”

 

 

You have GOT to see this 90 year old dynamo doing things I couldn’t do at 16. A-mazing! and such a positive attitude!  I couldn’t download the clip here, (still a rusty blogger after having been away so long)…but if you Google Margery Owen Yoga video, you will find it on YouTube.

 

So you see, it’s all in the outlook…You can go to a Senior Center, which is a wonderful place for some, and sit and knit and line dance..

 

OR,

you can align yourself with 60+ women who are kicking aging’s ass, and enjoy the ride.

Nothing to fear…

How will you choose?

Have a Crown Worthy weekend, and do something BOLD!~

FALL FORWARD~

This has been a bit of a challenging Summer.

I’m approaching the Big 60 next year, and trying to visualize how I want to live this next important decade…I wouldn’t be lying if I said it’s been pretty daunting…”If not now, WHEN?” resonates in my brain all day long….

New Hampshire and Florida are claiming two of my closest female friends by the end of this  year. If you are anything like me, you know how precious  old friendships are….

People I care about are grieving the loss of loved ones, And THE WORLD HAS OFFICIALLY GONE CRAZY!

News junkie that I am, I’ve turned off  the “breaking news alerts” from my phone….I.Just.Can’t.

What to do?

Sometimes you just has to push through the blue, and plan your way out….

So , in the Fall, I’ve signed on to my local mentorship program to team up with a lovely 7th grade girl who needs a friend…

I have a feeling, never having had a daughter, that she will give me more than I give her.

I can’t wait to meet her❤️🙏

Next, I’m going to make good on my bucket list item of getting serious about photography.

I took an online  course over  the Summer for IPhone photography that I highly recommend! (BTW, the IPhone 7 takes pictures as good as any DSLR  I’ve ever owned…)

Here’s the link…it really is a great course .

ELCS thank you page

Next, did you see the gorgeous Diane Lane in the movie “Paris Can Wait”?? Fun movie, breathtaking scenery of the South of France (I will go back someday🙏)

What I loved the most about the movie, aside from the elegant clothes, was this camera she used in many scenes..

It’s a Leica C Digital and if I flunk the DSLR course, Santa is going to bring me this for Christmas.

 

Next up for the Fall… 💃 SALSA!!!!

I’ve enrolled in a beginners Salsa class, and am praying my hips hold up!

The other day, I was looking at my closed MoonFlower buds, and I was trying to decide if they had already opened and were spent, or had they not bloomed at all yet…

I sometimes feel like that…and guess what? The buds weren’t spent at all, but  just getting ready to explode with life…

and so am I.~

Have a lovely Summer weekend, and plan yourself happy!~❤️

 

 

THIRTY YEARS…~

 

 

WE ARE MID JULY ALREADY…CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??  HERE IN THE NORTHEAST, WE HAD SUCH A SOUL CRUSHING SPRING, WITH COLD, RAINY DAYS  IT FEELS LIKE IT’S SIMPLY GOING TOO FAST!

I CAN.NOT.BELIEVE WE ARE ROUNDING AUGUST….

THIS WEEK, I CELEBRATE THE THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF  ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF MY LIFE…

JULY 25, 1987, I BECAME A MOM, AND MY WHOLE WORLD CHANGED.

 

I FINALLY KNEW, FOR SURE, THE FACE OF REAL, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

IT’S BEING WILLING TO WALK IN FRONT OF A CANNON FOR YOUR CHILD..

TO DESCEND TO THE DEPTHS OF HELL AND BACK, AFRAID BUT UNDETERRED..

TO GET UP WHEN THERE IS NOTHING LEFT AND KEEP GOING,

TO BECOME AN OVERNIGHT DOCTOR, TEACHER, PSYCHIATRIST,  SCOUT MOM  AND CONFIDANT,

TO HAVE TO SAY “NO” WHEN YOU WANT TO SAY “YES”

TO BE WILLING TO LISTEN AND NOT JUDGE

TO ACCEPT UNCONDITIONALLY THE CHILD GOD DELIVERS INTO YOUR ARMS, NO MATTER WHO OR HOW THEY ARE.

TO TAKE BLAME FOR THE THINGS THAT DIDN’T WORK, BUT NONE OF THE CREDIT FOR THE AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE ALL HIS…

TO WANT ONLY THE BEST FOR YOUR CHILD, EVEN IF IT’S NOT WHAT YOU IMAGINED WHEN YOU WERE DREAMING OF HIS FUTURE, AND EXISTING ON  DOVE BARS , 9 1/2 MONTHS PREGNANT..

THIS IS WHO I BECAME  ON JULY 25TH, 1987.

I LAID DOWN IN A HOSPITAL BED, A NERVOUS, BEWILDERED WOMAN OF 28 IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN, AND AROSE A MOM..STRONG AS A LIONESS, ON A MISSION FROM GOD.

THAT IS THE POWER OF MATERNAL LOVE.

IT IS PURE, AND HAS NO EQUAL.

IT COULD STOP WARS AND SOLVE POVERTY IF HARNESSED CORRECTLY.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT, AND NOTHING..NOTHING STRONGER IN THIS UNIVERSE.

ASK ANY MOM.

ASK THE MOM OF A DRUG ADDICTED CHILD WHO WON’T GIVE UP, NO MATTER WHAT.

ASK THE MOM OF A HANDICAPPED OR MENTALLY CHALLENGED CHILD, WHO FIGHTS THE WORLD TO ACCEPT HER SON OR DAUGHTER AS A BEAUTIFUL DIFFERENT…

ASK THE MOM OF A CHILD BULLIED…..AND PITY THE BULLY IF SHE IS NEARBY.

IT’S A GIFT LIKE NO OTHER…THE  MOST PRECIOUS YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE..

AND THEN, THE FUNNY PART….

YOU HAVE TO LET GO.

ALL THAT PASSION, ALL THAT INTENSITY, ALL THAT BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS…

WHEN YOUR CHILD BECOMES A GROWN MAN OR WOMAN, YOU HAVE TO STEP ASIDE..

AND IT’S THE HARDEST THING YOU WILL EVER DO.

BUT THAT’S THE CYCLE, AND IT MUST BE HONORED.

IT’S A SEASON, AND IT’S GONE BEFORE YOU CAN PACK AWAY THE LEGGOS AND SUPER MARIO GAMES..

BUT YOU ARE LEFT WITH THE SWEETEST OF MEMORIES.

IT’S THE BEST GIFT I EVER RECEIVED.

THANK YOU FOR CHOSING ME, KEVIN.

I PRAY OF WAS WORTHY OF THE CALLING ❤️ ~

MY HOME, SWEET HOME~

 

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

With all the nightmare news headlines coming from all sides today, you’d think America was an island the Brits used to lock up the insane!

But today, I want to reflect on what is GOOD about the country I love, the greatest country on Earth.

America is a beautiful country, from East Coast to West, and all in between.

Mountains, lakes, forests, prairies and magnificent oceans….we have it all here, if you look.

But more beautiful than that are its people…

Say what you want about the “Ugly American”, but we are the first to respond to disaster or humanitarian crisis, anywhere on the Globe.

We have sent more of our boys to die for other’s freedom than any country on Earth…

We even send money to countries that hate us.

Our military, often maligned, are made up of the best of America…brave men and women who protect not only us everyday, but also the inhabitants of foreign soils. We are often the country others look to for help in conflict.

I, for one, am so proud of our military….it’s the strongest on earth, but also with a compassion our adversary’s could never fathom or emulate.

We have the best hospitals and colleges on the planet…come to Boston some time and see the students from around the world getting educated, then go to the hospitals and see how many people from other countries are being saved here.

We have our flaws, for sure, but we also have the freedom to speak our mind, and to vote however we choose….

Women here are free, and equal to men, and each and every nationality that comes here does well, as long as they are willing to work hard.

Hard work is rewarded here, and it’s still the surest path to the “American Dream”.

We take care of our senior citizens, and are working now to finally start taking care of our Veterans.

We are the best of the best…doctors, scientists, engineers, researchers, philanthropists, farmers, educators, innovators… I salute them all.

So next time you turn on the news, on any channel, and hear the chaos, remember that people are passionate on both sides because there is so much at stake…

The soul of the greatest country on Earth….

She is still so worth fighting for.

God Bless America, and enjoy her birthday!~

MOTHERS AND OTHERS~A REPOST.

I thought this one deserved a second “go round…”

I hope you agree.

Whatever kind of mother you are, or for whatever kind mothering you do…have a blessed day!

 

Mother’s Day…So many images come to my mind when I think of the word “mother”.

There’s the obvious mom, yours, and there are the ones not so obvious.

There’s the aunt who was like a mom, always magically appearing when you needed her most and there’s the friend who came over and gave you a heating pad when you were having bad menstrual cramps (or in later years, had a level 3 hangover,) because your own mom was busy elsewhere..your friend just knew exactly what you needed and provided it.

There was the teacher in third grade who could see that you were hurting because you were new to the school and not making friends.  She let you sit with her during indoor recess, and included the “cool girls” at her desk as well. Discussions on the merits of “Beatles” vs. “Monkees” ensued, and  by the time recess was over, you were a cool girl, too.

There’s the sister who called you the day your first-born was leaving for college, because she’d been there, and knew you couldn’t breathe from sorrow.

That’s mothering..

There are all different kinds of moms…crack addict moms, and gluten-free, free range,organic only, natural birth with a doula moms.

There are the absentee moms that say “life is a bitch, and if you don’t toughen up, you will get eaten alive,” and there are the moms that would kick down the doors of Hell for you.

What kind of mom did you have?

and what kind of mom were you?

I find there is a correlation between the two.

If your mom was a “June Cleaver”, you probably tended to be a “Murphy Brown”.

If your mom was a “Roseanne”, you were more likely to be an  “Abilene,”(the housekeeper/nanny from the movie “The Help”..)

What little girl would not want to be on her lap, hearing her coo “you is smart, you is kind, you is important” ..?

 

I had a hard-working, career pediatric nurse for a mom.  I was the only girl in my class who had a professional mom in the 60’s.  I was SO proud of her.  But I missed her, and often, while she was healing the sick children in the city. She wasn’t home for us much, even when she was.

I overcompensated by being the breastfeed til they were two, stay at home, homeschooling, Boy Scouting, school board and every-sport-known-to-man volunteer mom.

The one who would kick down those Hell doors….

After a lot of trial and error, I turned out OK…

and while they are still works in progress, so will my boys.

Somewhere between my mom and I, there exists the perfect mom. A mom who has the succinct balance of give and take, of attention and independence, of   “let them grow up” and “don’t ever let them go”…..

My mom and I are polar opposites, but one thing we have in common…we do the best we can, and really….that’s all you can do.

Happy Mothers day to all the moms, aunties,teachers, sisters,  friends and all others who mother us well, and make our lives worth living.

Your work is the most important on Earth…

But you knew that…~

 

 

 

 

 

ANOTHER AULD LANG SYNE~

 

---

Goodbye 2016!!!

What an INCREDIBLE year!

Good or bad, it was an epic year for most people I know…not a lot of gray area in 2016!

We had the election season from Hell that tore the country apart and exposed today’s politics for what it is…a blood sport, at best.

Whether  your candidate won or lost, remember that we are all a Free People, that not everyone can get a trophy in the real world, and that we will survive, because America has 240 years invested in her thus far, and she’s immune to the victories and shortcomings of her leaders.

We will be just fine.

The entertainment industry was hit hard this year, with the deaths of Prince, Bowie, George Michael, Sir George Martin, Maurice White, Glen Fry, Leonard Cohen and on.

Personally , we lost an iconic uncle, a much too young high school bestie, and the dear dad of my sister in law…stunning and sad, evidence that you need to savor each moment for those who no longer can❤️

This weeks deaths of the fabulous Carrie Fisher and Debby Reynolds highlights what an insane year it was. Dying literally a day apart, can’t you just hear Carrie saying “Seriously mom??? You couldn’t have waited a month? You had to hijack my funeral, too????”

Strong, gutsy, flawed …totally Crown Worthy ladies, I shall miss them both❤️

So tonight, I will roast a tenderloin, steam some mussels, pop a few Veuve corks and give thanks for every minute of 2016, the good and the bad, the ugly and the brilliant.

Because it all adds up to the sacred gift of life, a gift for which I am eternally grateful🙏

Onward to 2017!

Be good, do good and Wear Those  Crowns high👑! I have a feeling 2017 is going to be a wild ride!!!!!

Have a fabulous fantastic New Year❤️

I’M THANKFUL FOR…~

THANKSGIVING WEEK IS UPON US….the years are flying, ladies..hold on with both hands!

I’ve many things to be thankful for this year…but then again, I have many things to be thankful for every year…even the not so good ones.

I practice gratitude, a concept that dates as far back as the bible, where Paul instructs “In everything, give thanks.”  Buddhists also consider gratitude one of the most important dharmas for fruitful living in daily life.

Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of the book “Simple Abundance”,  ignited a million woman gratitude movement in 1995, and I’ve never looked back.

Sarah reminds us, through her work, that there is beauty and bliss in the simplest of things…

A really good cup of coffee..

A baby’s laugh..

A heavenly pair of cashmere socks..

A decadent TV show..(think Downton Abbey!)

So the first thing I am grateful for this season is that I have re-purchased Sarah’s books, (my originals are long-lost in two moves), and I am currently savoring my favorites..

“Moving On” helped me tremendously when I was selling my home of many years and downsizing…It reminded me, page after page, that there is beauty everywhere in the big AND small,  if you look for it…

(Here’s some quiet beauty I have found in my new little home….Sarah is right again!!)

 

 

 “Romancing the Ordinary” is my other favorite…I love the ordinary moments where you see, smell, hear or taste something that just elevates your mood to joy….those are the best moments…

and they are all around us, everyday, if we look….

The next thing I’m grateful for is another book I am loving..

It’s the latest from the brilliant writer, Alice Hoffman, whose work I’ve loved since “Practical Magic” in 1995.  “Faithful” is the story of the power of love, generosity and redemption when the world looks bleak and you are out of resources.

A timely book, indeed!

Next is the new eight part series on PBS, called “Soundbreaking”…if you are a music fan, DO NOT MISS THIS

It traces your favorite music back from it’s inception  to the studio, where the magic happened…what a treat to watch!

How did “Yesterday” become the classic beauty it is?  How did Phil Spector’s famous “wall of sound” come to be? How many studio musicians did it take to make “Pet Sounds”?  All the way up to today’s rap, this series is a stellar behind the scenes look at “how the soup was made”  in the studio, with the help of a few genius producers. Great series, three crowns up!!

The next thing I’m thankful for this week is a lovely body lotion I stumbled upon in a gift shop in Meredith, New Hampshire while on a retreat.  I left my own lotion home, and was looking to find something to use for a few days.

I bought this lotion, and will be ordering it on-line for years to come.

By a company called Naked Bee, this Orange Blossom Honey lotion is a real treat.  It’s made from organic aloe and sunflower oil, honey and green and white tea, it applies like a blanket of softness, and smells INCREDIBLE!  Like an orange grove in the sun.  I put it on before bed, and the scent sends me off to dreamland, instantly erasing the stresses of the day.

Hard to feel bad when you smell so good!

I will be trying the Chai Tea, Grapefruit Blossom and  Lavender Beeswax lotions  in the future..and maybe even the Nag Champa one if I’m feeling adventurous.

https://www.nakedbee.bz

Next I’m forever grateful to Ina Garten, the fabulous Barefoot Contessa for bringing my humble cooking to the next level.  I’ve never made an Ina recipe that hasn’t  been perfectly delicious, and I doubt I ever will…she’s that good.

Here’s one of her recipes I’m making to bring to my mom for Thanksgiving…a sweet treat for a hardworking caregiver….

Recipe here…

https://barefootcontessa.com/inas-world/chocolate-bark

Thank you, Ina, for all the books and shows.  I’m a grateful cook!

Finally, I’m grateful for my family, and my three sons, all wonderful works in progress….but this Thanksgiving, I’m most grateful for the THE most patient man in the Free World, my best date, my husband Ed….and the Bruno Mars tickets he scored for me last week didn’t’ hurt!!

Yeeeeoooww!!!!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and treasure what’s good.  It’s all around us…~

What can YOU do…?~

Good Morning!

Have we all settled down since Tuesday?

I hope so.

I know for a fact that the sun still shines and the earth is still spinning, so it’s all good!

Last night, in honor of Veteran Day, we went to see “Hacksaw Ridge”, and I am so glad I did.

It’s exactly what the world needs right now, but alas, the people who need it most will never see it.

Based on the true story of conscientious objector Desmond Doss, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor in WWII despite refusing to bear arms, it’s a story of two things sorely lacking in our country today.

The courage of conviction, and love of god and Country.

Desmond was a Seventh-day Adventist, a religion that forbids killing or the bearing of arms.  Yet Desmond also loved his country.

As boy after boy enlisted in WWII, he struggled with how to reconcile the two.  He couldn’t turn his back on his religion, and wouldn’t turn his back on his country.

So he became a medic and enlisted in he army as a conscientious objector, one of the nations first.

He was ostracized at best, beaten and almost court marshaled at worse, but BECAUSE he was a man with the courage of his convictions, and a religious man who valued life, he went on to single handedly save over 75 soldiers in the battle of Okinawa without firing a single shot!

Such a powerful story on two fronts.

He stayed true to who he was, because he answered only to the god he served, and he had a tremendous sense of patriotism with a desire to do the right thing.

When I look around today, I see protests that go nowhere and achieve nothing, and a large portion of our population  who want to take from our country, but never give back.

And it breaks my heart.

There was one powerful scene that caused me to weep..(thank you, Mel Gibson for ALWAYS making me cry at the movies you produce..”Passion of the Christ” and “Braveheart” come to mind.)

The scene is desperate one, as the bullets are flying and Desmond’s fellow soldiers are being slaughtered all around him. He is at a loss as to what to do, as he serves a God who does not want him to pick up a gun….he looks around at the carnage piling up and cries, “I don’t understand..What is it you want me to do??”

How many of us, who worship a god, have been there in our lives…Sometimes the challenges  we are faced with are so hard, we are ill equipped to know the way…and we look up and say “WHAT ON EARTH IS IT YOU WANT FROM ME??”

I have found many times that the answer may not come instantly, but it does come if you wait.

Desmond’s answer to his question was that he was called to use his courage and resourcefulness to rescue  the wounded but not dead soldiers left on the battle field, still under attack.

Most of those men, who would have been left for dead if not for Desmond, went on to get married, have families and live full lives.

THAT, my friends, is a great story.

Whether or not you are religious in any way, if you are a citizen of the Unites States, especially today, you need to see this film and ask yourself the question John Kennedy asked you several decades ago…

“Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”

The answer to everything that ails our country today lies in that question, if you have the courage to answer it.

In honor of Veterans Day, just for today, can you give that some thought?  And maybe find a small way to give back  to the Greatest Generation for all their sacrifice, and to the Greatest Country on Earth, for all our blessings?? Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with the country, let’s reflect on what’s right, and act accordingly!

God Bless America, thank you , and have an amazing weekend ~

Beauty, the Books and Blood Orange Bliss~

New England in Autumn is a little slice of Heaven.

The foliage, the Indian Summer weather (warm sunny days, crisp, cool nights,) and OH, the food.  I’m a sucker for anything pumpkin. You could sprinkle pumpkin spice on a pile of dirt, and I swear I’d eat it!

Cold weather clothes are terrific as well .  It’s almost as if they KNEW we would be eating too much, and made oversized knit sweaters, bulky jackets and belly hiding sweater scarfs the fashionable thing.

On to beauty….

I make a point to walk every day in the woods near my home. I just don’t want to miss a minute of the glory!

Check this out from my walk yesterday…

It’s a breathtaking  time of year, and hard to feel anything but invigorated and alive when I’m out in nature, and that’s why I will always be a New England girl!

This week, lots of great reads were released.

So many books, so little time!

This first one I am enjoying is “Capture Your Style” by Aimee Song.

Because the political season is in full on ugly mode, I am trying to stay away from social media sites that just bring me down… I’ve traded more Instagram for less Facebook and Twitter in the precious little time I have in my day to browse.

I find Instagram uplifting and love seeing everyone’s day through pics. This book, written by a woman with one of the largest Instagram accounts on the planet, gives some great advice about photo shooting, editing, text, content, how to capture your own style, and tell your own story in an appealing way.  She’s made a five figure income off of her Instagram account, and travels the world snapping pics, so she knows her stuff. Her advice about editing apps alone is worth the cost of the book, if you care about the quality of your photos.

The second book, “The Bitch Is Back: Older, Wiser, and (Getting) Happier..by Cathi Hanauer is a FABULOUS read for we “femme d’un certain age.”  Chronicling some of the best women writers in their forties, fifties and sixties, these “bitches”, all bestselling authors and some of my favorites, offer unique views of modern womanhood today, but from an older and wiser perspective. Topics ranging from marriage and/or divorce, cancer, dealing with elderly parents or adult children, workplace age and sexism, highlight that we older women have a lot on our plates. Here, it’s examined with guts and gusto, and I yell  “Brava!” after each essay read.

We older women are AWESOME, aren’t we?? I want to send a Virtual  Crown to each of the contributors….it’s a terrific read.

Finally, last night in Boston, I had the best martini I’ve ever had.  And people who know me know that I make a mean martini.  It was a blood orange martini, but like no other.  One sip, and I was transported to Sicily, to the sun drenched blood orange groves.  HEAVEN!

I have made blood orange martinis before, but nothing tasted this good.  I asked the bartender, who kindly told me the secret.  They make it with a few tablespoons of this blood orange purée, imported from Napa Valley.

You can buy it online here. https://www.perfectpuree.com/product/blood-orange-concentrate/

along  with several other flavors like Meyer Lemon and Caramelized Pineapple, (have MERCY!) which I am eager to try next.

Whatever you view, read, savor or drink, do something nice for a stranger, and have a lovely week ahead~

Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes (Turn and face the strange..) ~

Heloo, October!  I can’t BELIEVE how fast September went.

As some of you know, I went through a big life event last week. I closed up my big ol’ 9 room country club colonial, sold it to a lovely, starry-eyed couple (good luck, kids!) and moved into a 1300 square foot elegantly appointed apartment.  With about 1,000 neighbors and dogs!

I was really nervous at first, as I have never, in almost 58 years, lived in anything but a house.  Small as they were,  I always had my own space and my own land.

I entered into the next phase, however, with more excitement than trepidation.

You see, the best times of my life, in retrospect , have been the times of biggest change.  The bigger the change, the bigger my growth as a person, and the bigger the lessons learned.

I had been STAGNANT for so many years.  Something about being chained to taking care of a big house while working two jobs, and having so many empty rooms as most of my boys are gone, just left me feeling old.  The house had become a museum to the past, and I am all about the future.

I handed over the keys, thanked God for the memories, bad and good, and onward we went.

To date, I have meet such a melting pot of fine people in my new complex!  I’ve met hard-working, polite 20 somethings, Indian high tech professionals, a large Asian population with the MOST gorgeous babies and toddlers.  (Interesting about that culture…mom and dad bring the grandparents with them, wherever they reside, and have built-in baby sitters.  In the day, you see the grandparents in the playground or pool with the little ones, and at night, as they rest, the parents appear.  It’s a testament to that culture that family is everything.)

And then I met “Giselle”…..

Not her real name, but a dead ringer for the real Giselle, I noticed this lovely young Brazilian mom by the pool everyday with her  beautiful, blond, curly haired toddler.While everyone else poolside was gawking at her “Girl from Ipanema” beauty, I noticed something else….how utterly attentive and captivated she was by her little boy.  Unlike a lot of moms today, she did not have her face in a phone constantly.  In fact, she didn’t even carry one.  She was SO enchanted by her little guy.  I could tell she was a great mother. She looked however, a bit lonely.  I think, because she was so gorgeous, the other residents were a bit intimidated to even stand next to her bikini clad body, much less talk to her.

Luckily for both of us, I don’t intimidate easily, and I approached her to tell her what an awesome job I thought she was doing as a mom.  She broke down in tears and thanked me heartily.  We started talking, and she confessed that her baby boy, Franco, is the love of her life, but she misses her mom in Brazil tremendously.  She said there are days when she can’t take the loneliness, as her husband works long hours and her mom can’t Skype.  The more we talked, the more it became clear that the Divine Spirit had a plan for us….

I have been waiting for a young lady to come into my life for a long time.  With a husband, and three sons who have  no “serious” girlfriends yet, it’s a lonely existence for a woman in my house!  Even my dog, Jesse, is a boy!

The more I talked with “Giselle”, the more we bonded.  I told her she could call me anytime, night or day, and I would be there for her.  I will be babysitting for her so she can get back to her sport of running,and I can get my fix of baby love, and have a surrogate daughter for the time we both reside there and maybe onward.

The day we met, as we were parting, she asked me my name…when I said “Kathy” she burst into tears and hugged me….her mom in Brazil is named “Kathy.”

Coincidence or Divine Interveniton?  You decide.

If I hadn’t broken waaaaay out of my comfort zone to try new things, I wouldn’t be as happy as I am as of this writing.

Now, unemcumbered by that house, my husband and I have the time to embrace new things instead of raking lawns and fixing leaks.

We have lots of adventures awaiting, and I’m so ready for what’s ahead…

I may even try the Indian food truck that comes to the complex next Friday….; )  or maybe not…

Here’s a pic of my tiny tiny balcony…decorated within an inch of it’s life for Fall….Can you tell I’m a downsizer?

Have a glorious October, embrace the changing of the seasons of your life, and wear your crowns! ~

 

Well, HELLO AUTUMN!❤️🍁

 

And hello blogosphere ! Too long, I know. Many changes and lots to do has taken me away from my happy place, Wear Your Crowns. I apologize ! I’ve been busy selling a nine room home and trying to figure out how to fit it into a four room apartment as temporary dwelling til the real estate market catches up with its low inventory. At the end of this month, I’ll be camping out for the holidays in a cozy but lovely place, looking for that Final Destination. I’ve moved a lot and the next house is the last!

How was your Summer? Ours was dry and drought filled, which is kind of amazing considering the severe flooding in other parts of the country. My heart goes out to the people who’ve had bigger challenges than dry lawns and a truncated foliage season to deal with.

One of the best nights I spent this summer was the night of the Perseid Meteor Showers. It was promised to be amazing this year! I had lots of wishes and needed to find some shooting stars, and it did not disappoint.

It took three different locations by car at 2 AM, but bleary-eyed, I found what I was seeking and the show was breathtaking!☄💫✨

One of the things I wished for was that I would never lose childlike wonder and the ability to be thrilled by the world around me. Many wishes later, I crawled home stiff-necked but filled with hope and awe. Amazing.

Another thing of interest this Summer happened September 1st. While I’m not a student of Astrology, this next event fascinated me.

The New Moon in Virgo, with a Solar Eclipse  is a significant astrological event in two parts (Sept. 1 and Sept. 16). This is a time of major change and clearing. It’s a time to reject old patterns that aren’t serving you, accept the past, forgive and move on, and be mindful and open to the changes this period of time will bring about. According to the astrologers I have interviewed, some changes may not be welcome, some very appreciated, but the key is to stay open to the process, don’t fight it, and see where it takes you. This astrological movement culminates in March 2017, so hang on to your hats…it’s going to be interesting!

My motto has always been “change is growth”, and it’s always the tough changes that bring the most growth. To me, being stagnant and unable to move, letting life happen to you as opposed to creating and living your life consciously, is the sorriest of human states.

While it’s not always easy to embrace change…a child leaving for college, leaving a stress filled job that doesn’t serve you, ending a relationship that isn’t healthy, dealing with an illness, these are the hards of life that bring you to the place you are supposed to be. Fear is the only thing, I believe, that keeps people stuck.

Remove the fear and meet life head on. The beauty of living an authentic life, the life you are supposed to be living, is the greatest reward. One I’m very much looking forward to in the days ahead.

SO! Welcome back and thanks for being here… Today’s “lecture” culminates with the prayer that you set your intentions, keep your hearts open, and of course, Wear Your Crowns👸🙏🏻❤️

Have an AMAZING AUTUMN~

MOTHERS AND OTHERS~

Mother’s Day…So many images come to my mind when I think of the word “mother”.

There’s the obvious mom, yours, and there are the ones not so obvious.

There’s the aunt who was like a mom, always magically appearing when you needed her most and there’s the friend who came over and gave you a heating pad when you were having bad menstrual cramps (or in later years, had a level 3 hangover,) because your own mom was busy elsewhere..your friend just knew exactly what you needed and provided it.

There was the teacher in third grade who could see that you were hurting because you were new to the school and not making friends.  She let you sit with her during indoor recess, and included the “cool girls” at her desk as well. Discussions on the merits of “Beatles” vs. “Monkees” ensued, and  by the time recess was over, you were a cool girl, too.

There’s the sister who called you the day your first-born was leaving for college, because she’d been there, and knew you couldn’t breathe from sorrow.

That’s mothering..

There are all different kinds of moms…crack addict moms, and gluten-free, free range,organic only, natural birth with a doula moms.

There are the absentee moms that say “life is a bitch, and if you don’t toughen up, you will get eaten alive,” and there are the moms that would kick down the doors of Hell for you.

What kind of mom did you have?

and what kind of mom were you?

I find there is a correlation between the two.

If your mom was a “June Cleaver”, you probably tended to be a “Murphy Brown”.

If your mom was a “Roseanne”, you were more likely to be an  “Abilene,”(the housekeeper/nanny from the movie “The Help”..)

What little girl would not want to be on her lap, hearing her coo “you is smart, you is kind, you is important.”

 

I had a hard-working, career pediatric nurse for a mom.  I was the only girl in my class who had a professional mom in the 60’s.  I was SO proud of her.  But I missed her, and often, while she was healing the sick children in the city. She wasn’t home for us much, even when she was.

I overcompensated by being the breastfeed til they were two, stay at home, homeschooling, Boy Scout, school board and every-sport-known-to-man volunteer mom.

the one who would kick down those Hell doors….

After a lot of trial and error, I turned out OK…

and while they are still works in progress, so will my boys.

Somewhere between my mom and me, there exists the perfect mom. A mom who has the perfect balance of give and take, of attention and independence, of   “let them grow up” and “don’t ever let them go”…..

My mom and I are polar opposites, but one thing we have in common…we do the best we can, and really….that’s all you can do.

Happy Mothers day to all the moms, aunties,teachers, sisters,  friends and all others who mother us well, and make our lives worth living.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THINGS I’M LOVING NOW~

Well, hello SPRING! That’s what I’m loving most, even if it WILL snow tonight. I’ll be walking the beach and picnicking in no time!

I’ve talked about this before, but about four times a year, Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra join forces to produce a free 21 day meditation challenge. The first one I did, about two years ago, changed my life. I came to realize that whatever I was lacking, or whatever I needed, was right there inside me and always had been.   I just needed to make the time to access it.   That knowledge empowered me to make major changes in the way I think and the way I look at the world, and I’m better for it.  I look forward to their challenges now, each one focusing on a different thing.

Starting Monday, they are offering a new meditation challenge centered around weight and weight loss. If you need to lose weight, I urge you to participate. You won’t be sorry. It only takes about 17 minutes a day, and after twenty one days, you will think differently about your body, I promise!!

I’ve recently lost twenty pounds, but understand that keeping it off is going to be the real challenge, so I’m ALL IN for this one!

Just go to Oprah.com and find the above link to register. You will thank me!

The next thing I love was introduced to me when I was on my weight loss program recently. The diet, (The Fast Metabolism Diet, highly recommended,) requires that you drink half your weight in ounces of water each day. Yikes!!! For someone who doesn’t like to drink anything but coffee or wine, this was a challenge. Then I found La Croix sparkling water at my local Whole Foods, and became instantly hooked. It’s a sparking water that’s flavored with essence of natural fruits, no calories, no sodium, nothing artificial. SO REFRESHING, I can drink it all day.  With favors like coconut, cucumber mint, mango, pear, etc., you can shake it up!

 

Another thing I’m loving.. The new show Vinyl on HBO is a rollicking ride through the seventies music scene. Produced by Martin Scorcese and Mick Jagger, it’s a take no prisoners story of the excess of the seventies. Sex, drugs and rock n roll as only Martin and Mick could tell it.

And the cast??? Powerhouse Bobby Canavale soars as the coke’d up record producer Richie Finestra, with the golden ear for great music. Olivia Wilde plays his recovering wife, and GREAT PERFORMAMCES by Micks son James Jagger, Juno Temple, Andrew Dice Clay, and Ray Romano like you’ve never seen him. Hang on to your hat…especially if you remember the early seventies! When the Emmys roll around again, bet money of this!!!

Next.. After a long drab winter, it’s a bright OPI red for my nails. Nothing says Spring like Chick Flick Cherry

And finally, I’m loving my muse, Jesse, snoozing in the sunlight of the first Spring day.

Have an AMAZING SPRING, and a lovely week~❤️🌷💐🌸🌹

❤️EVERYDAY IS VALENTINES DAY~

Can it be that another Valentine’s Day is almost here???

How time flies when you’re having fun!

In my house, we have a motto that “everyday is Valentine’s Day”. We don’t wait for special occasions to say “I love you”, or to do something nice for one another. Why let the advertisers dictate when you should pay attention to your partner, when, with a little effort, you can do it all year long? It’s the little things that matter. The things that mean more than a dozen roses ever could.  The gestures, the kind word, or the quiet support. Having one another’s back. Those are the things that cement a relationship.

HOWEVER…we DO like treats! So what better day to gift the one you love than on the day of love. Forget flowers on Valentine’s Day.  So unoriginal, so easy.

Here are some things that would surely please your mate on Valentines Day…

Tickets to a romantic show, like this one, would be GREAT paired with a nice dinner, or after show cocktail and dessert at a lovely bistro.

Remember these two?

The FABULOUS Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neil of “Love Story” fame have teamed up again after decades to bring a poignant joy to this long standing romantic play. The reviews are great! Check to see if it’s coming near you. Perfect Valentines Day gift if you were touched by Oliver and Jennie, back in the day.❤️

Next, for the coffee lover in your life, and you all have one, this is some of the best coffee I’ve ever had. Black Bear Roasting Company in New Hampshire is a hidden jewel of a find. This mail order company delivers some outrageously good coffee beans straight to your door. You can buy it in half pound bags, or in bulk, and the selection is great. Trust me on this one…the quality and taste of this coffee will knock your socks off. The service is terrific and the price is comparable to a Starbucks bag…… But SO MUCH BETTER!

My favorite is this gorgeous blend, Country French. This rich, smooth blend is perfect for a weekend cup in bed with the papers…my idea of heaven!

Find it here… https://blackbearcoffee.com

I’m not a big jewelry gal….simple pieces, on occasion, and I’m good. But when I saw this Tiffany piece, I went MAD (for obvious reasons..😉) This will adorn my neck soon!❤️

At TIFFANY.com, your Queen will adore you❤️👸

If you still don’t know what to get your honey, friend, dog, child, etc, here are more ideas from last Valentine’s Day…

Crown Worthy Valentines Gifts ~

Finally, while Valentines Day is the day of love, never forget that the most important person to love is yourself. If you can’t figure out how to love and honor yourself, you can never learn how to really love and honor another. Put yourself at the top of that list!

Have a lovely Valentines Day❤️~

 

 

52 SATURDAYS~1

As mentioned previously, in 2016 I decided to challenge myself to take better pictures by joining the “52 Saturdays” Group.

The idea being that you set out consciously to get a great shot somewhere. Unlike “Picture Of The Day”, it can’t be a spontaneous shot, but a mindful excercise.

Full disclosure…the day before, I started a cleansing diet of no caffeine, sugar, alcohol or dairy.

I guess I underestimated how badly the caffeine withdrawal would be.

I started my day feeling a bit lousy at 6 AM, but needed to walk, so I thought I’d capture something in the overcast cemetery.

This little angel was quietly waiting for her close up on the chilly, snow capped morning….

As the walk dragged on, it became very clear to me that I was withdrawing from caffeine in a BIG way.

The walk was cut short, and crushing headache, nausea, etc. ensued.

I ended up in bed for the next 24 hours, binge watching Downton Abbey.
(Where have you BEEN all my life?)…..

So if my 1st of 52 Saturdays is to be honestly reflected, it’s this image….(the only one I could show without scaring you!)

Hopefully, that’s my quota for winter ills.
The good news is I’m down five pounds, but would take those pounds over how I felt yesterday, any day!

And a big THANK YOU, to my wing man, husband extraordinaire, for the care yesterday.

In sickness and in health, you’re the greatest❤️

Have a healthy week!~

BON ANNIVERSAIRE~

One year! It’s flown by!
Thank you so much for all the emails and kind words.
2016 is going to be gangbusters!
I promise interesting content, fabulousity, and lots of fun. ❤️
Thanks for stopping by, and see you in a few~