JudyHD
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Last year, as I was planning for this new phase in my life, I made a list of things I wanted to do, activities I wanted to try. One item that soon made its way to the top of the list was “education, classes, workshops.” Ever since college, I’ve had a real love of learning. While in school, buried in term papers and projects, I promised myself that one day I would take classes just for the sheer joy of learning about things that I was interested in, with no worry about grades or papers. Over the years, I’ve taken a class here and there, which only served to wet my appetite.
The weather here in Southern California has been warm and beautiful the past week or so. The wildflowers have burst upon the scene and all manner of blooms are taking center stage. Case in point – my entryway arbor vine has exploded. Although cooler temperatures are on the way, with the current warm temps and blue skies, I’m craving everything Spring – including clothes.
The title of this post was squealed by my sister amidst much laughter while playing a game of cards. When she won, with joyful righteousness, she waved her arms in the air to proclaim her victory. At the exact moment that her arms were waving their delight, she squealed, “don’t look at my arms, don’t look at my arms.” Of course, her husband and I laughed hysterically, as did she, but her angst at her jiggling arms being witnessed by others (who love her dearly, by the way) was something I completely understood and could relate to.
Don’t you love Spring? The promise of rebirth, a fresh start, things in bloom and longer days. Time to get back into the garden, do more dining al fresco, lighten up the wardrobe. The Spring cleaning bug bit me last weekend, and I tore through my closets like a woman on a mission. I actually was on a mission – to refresh and reframe
Scenario: You’ve hit your 50’s, 60’s, 70’s or beyond and you want to amp things up a bit in your style? Maybe you’re starting a new job or career, maybe you’re getting off that track and trying something completely different, or maybe, just maybe you’re finally giving your Self the time and attention you deserve and you feel like a new look is in order. Where to begin. I have a suggestion.
How many times in life have you waited before you were willing to try something different, to reach out to someone, to start over – simply because you wanted to “get it right” before you acted? If you’re like most people (and me),
Here’s another Shop Your Closet opportunity. Just to illustrate how simple it can be to change your look and expand your wardrobe options, Dona and I took a basic outfit – pants and shirt — and created three different “stories.” Starting with a denim shirt and a pair of chinos, we added different jackets and shoes to create new outfits. Maybe one of these is more “you” than another,
I went into a beauty supply store recently to pick up a facial serum. I knew exactly what I wanted as I had just finished using a sample and really liked it. So, I headed directly to that section of the store. Before I got there, however, a young sales clerk caught me and offered her assistance. I thought, “Why not. Maybe there’s something new I should know about.” When I told her what I was there for,
The other night in yoga class, my teacher talked about the principle of “effort and ease.” Basically, it means that in our yoga practice, we need to find a balance between the effort and intensity that we put into our physical practice, with the calming of our minds as we relax into each pose. To get the most out of our yoga practice, there must be a balance between our minds and our bodies.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Today, we celebrate love in all its forms. Romantic, parental, friend-to-friend, pet-love and more. I like Valentine’s Day. It’s a nice reminder to give a little extra time and attention to our beloveds. My husband and I have a sweet tradition.
I love distressed jeans. And since it appears that they are still among the trends for Spring 2017 (yay!), I thought it would be fun to talk about how those of us who might have worn them the first time they appeared on the fashion scene in the 60’s might wear them now . . . or not.
Like you, I’ve been watching the world going through such troubling contortions, shock and pain recently. And I’ve started wondering – as we age, with the life experience we’ve gained and the wisdom earned, what is our role in these crazy times? What “gifts of age” should we be sharing most now? There is certainly a lot of us – talking Boomers and older – out there. Imagine the impact we can have if we share . . .
Remember when I mentioned my friend Dona’s styling service called Shop Your Closet? Well, we decided that once in a while, we’d shop MY closet and do some wardrobe styling. Maybe this will give you an idea or two of how to make new outfits from forgotten items in your own closet. So, to start, I found a favorite pair of pants that I rarely wear. They’re made from a kind of brocade-ish, black & green satin/polyester fabric with a nice weight to them. Since they’re a little on the fancy side, I typically only pull them out for holiday gatherings and events – one season a year. I love these pants and recently wore them in a more casual setting – and it worked well. So Dona and I thought we’d try a couple of additional options to see if I could get even more use out of them.… View Post
I came across this poem by Derek Walcott about 3 years ago, just before I turned 60. It rang so true to me then, and still to this day. Each time I read it, I feel a special peace.
Meet my dear friend, Dona. She’s a stylist, comedienne, trusted friend and a downright amazing human being. We’ve been friends for . . . wait for it . . . . 46 years! We met in our high school Choir, and as they say, the rest is history. Our senses of humor or silliness, and our love of fashion were the instant glue that bound us together. Our friendship has endured many changes in our lives. And now, here we are starting a new adventure together.
Have you seen the movie LaLa Land yet? It stars the adorable duo of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. They play dreamers in Los Angeles – he is a passionate and struggling Jazz pianist, and she is an aspiring and struggling actress. While the story is part relationship seeking, part dream weaving, it is also clearly a love story to L.A. After all, what other city in the world can boast more dreamers, artists, and makers than L.A? The creative energy and magic that is generated every day in this city could light up a hundred cities. I watched the movie, mesmerized on so many levels. All the familiar locations throughout the city, the romance of song & dance, even the scenes of our well-known traffic. But what struck me in my core and has stayed with me for the last week is the passion of pursuing a dream. The… View Post
What you wear is a kind of shorthand communication that tells people something about you. Conservative? Artsy? Sporty? Stuck in a time warp? Hiding from the world? Elegant? Fancy? Hip? There are as many definitions, or stories, as there are people. And there is no wrong answer (well, almost no). I love how I can use my clothes to make me feel a certain way. I love how what I wear helps me tell the world who I am – or at least who I am that day. I love how I become more confident when I wear something that makes me feel the most like . . . well, me. Clothes let you tell your own story. Just to be perfectly clear, when I use the word “story,” I’m not suggesting that we be untruthful or phony. I’m a communicator by trade and by nature, so to me, it’s… View Post
Well, here goes nothing. I’m…retired? Holy cow. That can’t be right. How did I get to “that place” already? It appears to be true, however. Feeling a little insecure, excited, lost, adventurous, happy, sad…confused. So many things I want to do and explore. Places to go. People to see. But I want to nest, too. Stay home – garden, cook, work out, more yoga, more fashion…and no schedules. Will there be a new me emerging? If so, what happens to the “old” me? And what was wrong with her? Oh geez…you get my drift (into space)?
A brand new, clean slate, fresh-from-the-start year! Oh how I love the beginning of a new year, a new journey. All that possibility of what could be, just around the corner. While it’s tempting to set about making the traditional list of resolutions and goals, I’m trying to redirect that energy to what will be my word of the year for 2017. My guiding light, so to speak. As you know, I’m new to this “off career” thing (still can’t even say the “R” word). Given that reticence and all the unknowns that are in front of me, I’ve decided that my perfect word for 2017 is . . .
It may seem superficial, or frivolous even, to worry about defining one’s style, especially when there are so many more important things in the world to be concerned with. But I happen to believe that when we care about how we present ourselves to the world, we become better people, more confident, powerful and capable of changing the world – even if the change in the world starts as small as a simple act of kindness every day. “Clothes aren’t going to change the world. The women who wear them will.” Anne Klein
