A Book, Glass of Wine, Friends and Polka Dots

I am back with my Fashion Friday posts!  I know it's been a little bit of a break but I am back and I have content planned for the next few weeks.  I am not sure where you in the pandemic fight in the world but here we are doing well and things have re-opened.  Although things are reopening we are still trying to stay vigilant and cautious as best as we can.  Lucky for us we are spending most of our time at the lake this summer, surrounded by our lake neighbor bubble and going to the beach where we can keep social distancing.  I continue to shop once a week and we haven't even gone out for dinner yet!  That all leads me to say, that there is really minimal to no need for me to shop.  Sad but true.  Anyone else?  

So in the spirit of shopping my closet, I wore this outfit twice in the past two months.  Any occasion to get even a little dressed up I jump on it.  After months of not getting together monthly with my book club we were able to come together for an evening outdoors where we could still keep some social distance and keep it outdoors.  I tried to keep the snacks individualized with little bags of chips and individually wrapped chocolates.  We discussed Kristin Hannah's book, The Great Alone.  It's a MUST read!  Set in Alaska, in the middle of nowhere, we get to know characters that are plagued by PTSD, depression, love, devotion, and loyalty.  In the depths of great alone, friendship and bravery can also be discovered.  READ IT! 

I also wore this outfit for my birthday, read more about it here!  I love this tiered, ruffle, polka -a -dot skirt.  It has everything to make it a staple in my summer closet, while also being functional and easily transitioned into fall (no I am not thinking about fall fashion; don't rush my summer).  I paired it up with a longer, mauve tunic that is lightweight and also adds softness to the black of the skirt.  These pink slides are my favorites because they are so adorable with their pearls and ruffles!  My big birthday gift from everyone this year was investing in a new 35mm lens for photography.  But I did also get a cute little pair of Hillberg and Berk earrings.  Moment of TRUTH!  I bought two pairs as gifts but when I received them, I loved them so much I decided to keep a pair for me.  LOL.  Have you ever done that?

It's my BIRTHDAY and I'll twirl if I want to.  

Shop This Post:
Shein Polka Dot Skirt (similar)
Michael Kors slides (similar)
Hillberg & Berk jewelry 

Tell me where you are at with the pandemic?  What is your summer looking like?

Simply Perfect 38th Birthday

Hello blogging world.  Its been a minute or maybe a little bit longer.  I don't want to get into my pause, it's not very interesting, but I want to reassure all that my family is well and I am well.  I just lost my voice, my words, my desire, and I needed time to just engage in deep conversation, learning, reflection in my own home and with my children.  Sometimes I feel that the best way for us to impact change is by focusing on our own growth and being role models for our children. 

Putting that aside, I turned 38 yesterday!!!!!  I feel fantastic and when my husband asked what I wanted to do my answer was to keep it simple.  I wanted to see my family and I didn't want to go all out with decorations, or a special photo shoot, or try to round everyone up.   Sometimes there is so much hype and pressure to make this day glamorous and "insta" worthy, but I didn't want it to feel like work.  I wanted it to be a slower pace, or at least one that I choose, with a balance of getting chores accomplished and feeling like I acknowledged the day and myself in some small way.  So here is a real and honest look of my PERFECTLY SIMPLE birthday.

7:00 am Wake up time.

7:15 a.m. 5 km run with Oreo!

8:00 a.m. Shower & get ready for the day. Listened to Brene Brown and Glennon Doyle at the same time. Check this podcast out!!!  If you haven't read the book Untamed by Glennon Doyle, I highly recommend it.   Also, Planned my outfit for dinner, check it out on Fashion Friday on the blog!

8:45 a.m. Coffee and lake laundry begins. We arrived home Sunday night after 10 days at the lake, sooooooo much laundry.

9:30 a.m. Coffee on the deck, answering birthday texts and meal/grocery planning.

10:15a.m. Costco. Yikes it was busy.

12:30 p.m. More laundry.

1:00 pm cleaning.  Halie has asked to learn how  to do a deep clean in the bathroom in order to make some money.  I pay a cleaner usually 2x/month and she would like to try to take one of those time slots for herself, so we are starting off with how to deep clean a bathroom.  She did awesome!!!!  While she was doing that I was off/on bouncing between helping her and vacuuming and washing the floors.

2:15 p.m. Lunch time.

2:40 p.m. Reading on the deck.

3:00 p.m. Nap. Quick naps are my favorite.

3:30 p.m. Sweet birthday surprise by my little Anya. She made me a special birthday treat, marshmallows, melted chocolate and Reese's peanut butter cups, topped with strawberries. Delicious!

4:00 p.m. Caught up on a few more texts and FB messages. More laundry.

4:50 p.m. Started prepping dinner.

5:00 p.m. Freshened up and got dressed for dinner. Followed by some blog pictures in the backyard, details to come on Friday.

6:00 pm Dinner with my parents, grandma and my little family.  It was absolutely delicious and we ate on the deck.

7:00 p.m. My aunt and uncle were able to join us for birthday cake and drinks.  It was exactly what I wished for.  To be surrounded by family.  This was the first time I saw all of these people together since probably February for Logan's birthday.  I've seen them at a social distance here and there but not all together.  I was grateful that we could be together outdoors with some distance.  

My grandma gave me the best card ever.  She kept saying, it's not a birthday card but I didn't want to go to the store to get one (COVID).  I can't imagine wanting to have a better friend than my grandma.

Also, my husband and the girls surprised me with this awesome mug from https://gossby.com/ and I love it!

Most of my family gave me money to help me buy a new lens for my camera and I love it!

9:00 p.m. Ended the evening off with a glass of wine and chatting with my sister and brother -in-law.  Really missing my sister and wishing that we had actual plans in the near future, but I am also thankful for technology.

10:00 p.m. Watched an episode of the Office with my husband.  

A perfectly simple day.  Thank you to everyone that sent messages on social media, texts, voice mails, snaps.  I felt so loved and so acknowledged.  Love everyone in my life, near and far.

Come back on Friday for my regular Fashion Friday post.  

This is 37!

This is 37.   Yup, as I type this I am official 37.  What does that even mean?  Truth be told, I have no idea.  There are pros and cons to turning another year older, as with everything in life.  I don’t have a birthday week, or a birthday month, it’s not important to me and it’s not a priority what-so-ever.  What is a priority for me is that I have a day that nourishes my soul.  At this age that means acknowledgment from the people I love, and thank you all for the phone calls, messages, texts, etc. It means slowing down and taking a deep breath.  It means acknowledging and reflecting on all that is good in my life and how I came this point in my life.  I don’t need a fancy party, or a large gathering, because let’s face it, who would have to plan and organize it all?!?  ME.  On this day, I want to do and oversee as few things as possible. 

 

Here is what I know to be true at this point in my life. 

1.  I have a family that I love.  I have a husband that stands by me, encourages me and supports me.  I have two healthy, vibrant, strong willed daughters who I am truly proud of.   I have parents who have been my rocks in life, have modeled perseverance, work hard, kindness,  love and ambition.  I have a sister that has my back every time that truly matters.  I have two grandmothers still alive.  I have extended family that I trust with my hopes, dreams and my childrens’well being.  I have a village. 

2.  I have true friends.  I don’t need mean girls, or cliques, in my life.  Long gone are the days of needing to fit in or be popular.  My two friends, Amber and Ashley, stood up for me at my wedding 16 years ago and to this day, they are my most trusted confidants. They are grounding, They will call me, gently, on my shit.  And they will stand up for me every SINGLE TIME.  They are my family just as much as any blood relative.   Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and adding to my tribe of friends, who like the above support and fulfill me. They are people that I admire, aspire to be more like, find calming, uplifting and supportive.  I can honestly say, that I don’t really have toxic relationships in my life and I when I do, it’s easier to just distance myself from them. 

3.  My career.  I am proud truly proud of the work I do and all that I have accomplished.  Is there more I want to do?  Sure.  But the difference now is that I feel more confident that I can and also in the fact that learning can come in many forms, rather than just that of gaining more school experience.  While listening to Rachel Hollis’s newest book Girl Stop Apologizing, I realized that over the years I had developed more confidence in myself, in all aspects but also in my career.  She mentions that men apply for jobs if they feel they have at least 60% of the qualifications, while women wait to apply for jobs that they have 100% of the qualifications.  The issue with this is that we are ever rarely 100% qualified for anything.  I used to fall into this line of thinking often but with age I am getting better at taking risks and knowing that I can learn the things I don’t know.  The people I choose to surround myself with in my career are those who are passionate, compassionate, are both teachers and learners themselves, and are celebrate others and their own accomplishments equally. 

4.  My life.  I try to live my best life.  This past weekend my parents reminded me that I am now just a smidge older then when they arrived in Canada.  Their lives in upheaval.  Scared.  Penniless.  Without the English language.  Without normality.  Without a clear path. 

I have EVERYTHING and SO MUCH MORE than I need.  I am LUCKY.  I am GRATEFUL.  Right now, I am sitting on my porch, at my cabin, that I can afford to pay a mortgage and bills on, sure it means I have to budget and make sacrifices, but I have that choice.  I am relaxed, drinking a mug of hot tea, as my girls and their friend are settling in for the night.  I am in a safe place.  I have kind neighbors that accept me and never make me feel less than.  I am listening to the birds and can see a deer grazing in the forest just across the road. The beach is a mere 5 minute stroll from where I sit.  My life is SO GOOD and I know it.

So what’s different. 

1.  My body aches.  You guys, it really aches already.  It breaks my heart to think that I may need to hang up my running shoes, or my wakeboard up soon.  I’ve really made it a priority to try to get a handle on my back the past few months by doing physio, rolling daily, chiropractor, massage, yoga, etc. and every time I feel hopefully something just goes out of alignment, or a muscle seizes and I feel discouraged.  I am not ready to give up yet, but that’s something I am struggling deeply with.

2.  Energy.  I used to run, like full on run, on 6 or less hours of sleep.  I was game and ready for anything.  I’ve always been an early riser, but this past year, and probably the past few years, I’ve felt the energy slipping away.  I am bone tired after work.  I drag myself out of my bed to workout in the am, dreading it but knowing that is’ the only time to make it happen.  I am falling asleep at the dinner table, so I now have a 10 -15 quite time that really does the trick.  I still do a lot but I am quickly realizing I don’t have the same energy I had in my 20s and once again I am not overly comfortable with that change. 

So there are just a few random thoughts about turning a year older.  I had an amazing day at the beach with my family and a more amazing evening with our lake family in the evening.  I was showed with cake, daisy’s and one of the most creative gifts in my life, all things from 1982.  It was simple and PERFECT.