Monday Musings From The Construction Zone

Lately, I can’t seem to get enough of red. Not just any red…a cool-toned raspberry red which is most flattering on me. It feels fresh, happy, and just the right amount of bold for fall. I’ve found myself eyeing raspberry sweaters, shoes, and even a handbag. (Yes, I said it. A red handbag. We’ll see how long I resist.) I fell hard for these shoes, but Nordstrom was sold out of my size, so I checked on Amazon and scored a pair! They’re super comfy right out of the box and certainly put a pep in my step.

I’m not planning to drench myself head-to-toe in scarlet….but I’m enjoying the way a small pop adds some sass, the way a swipe of lipstick can light up your whole face. It also lifts my spirits…which I could certainly use these days.

Meanwhile, the saga of furniture shopping continues. We went to check out a floor model sale over the weekend, and everything looked a little… tired. The colors were off, the finishes dated, and nothing felt like it belonged in a fresh home. The headboards were too large to even contemplate our famous narrow corner, and the coffee tables…well, let’s just say one met an untimely end at my hands.

In my defense, it was displayed precariously, but there’s nothing quite like the sound of marble shattering on a showroom floor. If you’ve ever wondered how to command instant attention in a store, that’s one way.

Back at the condo, things are no calmer. Half the floor is currently ripped up, which means I’m walking around in closed-toed shoes indoors like some kind of warehouse worker. They’ve now decided to patch only the damaged parts, rather than replacing them all…which is either very clever or a slow-motion disaster. I’ll let you know in a few weeks. Mostly, I just want to reassemble my home and remember what it feels like to live without tiptoeing around construction dust.

The weather here has turned cooler, which caught me off guard. The California me thought a white shirt would suffice yesterday, but apartment-in-renovation me found herself wishing for a trench or packable nylon jacket during Sunday’s stroll. It’s that shoulder season where the air is crisp and the leaves are threatening to change…I can’t wait. This lightweight coat arrived, and I am stupidly excited to wear it! The color is one of my very favorite neutrals, and the shape could not be more classic. I sized down to an XS, so it does run large.

We had a long, exhausting travel day that cost us tickets to see Neil Young on Saturday night. I’d been looking forward to it, but maybe it’s just as well. At this stage, I mostly want to hear the old hits anyway, and their new albums don’t quite hit the same nostalgic nerve. Besides, a concert in the rain, on a picnic blanket, isn’t nearly as appealing as a chair in a climate-controlled symphony hall. Rock and roll is fun, but so is lumbar support.

Finally, I highlight of my week was something far more uplifting…Grandparents Day at my littlest guy’s school. I wore a blue dress, and he showed up with a bright green cast on his leg after cracking his tibia in a toy-related mishap. He’s already figured out how to hobble, hop, and maneuver like a pro. His spirit is unstoppable, and I was reminded that resilience doesn’t just belong to kids; they certainly show us how it’s done.

So tell me, what’s been on your mind lately? And more importantly…raspberry red… do we love it, or is this just me needing the medicinal uplift of color these days?