Weekend Reading: 04.19.25
Happy Saturday! We’re expecting a warm, sunny weekend, and I’m so ready for it. It’s been a crazy week for me, with my husband’s phone breaking, some health surprises, and way too little downtime. I feel the need for a vacation, but not a physical one, just a mental one. My friend Carol says she’s learned not to stress about things she can’t control, and it’s something I need to work on. I am a teeny, tiny control freak, and my perfectionist tendencies often add to the stress level. My AAA personality has me running in high gear too often and it’s not doing my health any favors. I have some plans to take a mental vacation, and would love to hear how you do it. Any and all suggestions welcome.
Here’s what I wore when I took my husband to the doctor and then to the Apple store last week. (They wouldn’t fix his phone on my say so). It turned out his phone was dead on arrival.
Crossed My Radar:
- I have my eye on this gorgeous bag. It comes in several colors, but the Ivory is so pretty, and the price is great!
- I agree with these 7 things people over 50 should do everyday.
- I’m all of a sudden wanting pink in my wardrobe. The butter yellow was a fail, so I’m looking for pink. This lilac linen shirt isn’t pink, but wow, it’s so pretty.
- I was ridiculously excited to spot a beautiful Bobcat wandering in our backyard. It was probably hunting the cute bunny that’s been around too…I hope the bunny is quick.
Sales of note:
JENNI KANE still has their spring sale on with 20% off many great pieces.
BODEN: Take 10% off new arrivals with code V9AQ.
FREDA SALVADOR has 20% off my favorite woven flats in several colors.
CHICO’S: 50% off when you spend $200+.
J.CREW: 40% off site-wide during the Spring Sale.
J.JILL: Credit card holders take 20% off with code JJCO425.
NORDSTROM: New spring markdowns up to 50% off, plus get a $25 promotional gift card when you purchase a $150 gift card.
TALBOTS: 40% plus an extra 15% off markdowns, and 30% off dresses, skirts, shoes & accessories.
In case you missed it:
Have a fabulous weekend and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
The lavender top is gorgeous!!!
Jennifer, I thought my golden years would be spent in a state of bliss. No such luck! So I exercise with Miranda Esmund White. She is calming and does wonders for the body in less than 30 minutes a day. Take deep breaths frequently throughout the day. I hope you find a combination of practices that work for you. I enjoy your blog postings. I notice one of the things for over 50’s in one of the articles suggested maxing out on calcium. My endocrinologist cautioned to take only the amount of supplements you need as it is not good to overtax your liver. So much to consider what is best for our health. Relax and enjoy a happy Easter!
Thanks for your post. I, like you, want to fix everything that goes wrong for everyone in my family. In the past year i took care of my dying SIL and in doing so had an epiphany moment. We are not meant to fix/control everything! I now ask myself two questions. First is it realistic for me to try and if the answer is NO, I ask myself how fretting will improve my life (or my SIL’s). If the answer is. YES of course i go in guns a blazing 😊 it seems every day I am asking myself How will doing, feeling, talking about…..make my life better. Happy Easter to all.
Thanks for sharing Cathy. I am always learning.
Good morning and Happy Easter! I understand your go, go,go approach to life, and yes it will hit your health either physically or mentally, at least that’s my experience! For me being attentive to my “healthy habits” makes a huge difference. I have a morning time of Bible study,and if it can be outside all the better. I exercise 2x a week with weights and cardio, and do yoga 2x a week. I also have a simple gratitude journal that I use nightly. Those are my tips to help you slow down and “smell the roses”. Amy
Happy Easter Amy, thank you!
Wishing you a calmer more relaxing time next week. Taking care of loved ones after surgery is stressful. My husband and I just help take care of our granddaughter after her second knee surgery. Not fun watching our loved ones in pain. Mental breaks for me include knitting, baking, walking in my happy place, window shopping , going to the movies and sharing a meal with friends. You looked lovely in the lavender coat last week! You should definitely buy more lavender pieces.
Thanks Sylvia. I do love that color.
The lilac shirt is so pretty. That seems to be a great color for you – a little blue for the cool tone and a little pink for the brightening
I do all the things mentioned in the article about the longest-living people EXCEPT drink coffee? Do you suppose that will shorten my life?
If you love coffee, it may be worth it:)
I’m a low stress type of person, easy going BUT it’s best not to cross me. lol I’d say, for me, a mental vacation is my ability to marathon sleep; I can sleep 10 or 12 hours and not wake once. I rarely do this BUT when I need a mental vaca, that’s what I do. If I drink hot tea or beer in the evening, this marathon sleep will be interrupted.
I spend a lot of time at the gym (this includes outdoor hiking) and this given me a lot of peace. I had a particularly terrible, life-altering adverse reaction to moderna #2. My gym time, plus support from those who know what happened to me, did a lot to quell my anger and restore a sense of peace. The lack of this peace was (is) difficult / unfamiliar for an otherwise easy-going person. I also find gardening mentally very soothing.
Wow, I’m so sorry to hear about your bad reaction!
Box breathing is a great stress relief. Also, reading a good book!
When I’m feeling particularly under stress, I concentrate on slowing my breathing and find something fun or mundane to do and listen to an audio book. Also, I can loose myself in my “hobby haven” and craft away making cards or quilting. Other things I do that I find useful are making lists so I can check things off and setting a timer when I need to get things done or don’t want to let myself get over involved. It’s a nice pat on the back when you see how much you can get done in 20 minutes!
I love the cream woven purse from Quince and would order one if I hadn’t just purchased a cream bag. I have a camel cross body from Quince and it is beautiful leather. They also have a wonderful blazer similar to Veronica Beard’s famous one with zip inserts that’s on my bucket list. I agree with you about yellow. It looks terrible on me no matter the shade or intensity. I’ve recently embraced pink and am amazed at how many compliments I get.
This morning on my walk, I met Floyd, the charming 8 year old bloodhound. He was a wonderful friendly fellow who drools a lot with large droopy eyes and huge big paws. He was a big gentle pup. I did not take a picture, but wish I did. We don’t currently have any pets, but I love to meet and greet other pets and their owners on my walk. Floyd is still making me smile. Some u-tube channels can be very meditative, but I also agree that a non-media day is a great “palate cleanse”. Thank you for all you do. My brother likes to say of certain problems, “If money will fix it, it’s not really a problem.” I remind myself of this frequently.
Floyd sounds marvelous! I love dogs so much
I’m a ritual person since I retired. I feed and love up my little dog. Chat with my husband then he goes to his den to do his thing and I fix my blueberry bagel with blueberry Philadelphia cream cheese, not healthy I know, my black tea with almond milk and stevia in it and sit down and read your blog and Pamela Lutrell. I browse my emails and clear the decks. I look out at the mountains now hidden mostly in the clouds as we got 8 inches of very wet snow during yesterday’s and last night’s storm. We are expecting more today. Yay! Not so much. We are going to walk Trixy as the HOA has cleared all of the snow on walks and driveways. A real yay! I’m 80 and do stretch, it feels good. I smile a lot and we both enjoy chatting up our neighbors when we see them. I love my Audible books and color or do a jigsaw puzzle while listening. I try to do my chores before 3-4pm when my energy drops. I used to love knitting and sewing for my great grandchildren. My arthritis makes that hard now. I learned Spanish in my 50s and would like to pick it up again. I enjoy baking cookies but don’t want to gain any weight and I would eat them! So in the freezer they go wrapped so I only grab two at a time. I have balance issues so biking and skiing are finished. I find new and interesting things to do or read about every day instead. While still working in ICU, I was and still tend to show my AAA personality and probably have a bitch face. Smile and it goes away. I only watch the local news and David Muir, ABC nightly news. Anything else and my freak flag flies! Especially now! I love my husband even after 40 years together and married 31. I love my almost 19 year old fluffy cat who sleeps most of the time now. I love my 10 year old rescued Havanese dog, Trixy. My life is rich with love and I’m happy.
I’m so happy for you Sydney! xo
I listen to Steven webb’s Inner Peace meditation podcasts for mental vacations. He even has one for those of us who think we can’t meditate. That hooked me.
I have never heard of him. I will check him out now! Thanks
Hi Jennifer. If you’re looking for pinks this season Talbots has some nice items. I bought the pink denim jacket and love it! I get many compliments on it. Also at Talbots I bought a cute short sleeve pink top that ties in the front. Happy pink shopping!!
It’s hard to get that mental vacation, isn’t it? Staying away from news has helped and I no longer engage in social media ( although I do check instagram for those I follow) I’ve found reading a good escape mechanism or binge watching period pieces on pbs.
Btw, are your eyes better? Did the drops you ordered help?
Wishing you a relaxing weekend!
The drops are very,very helpful, thanks
My mental health break includes a good book and a cup of tea … preferably Chamomile or Earl Grey … my comfy recliner and my heating pad if my back is acting up. Alternately I find that playing Mahjong on my tablet occupies my thoughts and gives me a mental break from going over in my mind what is stressing me. I come away from both of these calmer and refreshed.
Tea is a big soother for me too!
For me gratitude is the best stress buster. I do know that what ever my troubles are there is someone worst off. Counting your blessings is much better than counting sheep. Happy Easter to all
Yes! Thanks for the reminder
Happy Saturday and Happy Easter from another teeny, tiny control freak to another. It is an exhausting experience!!!!
LOL, yes it is. Happy Saturday xo
So look forward to your posts. Especially those that address age, since I’m past 78 and heading toward 79, lol. My best way to disengage is spending time with my two rescue dogs. We unexpectedly lost our third the last week in March and I was totally devastated because I had no idea there was anything wrong. But the Vet told me that what he found would not show up without an ultrasound. That helped with the guilt, but not the loss.
So I’m spending more time with the two I have because they are experiencing a loss also.
I had my colors done with House of Colour a couple of weeks ago and it has given me the nudge (kick in the pants) to clear out my closet finally.
Actually cleaning and declutterring is a great way for me to clear my head and just be in the moment.
Wishing everyone a safe and fulfilling Easter.
I’m so sorry Rhoda. They take a huge part of our hearts with the when they go. I think I will declutter a bit today too. It always makes me feel better