Summer Reflections ... What I Wore ...and More

 

September always has me wanting 

to take the time to

 reflect on my summer.

This year I would call mine a 

Summer of Resilience

(not that the last few seasons haven't also been)

With what feels like a myriad of uncertainty

for so many different reasons

I have held fast this summer to

some definite 

coping strategies

(doesn't life always call for coping strategies)

By far my favorite these days

Hiking in Nature.

So many of my favorite 

Summer Memories

are of the hikes

Jeff and I have taken.

Our seriousness about hiking 

came about because

I have been on a personal quest

to loose weight this year

(so far it's 40 plus pounds lost)

to age as healthy as I can!

Along the way

I realized just how much

being out in nature

calmed my soul.

Hiking in nature has become 

a soul cleanse.

A daily reset.

A reminder of all  the beauty and grace

in the world.

A way to honor 

my body, mind and soul.

Of course

I still find joy and beauty

curating fabulous looks.

What I Wear

has always been important to me

for so many different reasons ...

From simply wanting to feel good about myself 

to honoring an occasion

or 

an experiment in creativity.

What I Wear

brings me Joy.

These days I intend yo 

squeeze all the joy I can find in life

Taking the time to truly

Savor and enjoy

it all.

Especially taking the time to 

take in nature's beauty!

My

 Catherine Robinson Cashmere Robe

is still one of my favorite pieces this season.

As I write this there is a cool breeze blowing through

reminding me it will soon be cool enough to pull 

this beauty out again!

Neutrals will forever be one of my favorite palettes 

to wear.

I have added in some clogs into my rotation

and really enjoying them with so many different looks.

They give a current vibe to any outfit

and 

are really comfortable to wear.

Definitely a winning combination

that I will bee taking into our

mild Southern California Autumns .

Jeff and I headed down to the beach

early one summer morning

to shoot my

Catherine Robinson Robe

it ended up to be such a beautiful

summer memory.

Jeff and I have been 

thriving 

even amidst the last very trying

20 months

taking our vows of 

Richer or poorer very seriously.

We will be celebrating 34 years this week

I realize now the true meaning of the marriage vows.

Marriage really does take 

commitment to all of the words

(except that dated obey, that definitely weren't in my vows!)

For those of you who have followed my blog for years

you know Jeff and I have had our struggles

(I wrote a series HERE)

So it feel really good

to know we can still thrive

 as a couple and individuals

through some really uncertain times.

I have mentioned here and on Instagram

I have been making loosing weight a priority

in my life this year.

Not to be 'thin' as much as to be

Healthy and Fit

to be able to age in the best way I can.

Along the way I realized

I wanted to 

embrace my body

with 

love and gratitude

for all it has done for me these 62 years.

No longer on a quest for unrealistic 'perfection'

but instead

honoring my body

by feeding it healthy nutrition

taking it inside and outside for workouts.

These days when I do strenuous hikes 

I thank my strong, muscular thighs

for their

 strength and service.

No longer do I chastise them in my head

thinking they should look different

or be less.

I happily love and adore my thunder thighs

with pride.

For me

that is a huge mindset change.

I suffered with eating disorders for so many years

that even the idea of trying to loose weight

always had me fearing a return to bulimia.

Now

 loving and appreciating my

body

just as it is

feels more empowering

than I can explain here today.

I have also been in my studio this summer creating new pieces.

I haven't accomplished as much as I would have liked

but I am choosing to give myself grace.

And continue on

Slow and Steady.

I was tickled to end up on

South Coast Plaza'a Instagram!

As well as

 Orange Coast Magazine!

It's been another summer of 

Big Hat Love

Always Big Accessory Love!

Exaggerated Silhouettes

for the dramatic win.

so many outfits

for getting in long city hikes

that I can still feel good about 

going in for casual lunches.

Getting my miles in

and then lunch

my favorite combination this summer!

Still loving my fabulous 

Floral Headbands

this summer.

Especially for 

Sunset Strolls

Reflecting on my summer here

has been very cathartic for me.

I think it's all too easy

for me

to give so far too much mental time

to worrying about 

what might be ...

that I loose focus

on all fo the good

that is right before me.

Taking the time for

Summer Reflections

has really helped remind me 

to step back and 

look at the bigger picture.

What are you

most Grateful for

this season?

I would love to hear!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life