that's a wrap

Okay so I'm done wearing these pants.  I really love them but five days straight, I want my jeans!  I do like these photos bc in this light you can really see how wide the waistband is and how deep the pockets are on these Everlane chinos.  I think both are key to their comfort and wearability. 

And while I'm at it, I love the Everlane Re-cashmere sweater (made from 60% recycled cashmere and 40% wool).  I love the vintage cut on the sweater.  Compared to their original cashmere, it's not quite as thick or soft, it's more lightweight and perfect for Fall, or layered will be great in the winter.  And dem boots! 

Thank you all for your lovely and so touching comments...x

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17

one of those days

Hi friends.  Yesterday was just one of those days.  I went to yoga, came home, made lunch and had a few errands to run but decided against that.  Instead I stayed home and kinda felt sorry for myself.  Days like that happen and come out of nowhere.  Today is better tho.  That's how it goes, up and down and I'm powerless over that.  All I have to do is just let it all flow.  There's no good or bad, right or wrong, just what is.  And that's how I'm getting through this.  x

PS - Just lazed around in comfort in these Everlane chinos and a super soft 2nd hand white cotton blouse. 

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63

everlane and pearls

You guys have seen this combo before but I wear it a lot.  It reminds me of a jumpsuit without the jumpsuit issues.  Super comfy and casual.  I paired it with the relaxed muscle tank from Everlane which I'm in love with too bc I've reached the expiration date of wearing skin tight tank tops.  I think these are a little classy.  I rarely wear jewelry but I was heading out to lunch and thought this pearl necklace might add a touch of chic to the outfit.  I used to have a bunch of different pearl necklaces, including a few from my mom and I took them to a local jeweler and they made one big necklace out of them.  So this is the look of the day!  x

PS - thanks for all the comments and questions.  And mostly for putting up with me!

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17

vegan or not?

First the outfit and then the vegan issue.  This week I'll be styling these Everlane easy chino's.  This is what I wore yesterday.  Ten minutes prior, I was napping on the sofa. A pair of shoes, handbag and sunglasses and I'm ready to go.  Easy.

*

So it's high time I cleared up whether I am vegan or not.  People want to know why am I wearing new leather shoes?  So instead of answering all the emails I'll just answer here.  First of all, I'm doing the best I can right now. The stress of the last 2 years is finally setting in.  And that's another post of its own but today lets just chat about being vegan shall we?


Twelve years ago when I started eating a vegan diet I referred to myself as vegan bc that seemed to be what I was but obviously I was not. I wear wool, cashmere, silk and leather shoes.  A true vegan would not do that.  They would not even use 2nd hand leather products or drive a car with leather trim interior.  When I first started I still had a closet full of clothing that did not fit the vegan definition but I kept it all because I wanted to.  When I wanted something I did my best to replace it with a 2nd hand item or if new, something vegan.  But over the last couple of years I loosened my standards and new leather shoes have made their way it into my closet.  It would be easy to blame the stress of the last 2 years on that but I don't want to.  My favorite booties by Madden Girl finally bit the dust so I replaced them with a new leather bootie.  So of the ten or so shoes in my closet, 5 are leather.  The truth is I never was a "real vegan" and I am not now.  I have for 12 years eaten a vegan diet but will now refer to it as just a healthy diet instead bc I don't want to confuse or piss anyone off.  Just want to clear that up and hope this helps.  See you tomorrow.  x

PS - Why don't I answer your burning questions this week also?  Email me or ask in the comments. x

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54

when life is hard & other things

When life gets hard at least I can wear easy pants.  Seriously if I'm having a hard day the only thing that can make it worse is wearing tight, uncomfortable pants and an uncomfortable bra.

These Everlane easy chino pants are extraordinarily comfortable and yet manage to look chic.  I mean I'm basically wearing grandma pants but they are cut perfectly so don't look it. They are just what I need for those days I just can't. Which lately seems like every stinking day.

Plus they have pockets which makes them pretty darn perfect.  Plus plus, Everlane is offering free 2 day shipping on all U.S. orders til 9pm tonight and free express shipping on all international orders of $100 or more.  Early Christmas present to oneself?  I'm planning to wear these for one week straight and report back here on just how versatile they are.  Consider this look day #1. 

Moving on...

Reasons not to Travel - "Simple things aid my recovery:  my own bed, friends, familiar faces, places and of course my loving and loyal cat.  I have none of these when I travel."


I'm pretty sure I've shared this historical home before but I look at it often.  It's in the top ten list of beautiful homes I keep in my head.

And if by chance, you missed out on the H&M release last year of the GP&J Baker collection blouse I'm wearing, and are still kicking yourself, there is this to the rescue.  I'm stopped everytime I wear something from that collection and asked where I got it.

And i get this.

x

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23

these boots are made for walkin

Hi, me again.  Are you sick of me yet?!  I am.  Anyway, today I want to share with you these fabulous Boss Boots in Snake from Everlane that are made in this factory in Italy with only 20 employees.  I love that about them.  Everlane generously gave me these boots and the sweater I'm wearing to share with the world.

I unintentionally styled this whole shebang and look, I match the room.  But seriously, in the words of Nancy Sinatra, these boots are made for walkin (just try and get that song out of your head today).  I was 9 when that song was number 1 on the billboard charts.  I remember my oldest sister had the 45 and she played it non stop.

The sweater, which is made from recycled cashmere and wool is not yet available but Here is a page full of gorgeous sweaters.

The boots are just badass and I can't do anything about it.  They just are.  Everything I put with them just looks better.   They fit true to size and the block heel is one of the secrets to their comfort.  I don't know exactly why their boots fit so well but maybe it's because they are made so well!

So tell me all the important stuff, do you remember Nancy Sinatra?  Do you love these boots?  Does your wardrobe match your decor?  x

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41

caring for cashmere

I have slowly, over the years acquired a variety of cashmere sweaters.  Some thrifted and some from Everlane.  My thrifted cashmere is v. old and fragile whereas my Everlane sweaters are new and quite durable.  Some of the things I can do with an Everlane cashmere sweater I'd never do to an old one and that's an important distinction.

With my vintage cashmere I gently wash it in a sink of cool water and gingerly dry it making sure to not pull too much on it bc that can break the fibers where they are weakest.  All my vintage cashmere has moth holes in it.  Most of the holes I can repair but some I cannot.  I wear it anyway.

While I find caring for all my things v comforting and soothing, This method of handling my new Everlane cashmere was making me nervous bc new cashmere is quite an investment.  But one day I made what I thought was a big mistake and instead turned out to be a happy accident.

One day I was gathering my laundry and I accidentally scooped up a cashmere sweater with it and tossed it all into the wash.  While I was at work, Larry tossed it all into the dryer at normal heat for 50 minutes!  The next morning I pulled the laundry out of the dryer and there it was, my new Everlane  cashmere sweater in absolutely perfect condition.  Actually, it was a tiny bit smaller a little softer.  I couldn't believe it.  Everlane cashmere is so good!

My sweater care kit

Since then my new method of caring for cashmere is a mix of the old and new ways.  First of all I only wash my sweaters once a season.  I always wear an undershirt or camisole to protect it from me sweating.  In addition to that, in between wears it gets sprayed with The Laundress Wool & Cashmere spray.  If the weather is nice I will put it out on the line to air out.  Second, I wash them in the washing machine on the normal but short/cold setting with The Laundress Wool and Cashmere Shampoo.  I love this product because it has oils in it that protect the fibers.  Now when I remove it from the washing machine I can make the call as to whether I will hang it to dry or put it through the dryer.  I almost always line dry but there has been an occasion or two where I did use the dryer and again they came out perfect.

During the summer I invested in The Laundress Zip Canvas Storage Bag to protect the sweaters when they are stored away. So far so good and I'm so looking forward to wearing them all soon.  Happy washing.  x

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19

fall & everlane day boots

Good morning lovelies. I've been waiting forever to tell you about these Everlane Day Boot in Ecru.  Larry bought them for me for my birthday last year.  And by bought them for me I mean I picked them out and he paid for them:).

I'm also wearing my Who What Wear tee.  Believe it or not they are still making them (or v similar) right here at Target. The jeans are from Everlane too.  I don't know how they do it but they make my legs look long, which they are not!

.

The boots are incredibly soft and luxurious and almost (almost) feel like I don't deserve them.  I love the color bc they are not bright white, much more neutral which I love.  They go with everything  and are like walking on air.  So glad the temps will be cooling bc I will be wearing the heck out of these.   Larry would have approved.  x

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26

the reading room

Ok, so here we go, this is a bit of a difficult post to write but I must.  What once was the office is now the Reading Room. That hurts.

Over the past year and a half Larry's office gradually turned into a semi-hospital room.  We put in a bed, recliner, oxygen and various other things to make him comfortable.  Without realizing it, I began to hate that room because it was a place of misery for him.  I don't really even like talking or thinking about it.  When he passed away I knew I had to do something.  I couldn't even step a foot inside it because it had such a heavy feeling to it.  A dear friend came to my rescue and we painted it Benjamin Moore's Simply White like the rest of the house.  We shuffled a few things around and now it is light and airy and it's ok.  I want to call it the Reading Room but it will probably always remain The Office.  And that's ok too.

I hope you enjoy this tour, there are lots of juicy details.  This is a difficult room to photograph because only one small window with blazing early morning light. If I wait til that light mellows, it's too dark.  So this is the best I can do.  Also fyi, the only thing I purchased was the vintage brass floor lamp in the corner which came from an estate sale for $8.  I hope you enjoy...

Larry climbed Mt. Whitney 22 times.

*I thought about listing the prices I paid for everything in this room but it became overwhelming bc there is actually a lot of stuff here.  To be honest everything was dirt cheap or free.  It's all just junk but I kinda like it bc ea piece has a story.


**Please let me know in the comments if you prefer posts with more or less photos.  I try to err on the side of less prob bc I'm wired that way and also bc I don't want to bore or overwhelm you.  x

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76

day 7 - friday

5am

Too good to be true, another 5.  French press, open windows, check weather.  It looks like things will be cooling down finally.

6:30

2nd cup of coffee and my toast.  Pray, meditate, journal.

7am

Take my walk and do my watering.  Summer has been brutal to my garden.  Ran into my friend that will soon be my neighbor. 

9am

Back inside and eating my oats and typing here.  Reading your comments and realizing that I too will be sad when this series is over.  It's not easy doing this everyday but I wonder if I can write more often?  These posts did not really rely on lots of photos and "new" ideas.  I just wrote what I did and you liked it.  So hmmmm...

12pm

Made a quick salad of spinach, figs and walnuts.  The dressing is equal parts balsamic vinegar and honey or agave.

1:30

Meeting with a good friend.  The past 2 months I've been helping her decorate her home.  It's almost finished and then I'll take pictures and share them in a blog post of its own.  We are meeting today to discuss photos for a gallery wall.

4pm

TMZ.  I have no idea why I like this show so much but Larry and I used to watch it and laugh while I made dinner.  I guess it's just a happy thing.

5:30

Hands on restorative yoga.  This class is everything.  It's regular restorative yoga, which in case you don't know, is a yoga practice that puts you in relaxing poses and you are supported with props like bolsters, blankets and blocks.  It's so relaxing.  But this class is even better bc when you are in your resting pose they have trained cranial sacral massage therapists that work on you.  I had never had cranial sacral massage before.  I highly recommend it bc it's so healing.  Here is more info on it.  Brought a change of clothes to meet friends afterward.

7pm

Meet friends, laugh, cry the usual...💖

9pm

Back home and do my bath routine and a little reading before lights out.

Daily Total - $0

*Saturday Morning Bonus*

I would just like to say that this week of writing my routine has been a real eye opener for me.  Before I wrote this I almost thought I was in a rut but now I see it's more of a rhythm and that is soothing to me.  I also see how important my blog is to me.  I'm able to do this from my home and what a gift that is.  Without you of course this blog is nothing.  It's your suggestions and encouragement that have kept it going for 10 years now.  It's been a labor of love and while I've thought many times of closing it, I'm glad I stuck it out because it is a huge comfort to me.  I also love that I can just click on past years and see the progress of the garden or decline in some cases.  It is a diary of my life, not all of it but a good portion.  Again, thank you so much for all your comments and emails and I apologize if I have not answered each one.  So I'll see you soon!  x

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42

day 6 - thursday

5am

I'm shocked and happy to wake at 5.  French press, open windows, check weather.

5:30

2nd cup of coffee and ezekiel toast.  Pray, meditate, journal.

6:30

Walk & water.  The east coast is sad summer is ending and I can't wait for it to be over.

8am

Oats, blueberries, banana for breakfast.
Go back out in the garden and harvest some basil and tomatoes and do a little pruning.

10am

Yoga, and not my favorite kind.

11:30am

Back home and pretty hungry and nothing I have sounds good but I can't bear to waste food so tomato, basil sandwich on toasted sourdough.  Juicy peaches for dessert.  Wash up.

2pm

I'm reading a book called Lost and Found by Geneen Roth.  I'd link it but I cannot find a copy for sale even on Amazon.  So maybe check the library.  But anyway it's a fascinating true story about a woman who lost all her money in the Bernie Madoff scandal.  The part that got me was when she found out she'd lost all her money and called her friend to tell her and the friend said, "oh thank God you didn't loose anything of value."

3pm

Wound up falling asleep while reading.  That happens.  I had dreams of Larry and when I woke I was overcome with sadness.  That happens.  I'm learning to sit with that sadness as opposed to shopping, eating or whatever-ing it away. This is just reality.

5pm

Dinner is leftover frozen pizza and a huge salad.  Wash up and prep breakfast for tomorrow.  Meeting friends later and am quite happy about that.

7pm

Meet with friends and laugh/cry and feel so much better.


9pm

The thing I've been craving all day, my bath.  A good soak is what I need.

10pm

Fall asleep to the gentle hum of the fan.

Daily Total - $0

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25

day 5 - wednesday

5am

Two days in a row with a 5 in front of my wake up time!  That goes on my permanent record.  Put on the French Press, open windows and check weather.

6:30am

I want to get walking early and my watering done bc I have plans to turn the oven on this morning before it gets too hot.

8am

Walk and water done.  Eating breakfast and then will start a bit of baking and a good tidy.

8:30am

Organized refrigerator and gave it a good clean.  I cut up 4 peaches and a handful of fresh blueberries and mixed them with a tablespoon of sugar and cornstarch.  I have a pie crust in the freezer left from mothers day so roll it out and put the fruit in the center and just pull the corners up and around the fruit like a crostata.  Sprinkled a little sugar on the crust for fanciness.  Bake it at 375 for about 45 minutes.  So easy, I don't know why I bother with making traditional pies.

9am

Strip bed and start a large load of whites.  It's shocking how little laundry I do now.  I manage to get it all in one load and out drying on the line.

A friend told me a story of how her mother managed laundry when she was a child.  One of the things she did was instead of stripping the beds each week, she rotated the sheets.  When I heard this I thought that's genius bc I only sleep on one side of my bed.  I can literally just rotate my mattress!  lol.  What a wonderful way to save natural resources and money.  So now in between the big washing machine loads I hand wash anything that needs done and hang it out to dry.  I feel like I'm living in the 1930s on laundry day.

I also dust, vacuum, clean bathrooms and wash floors.  It all goes pretty fast bc the place is small and I'm not very messy.  If my sinks and refrigerator are sparkling then I feel like my whole house is clean!

11am

I decide to go to noon yoga so I wrap up housework and eat lunch which is just a big salad with white beans and chopped onion, kale, jalapenos, cilantro, cherry tomatoes.  It takes everything I have not to have a slice of that crostata!

12pm

Restorative yoga, my absolute fave yoga class.

1:30pm

Work on blog and pull myself together bc a friend is dropping by to visit.

3pm

My girlfriend arrives (she brings figs from her tree) and I serve iced tea and the crostata.  It's good to visit and interrupt my routine.

5pm

Din - I make tacos with the bean mix and more of the crostata 😋.


6pm

Bath routine and I realize I'm not super tired, I'm just super relaxed, that's why I love restorative yoga .

7pm

Starting the final season of Veep tonight.  I will have to pace myself.  Don't you hate it when you binge on a show and then it runs out?!  How dare they!

9pm

Ok, nighty night...

Daily Total - $0

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31

day 4 - tuesday

5:30am

I slept past the 4am inner clock!  French press, open windows, check weather.


6:30am

Ezekiel toast and another cup of coffee.  Pray, meditate, journal.
However the rest of my day unfolds I'm ok bc of this little routine.

.

7:30am

The garden is really starting to get on my nerves.  This happens every year around this time.  The heat persists and hand watering gets old.  I know it's over soon so buck up Janet.   My walk was nice tho bc I ran into a friend who is buying a house near me.  It's a big, gorgeous Victorian and I'm thrilled and a little jealous 😂.


8am

Having my breakfast while reading your comments and emails.  You guys are the best.  Seriously your comments bring tears to my eyes.  I'm so fortunate.

Wash up and tidy the rest of the house.  I plan to deep clean tomorrow.

11am

I'm meeting one of Larry's dearest friends for lunch today.  I not only miss my husband but I miss seeing and hearing about his friends too.  They've been a part of my life for so long, they are like family.

I've decided to wear what can only be described as a Victorian nightgown from Shop Sunset Vintage to lunch.  I started with no belt but felt like maybe someone would think I'd escaped from the "home" so added one.  Good call.


2pm

Lunch was so good.  I almost always get the same thing at this particular restaurant.  The big endive salad with beets, pears and walnuts.  It sounds boring but it is not bc the dressing makes it and I can't quite figure it out.  It comes with big slabs of homemade bread that they brush with olive oil and grill.

4pm

TMZ - the real news and wondering what I'll make for din bc I'm still stuffed.

7pm

I skipped dinner and so now I'm hungry.  I have a little homemade granola with soymilk and banana.

8pm

Bath routine and blissful bed plus a little Veep.  Julia Louis Dreyfus is soooo funny.  I have only one season left 😱.

9pm

Good Night.

Daily Total - $0

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29

day 3 - monday

4am

Ugh, I had high hopes of sleeping in but not today.  French press, open windows, weather forecast.  Check, check, check.

5:30am

Toast and 2nd cup of coffee. Pray, meditate, journal.

6:30am

This is the sun coming up over the orange trees across the road from me.  They pleached the entire grove and it's a thing of beauty.  Time to walk, it's overcast, breezy, lovely.

7:30am

Breakfast of champions, oats, banana, blueberries.  Wash up and survey the contents of the refrigerator so I can see what needs to be eaten next.  I still have a lot of zucchini to cook and a bunch of greens and tomatoes.  I'm not complaining.

9am

Spending the day with my grandaughter to do a little shopping and have lunch with friends/family.  On my way I fill up the Fiat.  $34

1pm

We split a veggie burger and fries for lunch.  $8.50
We also pick up a pair of earbuds and vintage tees for her.  $17

5pm

Back home and dinner is the last of the tortilla soup bc I'm still full from lunch.  Wash up and prep breakfast.

6pm

I take a nice long soak with Epsom salts and just relax.  It was a busier day than normal and I know the less I do the better I feel so I had probably gone over my limits.  But it was still a good day.

8pm

Instead of Netflix or reading I listen quietly to Eckhart Tolle.  I find his voice so soothing.


9pm

Can barely keep my eyes open...see you on the tomorrow.

Daily Total - $59.50

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21

day 2 - sunday

5am

Wide awake. Start french press and open windows.  I see today is gonna be the hottest day of summer so far, 105!  Yikes.  I read, write, pray and meditate.  Feeling that Sunday lazy that I love.

6:30am

2nd cup of coffee, slice of toast as much as I want to lay here I get up and out on my walk.  Ran into a neighbor and discussed me getting a dog.  It will happen I just don't know when.

7:30am

Had to slow down and do some deeper watering today.  We are scheduled for several 100+ hot days and I want my garden to survive.  Picked some tomatoes and green onions.



8am-ish

My normal breakfast of oats, bananas and blueberries.  3/4 cup oats, 3/4 cup soymilk, 1/2 banana 1/2 cup blueberries.  Wash up.
Going to yoga so just a splash of water and moisturizer.  Wipe down sink, swish loo, fold towels.



10 am - yoga.

12pm

Starving as usual.  My refrigerator is jam packed with fresh produce from my garden, friends gardens and the market.  What to eat?  What to eat?   Threw together a chickpea, cranberry, walnut salad.  Easy and delish.  Wash up.


2pm

Work on the blog.  Read the news, so depressing.  Snacking on peaches.  Sprouts had them on sale, 3lbs for $1.  Needless to say I bought a ton and they are so sweet!

4:30pm

Dinner is a bunch of red and yellow cherry tomatoes from the garden simmered and smashed in a small pot with spinach, basil, red pepper flakes, a drizzle of agave and a small amount of water.  Serve on top of brown rice pasta.  Dessert is a slice of chocolate zucchini bread I made last week.  Wash up and prep breakfast.

6:30pm

Went to a girlfriends house for a visit, nice to catch up.

8:30pm

Bath routine but skipped the mask and serum tonight.  Just the Purify Cleanser and Quench Moisturizer.

9pm

Thanks for all the tv recs.  I have my eye on The Great British Bake Off.  My friend recommended the show Fleabag so I watched the first episode for free on Amazon.  It was funny.  Lights out shortly after.

Daily Total - $0

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30

day 1 - saturday

Hello lovely friends.  This week I am attempting to give you a day by day account of what my life looks like now bc many of you had questions about my dailies.  I am going to loosely follow Refinery29 money diaries.  Instead of grouping the whole week together I will do each day of the week separately.  You will see just how ordinary my days are as I'm no longer working and have lots of free time.  Also, not every minute of the day is accounted for bc who can do that?  Also also, some details/times are approximate for safety reasons.  So lets give this a go...

Saturday morning 4:30am

Despite being 4:30 am this is still my favorite time of day. I wake up this early most days bc I'm still trying to break the 3am medicine schedule that Larry was on for over a year.  Some days I will sleep later but now I don't fight it.  I figure my body will sort it out one day.  Today is not that day tho.  I turn on the hot water for my french press.  I go around and open all the windows in the house to let in the cool air.  When my coffee is ready I get back in bed and begin thinking about my day.  The first thing I check is the weather to see just how hot it's going to be and plan accordingly.

This truly is the most special time of my day.  It's so quiet and peaceful.  It's my time for prayer, meditation and journaling.  This sets the tone of my entire day and I love wondering how it will unfold.

6am-ish

Ready for another cup of coffee and a slice of ezekiel toast.  Then I'm dressed in walking clothes and get out for my morning walk.  I usually see the same walkers each morning which is nice.  It's a gorgeous walk and I'm grateful each day for it.

7am

Time to do the watering and small garden chores.  I don't have a sprinkler system so its all by hand which in this heat is almost a full time job.  I will deadhead and pull weeds, trim ivy etc. Nothing too strenuous this time of year, big things can wait til fall.

8am

Back in the house and I'm starving.  I made my breakfast oats the night before.  They normally consist of oats, soymilk, 1/2 banana and 1/2 cup blueberries but last night I made a carrot cake bowl of oats.  It consists of oats, soymilk, 1/2 cup shredded carrots, raisins, a drizzle of maple syrup and cinnamon.  It's really good but I prefer the simpler blueberry and banana.  Wash up dishes & sweep kitchen.

Time to put myself together.  I rinse my face with water and apply my moisturizer.  I've had horrible allergies this year and so I'm not wearing any eye makeup a all. I apply my Revlon Foundation and a slick of On Fire Red lipstick.  I'm as shocked as the next person that I'm using drugstore cosmetics but circumstances were what they were.  Before hospice I spent hours and hours at my pharmacy.  Literally on a first name basis with everyone there.  My life was upside down and I could barely think straight.  I bought these products and now I'm hooked.  Not saying I'll never change but they still fit my lifestyle and esp. my budget these days.  Wipe down bathroom sink, swish loo, fold towels.  Make my bed,  straighten closet, decided against doing laundry.

11am

I usually start thinking about lunch now.  I almost always go to a 10 am or noon yoga class so I want to have something in my stomach bc otherwise my energy will be too low.  Today it is tortilla soup which I've blended in my Vitamix.  I just recently discovered the recipe and I love it.  It's basically veggie broth, garden tomatoes, celery, zucchini, onion, jalapeno, spinach, garlic and a teaspoon of taco seasoning.  I chill it in the refrigerator and it's so refreshing on hot summer days.  If I'm ambitious I'll throw a corn tortilla on a skillet to accompany it.  Wash up.

1pm

Yoga was lovely.  I love my studio and instructors.  The owner really has created a serene place of healing.  She adds so many little niceties like cold eucalyptus towels, deodorant, hair ties and clips.  All the things you need if you are running errands or going back to work.  I really do adore this place.

2pm

I'm starting to  think about a snack.  I make peanut butter with celery.  I'm working on my blog this afternoon.  If I'm taking pictures for the house I usually do it now because the afternoon light in here is perfect.  I always shoot anything outside in the morning because of the shade.  Now that I have a small tripod and remote I can shoot whenever I want and that's a game-changer for me.  Larry always took my photos of me prior so I really had no idea what I was going to do and how I'd be able to keep the blog going.  My daughter in law suggested the tripod/remote and it has opened up a whole new level of creativity for me.  I received a pair of Birdies yesterday and they are so pretty I wanted to figure out a way to shoot them properly.  The photo above is what I came up with.  I now look at my blog as a small job, something I never did before.

Quick review of the Birdies - Beautiful, absolutely beautiful sandals.  They call them slippers because they are so comfortable.  The reviews said to size up if you are unsure.  I went with a 7 and they fit but a half size up would have been fine too.  They are like bedroom slippers but you can wear them outside because they have a very durable sole.  We still have a good 6 to 8 weeks of summer here so they are much appreciated.  Pretty & comfy period.


4pm

Okay don't make fun of me but my guilty pleasure is TMZ news.  I know I know.  But it's lighthearted and I love the banter between Harvey and his staff.  I call it the real news.

5pm

Dinner.  The other day I made a big batch of zucchini fritters so I'm having them cold on homemade bread with a slice of homegrown tomato with a peach and a pear for dessert.  Nothing fancy but it's delicious.  Prep my morning oats and coffee.  Wash up.

7pm

It's cool enough tonight so I'm taking a quick evening stroll through the park.  It's just beautiful out and the sky is pink!

8pm

Bath - my 2nd favorite time of day.  My hips are extra sore tonight from yoga so I add Epsom salts which really do work. I use Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap on a bath poof to help exfoliate my dry skin.  I wash my face with Osmosis Purify Cleanser, the orange scent is intoxicating.  Since I'm going to be soaking I apply the Osmosis Barrier Repair Mask.  You only need a nickle size amount so it lasts a long time.  When I get out of the bath I apply olive oil to the bod while still damp and then Osmosis Epidermal Repair Serum and then finally Osmosis Quench Moisturizer.  I switched from Aveda to Osmosis about 4 years ago and I can't believe what a difference it has made.  My skin has never been this smooth!

9pm

In bed I watch one or two episodes of Veep which I'm addicted to.  I'm running out of episodes so any suggestions in the comments will be much appreciated.  Finish the day with prayers and then Zzzzzzz

Daily Total - $0

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