There’s a theory out there that if you want to be happier, one way is to rediscover your childhood passions. And I think there’s something to that. I spent quite a bit of time during the pandemic doing exactly that. Fountain pens. Journaling. Office supplies. Penpals. Cooking. Even starting this blog- I’ve always loved writing.
But one major childhood passion has remained unexplored…until potentially now. Video games! I loved all the old classics from the 80s. Mystery House. Zork. Myst. And then I went to college and pretty much never played again.
And then I saw this…
I guess I need to buy an Xbox?? Where do I start?? But feeling excited about video games for the first time in a long time…
I’ve never been a fan of revealing clothing. It looks tacky to me- and now that I’m a bit older, it’s even less appealing. But I still like the look of wearing sheer on top. But in a non-scary way!
COS merino wool tops are one way to do it
I’ve got two options for wearing sheer. The first- COS merino wool tops. Also available in turtleneck. It’s just a bit sheer, and less so in the darker colors. And it’s a great base layer under cardigans, so you get a bit of sheer without worrying about how pretty your bra is. $69- not a scary price at all.
If you want to go a bit more luxe and old school, there’s the Hanro woolen silk underwear- long sleeve, short sleeve, leggings. A bit more traditional long underwear vibe. But expensive- $140+. Still, I grabbed one on sale and it’s truly lovely. A tad less sheer than the COS option, but it feels terrific on your skin.
One thing to note about these tops is that they go fast, at the beginning of the Fall season. Uniqlo has a very reasonably priced option– but there are no sizes left. Wearing sheer seems to be a perennial favorite- and those in the know snap up the standards way before it gets cold.
It has been years since I had taken a hot yoga class. Maybe 15-20 years?? So when Kate invited me to join her in a hot yoga class in Santa Ynez, I was a bit anxious and excited. I knew it would be tough- but I am ready for a challenge. So I jumped right in and I’ve got a few tips for those of you who might be interested.
I’m traveling more frequently for work. I’m not thrilled about it, but I have discovered a few things to make business travel more enjoyable. And none of them will take up much precious space in your suitcase! And they might make some really easy stocking stuffers too…
I’m not sure why I was being stingy with packing lip balm. While being perfectly happy to stuff four pairs of shoes in my bag! Lip balm is so lightweight and inexpensive, and yet so important for my comfort when traveling. So I got over my issues and now I bring at least 4 lip balms on every trip. Handbag, work tote and 2 in my toiletry bag. It truly makes business travel more enjoyable.
Yes, it’s probably obvious why one might need nail clippers on a trip. Nail trimming! But I am here to tell you that nail clippers can be used for more than that. Of course you’re probably not traveling with scissors on a trip. (fun fact: you can bring ones with blades that are shorter than 4 inches on a plane) But there are lots of times when scissors would be handy to have. Instead of running down to the front desk, use your nail clippers! Some ideas:
Cutting out an annoying itchy tag at a neckline
Taking off a price tag (without ripping it- or heaven forbid- using your teeth!)
Trimming odd threads and such from your clothes
I have finally learned NOT to buy the cheapest nail clippers I can find. It’s just a much nicer experience to use high quality ones- and they truly aren’t that much more expensive.
And buy the big ones– have you ever tried to trim your toe nails with a tiny clipper??
Cashmere/wool comb
This tip for making business travel more enjoyable is particularly relevant for Fall-Winter, when we are wearing lots of sweaters on the road. These combs are light and cheap- and they will make your outfit look a lot more polished. Just tuck it in your toiletry bag and you’ll be ready. Buy two– one for home, one for your suitcase.
Bright, cheerful lipstick
I know, this one sounds a bit less practical. But hear me out. Work travel can get you down. You aren’t sleeping that well. Working late nights. Sitting in a conference room for hours on end. Why not wear an especially cheerful red lipstick? It will brighten up your complexion, you’ll smile every time you wash your hands during those offsite breaks. And you may cheer someone up across the table from you. I just tried this one, and it’s lovely.
Report from Dec 2021: I’m heading to the East Coast soon and it’s going to rain (lucky them!) So I am taking another look at my earlier post on keeping my suede loafers in good shape. Hopefully it will be a timely reminder for you too.
Kate and I took advantage of the Black Friday sales to pick up some new suede shoes- from M. Gemi. I guess all those instagram ads did the trick, and we both picked up a pair or two of the suede Felize driving loafers. Now that we have beautiful (and expensive- even with 20% off!) new shoes, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about how to care for suede shoes. It’s worth a bit of effort and money!
Repost from October 2021: Kate and I have been exchanging thoughts on our Daily Stoic emails and it prompted me to repost what I wrote on daily mediations a couple of years ago. Holds true today!
I’m a big fan of my morning routines and a recent addition has been morning pages. There are days when writing three pages is no problem. I may have something on my mind that needs processing, or something big happened. But other days, well, I wake up pretty uninspired. That’s where these three sources of daily mediations come in. They are perfect for journaling prompts. And they are a great way to start each morning with a bit of philosophy.
I am guilty of being very lazy with my jewelry. I frequently don’t wear it (what the heck am I waiting for??) And cleaning it is really not on my to-do list. But seriously, it’s time to care for your jewelry is not expensive or time-consuming. And it just looks and feels a lot better afterwards.
College is starting back up! We sent Sophie back to Boston just this morning. And yes, she’s an old pro at this point, as a sophomore. But there are a few things that I forgot about- and you might have forgotten this stuff for your college child too!
The new Fall season frequently means shopping. And there’s such a temptation to splurge on the best option-“buy once, cry once.” But there are things that are not worth spending much on. And I’ve been giving some thought to what those items are, for me.
