Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day

Scarlett Image Helps Me Get Dressed

This tidbit from Scarlett Image showed up in my personal inbox this morning.  I am so pleased because I have had a few conversations about wearing white after Labor Day already.

In my younger days I worked retail and have loved fashion as long as I can recall.  I work from a home office now & rarely dress up unless I have to.  I love my casual lifestyle but that's for another post on another day.

This tidbit from Scarlett Image showed up in my personal inbox this morning.  I am so pleased because I have had a few conversations about wearing white after Labor Day already.

In my younger days I worked retail and have loved fashion as long as I can recall.  I work from a home office now & rarely dress up unless I have to.  I love my casual lifestyle but that's for another post on another day.

I met Scarlett at a Business Women's Networking Event some years ago. I watched the makeovers she she had a hand in and loved her style. One of the things I love about Scarlett is the way she helps women (me) choose the best look and fit with ease.  I follow Scarlett's social media action and receive updates that inspire.  I decided to reach out to Scarlett when I was clearing out my closet and preparing for a couple of business trips.  I needed help choosing what to keep, what to donate, and what to toss.  I had a large assortment of wonderful clothes when we finished our first session. My closet began looking like a dream come true.  

The wonderful assortment of outfits we put together came with photos of me in those outfits so I'd know what to bring on my trips. 

On a personal shopping tour with her I had a ball trying on the items she'd prepared for me in advance. I felt like a celebrity having the sales woman ready for our arrival.

I trust Scarlett to help me whenever I shop for seasonal wear. I have accumulated a look that I love.

Yesterday I stepped out the door in this 90 + degree heat wearing one of the original outfits I purchased with Scarlett in late spring 2013 and was greeted by two neighbors on a walk. The gals complimented my look immediately.  I won't lie. I loved it. (Thanks A & S).

This remains one of my favorite casual outfits. 

I love feeling good in my clothes. Working from home office, I do not need to dress daily.  A gal can find herself feeling lousy wearing tee shirts and shorts all the time.  I prefer dresses.

Scarlett, thanks for clearing this up.  Now, who has been asking me about wearing white this week?

Follow this link to Scarlett's Website where you will find some great tips for your wardrobe.

No need for something new her

Lots of black was in my wardrobe

 

Easy breezy summertime 

More black.  

Not my favorite top.  It's heading out this season. 

Jeans, a white top, a sweater

Okay thats it for today.  Thanks for checking in!

Good Friday Reflections

Good Friday Reflections - I used to love going to church, singing hymns, reading and hearing sermons.  I used to love being in the community with others who came together for similar purposes as I did.  I used to love the Maundy Thursday reading of the Last Supper passages and reenactments the little churches I’ve participated in portrayed from one year until the next.

I would dress for church “appropriately” in “church attire” and I would get there early to get a good seat, aka my seat.  With or without my Vinnie, I’d be there each day in Holy week to connect to and be reminded of and to fall in love with Jesus all over again. I did this to appreciate Him and to try and grasp the meanings behind the Passion of the Christ. 

I used to love to tell the story and the Gospel according to Denise. I know it sounds wrong but its so. The Gospel according to each one of us individually matters.

I used to weep on Good Friday. I used to go to church a lot. I miss having the love of going to church that I once carried in every fiber of my being.  I don’t know when I lost it.  Was it when I was struck with a depression? Did I make a mistake being employed by two different churches?  Did I get too involved in committee work?  Was it because of when I was a kid? I haven’t been able to trace it. But I know that I don’t love church so much anymore. 

I don’t like rushing to get out the door in time, or dressing up. I don’t like to feel alone and I don’t like to be in a community where I am reminded of things that have separated me from what was once experienced as Grace. We are powerless over other people, places and things and I am reminded not to hold a grudge so I let go and I release and I pray and I find there is comfort in prayer and in like-minded community. But, I miss loving church and singing hymns.  I miss the enjoyment of hearing sermons. 

Oh and I do miss the passion I had. Perhaps it was the exuberance of youth?  I miss how the longing in my heart would somehow be filled with an assurance that goes beyond explanation.  And I miss the way my heart would break and mend all at the same time with the reading of Jesus’ words from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The words assured because those words remind me that I had not been singled out to suffer for some major or minor sin that created a separation between my heart and the Messiah’s. 

In the emptiest moment of the afternoon most Good Fridays, I will sit quietly and now alone while I contemplate the reason and purpose for my life’s mission.  I am reminded today of how many times I have been loved and reassured by good church folk that while there is the dark night, there is also the bright morning.  I am reminded of the folks I’ve sat with over the years and tried to witness or reassure them in a time of need.  It is a lonely wait that calls us from today until Easter Morning.  It’s lonely for each one of us. Even so, we are not alone.

Today I feel I am walking a forsaken walk and I wish I didn’t feel the call to share so personal a story. But I know this for certain, I answer the call , “Here I am, send me.” because experience has shown me time and again that this truth telling - my truth - is the best way for me.  It’s through the cross and beyond to a glorious new beginning again and again. See you in church.  Maybe…    

Promises - Promise's

Promise & her little Baby Face

Sunday was a great day to go for a drive. Vin and I jumped on I84 toward North Chelmsford, MA. We were meeting Promise this beautiful sable rough collie who will be six in December. We were early and stopped at an Applebee's for lunch before our 1:00 meeting. 

Promise has been looking for her forever home. She gave birth to a litter of four sable roughs in early August.

There were 3 perfect female puppies and 1 male puppy born. The male is the 8-10 wk old recently weaned pup in the picture. He is blind in one eye and wanted a fur-ever home too.

The moment we met his mama - this little guy rushed over to me then to Vin rapidly chewing and untying both our pairs of shoes. Then, he did it again and again. So very grateful for our Sunday drive last weekend. We were back on the road nearly 3 hours later and had a nice visit. Guess what? The dogs are ours now. The duo will be coming home to live with us shortly. We are making arrangements!

Baby Face is on the left

A Cup of Christmas

As a kid, I was little Miss Christmas excited and bursting with energy throughout the entire preholiday season. I was never able to sleep on Christmas Eve - until I had 2 children of my own who could not sleep on Christmas Eve either - and then, well, all I wanted was a little shut eye.  Mom was aware that I had lost my enthusiasm about Christmastime for reasons I will not go into here.

Christmastime in early 2000's, Mama wanted me to come over and listen to a short poem she'd come across - she wanted to read it to me.  I would not let her.  I was not in the mood - I do not think we even had a tree up that year.  Anyway, I grew to regret my mood and my decision to pass up the offer of sharing an 8 minute poem with her.  

In September of 2004, after her funeral while cleaning out her things I came across cassette tape of that poem she wanted to share with me that Christmastime. I brought the tape home and put it aside to listen to some other time when I wasn't feeling so bereft.  As fate often does, fate had her way leading me to the cassette days before Christmas. I sat down with a cup of tea and listened to the poem she wanted me to hear.  With tears streaming down my face I listened to the poem read by the author. Thanks to someone on YouTube I found a video to share with you at then end of this post. 

Lesson:  It is never too late to turn around and change a wrong we have done to another or to ourselves.  We all make mistakes. This is my amends to my Mom 8 years after she passed and an amends to myself.  Mama, I love and I miss you.  I wish I could have listened to you reading that poem to me. Now, it's time to forgive myself. I know that you understood and forgave me long ago.  

By sharing this personal conversation on my blog, I have some lovely Christmastime memories springing up that I may tell you about in the days ahead.  Please let me know if you'd like me to! Merry Christmas! 

A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg

It takes a few minutes but is well worth your time. 

Unsolicited Media Attention

I received some unsolicited media attention in the month of January when a video clip I was in went out the over a few television stations across the country.

Last winter I hired a Lifestyle Coach, Dr. Cynthia Barnett to help me make some changes in my routine. In the process I learned that I have Type 2 Diabetes which affects everything. Over the course of the last ten months since diagnosis, I've learned all kinds of things I did think I'd ever need to know. I remember how frightened I was the first time I tested my BG level after my first visit with the Diabetes Educator. I am not a cryer and I believe I wept. I didn't want to have to stick myself every day.

While I am not happy that I have Type 2 Diabetes. I am grateful for the opportunities this disease affords me. I have a long way to go and I still have a lot to learn. What I learn, I am happy to share what I am learning with others. While needing to exercise more, I chose to walk carrying a camera with me. Time passes quickly when I am absorbed in shooting nature scenes.

In November, Dr. Cynthia shared my name with someone filming a story on people who hire retirement coaches. The story was filmed and aired putting me on the spot to keep blogging and to continue learning about diabetes. I discovered TuDiabetes.org and now have a whole new place to come to learn and share.

Recently I discovered there are many educational videos available through my Netflix account. There are Type 2 Diabetes films, Cooking for Diabetes Shows available and more. The videos range in time and content. From minutes to hours, from cooking shows to medical programs by well know Diabetes Educators and authors. I am happy to find such a wealth of information out there.

Manifesting Change



I am having a hard time focusing on one thing at a time these days. I am distracted by the UPS and FED EX drivers delivering packages that need to be wrapped. And there is my 11 year old dog Blue who doesn't understand it is too cold to sit outdoors. She nudges and pushes at me to notice her while I am trying to key in a quick blog post. Of course, there are emails and paperwork I need to focus on today too. However, more importantly, Vinnie and I have a daughter and son in law coming here for a visit. We have scheduled time to be together and times when they will be visiting others. In the meantime, distractions are clamoring for my attention. While I have made lists of what to do the voice I am hearing today says to write.
I am reading the book Manifesting Change by Mike Dooley. There are some stirrings I have had while reading that I would like to share with you.

I believe creating the life I want is a consistent process. Intentions I have placed out in the Universe over the years, have manifested into experiences or things. Circumstances which I have desired along with conditions I feared came to pass as a result of what I think about because what I focus on does appear. While not always pleasant, life brings lessons which leave me feeling grateful. Today I find gratitude to be quite liberating. It does amaze me to see things come along that were once merely a thought or vision.

The Soul knows in what direction we need to go. I have learned it is good to listen and distinguish what the Soul is looking for. It is difficult at times for me to listen to the still small voice because my of my “lizard brain” response. The lizard brain is automatic. It comes from the part of the brain that recoils when we burn ourselves on a hot stove or that wakes up from a dream just before something awful happens. It is at work automatically defending its (yours, mine and our) survival.

My lizard brain who I affectionately call Addiction Annie certainly has had her share of time on the soap box. And she has quite literally saved my life more than once. I am quite fond of her, in fact. She is an essential part of my being. I’ll tell you my Addiction Annie tends to make a lot of noise when things don’t go her way. She can over react and make things more complicated than they need to be at times. With her commotion she unintentionally drowns out life’s little whisperings that bring me to the most wonderful places of challenge and change. For instance, Annie is telling me to get to the grocery store, start cooking something, clean the bathroom, reply to the client email, wash the floor, send out the greeting card, call the friend, and wrap a package and so on.
My Soul recognizes and is tuned to the whispers that say, "Denise, take a breath." "Finish your writing." "Have a diabetes friendly lunch then go for a walk afterward." "Take another breath and…Exhale." “Make a list of what is important and work from it.” The messages are simple. The time it takes to listen is brief but makes an enormous difference in how I feel throughout the day. Have you taken time to listen to that Still Small Voice today?

I believe with intention, practice and meditation, the Still Small Voice can and will win out every time.

To my Addiction Annie I say, “Be Still and Know..."