Which door do you dread opening? Is it your clothes closet, the linen closet, the kitchen pantry, or perhaps the one to the back seat of your car?

We all have those places where we stuff, hoard and ignore clutter, and they mock us every time we walk by. We realize, eventually, we must face them, but just can’t find the time, the energy or the willpower. What might help? A clutter buddy!

Last week, while hiking with a dear friend, the conversation turned to the sorry state of our cars, confessing it had been ages since we sifted through the shopping bags, dog leads and whatever else was stacked up back there. Instead of procrastinating any longer, we made a date for the next morning to park our cars side by side in my driveway and get busy.

By the next afternoon, the items that belonged in our vehicles were well organized, the interiors were vacuumed, and the windows washed. We even washed the exteriors. We were so energized by our accomplishments. Having each other’s company and encouragement made all the difference.

We’ve now set our sights on our linen closets!

So, here are a few thoughts about why I think this works so well for us and how to capitalize on this idea, choose your clutter buddy and get your world decluttered and organized.

Choose Wisely

Be sure you’re very comfortable with whomever you invite to be your Clutter Buddy. My friend and I have been through years of life together, we’ve seen each other through heartbreak, babies, illness and hard times.

So, opening the door to an over crammed linen closet isn’t going to cause any real embarrassment. We’ll still love each other just as much.

No Clutter Shaming Allowed

Even though we laughed at some of the stuff we dug out of our dirty cars, there were no disparaging remarks that would leave hurt feelings. You must trust each other to be kind, no matter what you discover.

You Are Both Sworn to Secrecy

No one else can ever know what lurked in the far reaches of the darkness. The condition of each of your homes, cars and lives stays between you. You’re in this to be supportive and be supported.

Tackle the Easy Stuff First

The cars were nowhere near as daunting as our linen closets, or our clothes closets. Having a win under our belts makes moving to the next challenge easier.

Devote the Day to the Task

Don’t try to shoehorn the job into a few hours in the morning with other plans for the afternoon. You may run out of time and end up shoving it all back in, and feeling quite defeated as a result.

Have a Plan for Your Unwanted Items

Sort into three large garbage bags marked, Keep, Donate, and Discard. Decide where you will donate and be sure to get the items out of the house and to their destination by the end of the day, or at least by the following day. The goal is to see results so you feel satisfied and proud.

Schedule Your Next Project on the High of an Accomplishment

Even if it has to be a month or more into the future, get a date on the calendar to work on the next bastion of clutter. You’ll be more likely to stick with it when you’re feeling good about your progress.

Have a Little Fun

Put on some great music, enjoy some tempting snacks, and perhaps a glass of wine, while you work and enjoy your time together.

Most of all, celebrate your friendship. Savor the company. Be grateful to have a friend in your life who loves you enough to help you make your life more comfortable.  

Have you recently started a decluttering project? Did you tackle it yourself or did you choose to invite a clutter buddy? How did it go? Which part of your house did you start with? Please share with the community!

I’m a Boomer woman who took The Retirement Leap, leaving a career behind to embrace life after work. I’ve talked with many Boomer women who are doing the same.

We know how lucky we are; not everyone is in a position to exit full-time work. And we’re calling “retirement” by different names these days as we define it for ourselves. We’re not going the way our parents did during this stage of life.

But some things don’t change, including the questions that newly retired women often hear. These three in particular can be too much to ask.

What Do You Do All Day?

The Social Self wants to answer appropriately. Explain that we’ve started writing that novel or solving the world’s problems. Or that we’ve turned the wall we tore down in the living room into a dining room table. Meaningful activities. 

The True Self realizes that, being newly retired, we don’t always know what we do all day. We know time passes. We know we make lists of things we want to accomplish.

But the newly retired are forging a new relationship with Time. We may go for hours (or days) without looking at a clock. We sleep when we’re tired, eat when we’re hungry, exercise when the spirit moves us… much like the family dog.

We’re reconsidering what it means to “accomplish” something. Whether accomplishing something is something to aspire to.

Simply put, most days we do what we choose. Hopefully to our betterment. Often while in our pajamas. And it feels great!

We’re able to tell you that. But give you a lot of details? Not so much.

Since You Have All This Free Time, Would You Please…?

Well-meaning friends, loving family members, or well-intentioned former colleagues can be eager to help us plan our days. We might be asked to volunteer, join a Board of Directors, babysit, run errands, care for a pet. Take on a new job. Sign on to a new project.

In fairness, people come from a good place. They may really need us. Or they may worry we’re bored. They could be right. But this early into retirement, we may not be ready to jump into the next thing. We’re still letting go of the last thing.

And we may very well choose to do any number of things we’re asked to consider. But we’d like that to be our idea, when we’re ready, in our own time. 

So, thank you for the suggestions. We’ll get back to you.

What’s Next for You?

Newly retired Boomers are on a honeymoon with their lifestyle. Relishing in freedom from structure, alarm clocks, and the confines of jobs we were devoted to for a long time. This honeymoon can last weeks, months, or longer.

There’s a lot we know in this phase of retirement and a lot we don’t know.

We know we have our health, but we’re never guaranteed how long that will last. We’ve tried to plan for financial peace of mind, and we hope we’ve done enough. Otherwise the possibilities stretch before us. A buffet of options… some worth sampling, others worth gobbling, many not worth tasting. 

A newly retired Boomer woman’s what’s next might be the Top 10 Dreams she’s hoping retirement will hold. Things she’s waited until now to do, places she’s waited until now to visit, activities she had to put on hold in 2020.

Some of us mapped out our retired life beyond that. We’re sinking our teeth into something new.

Most of us figure out “the big picture” as we go. Our futures look a little fuzzy. That happens on a honeymoon when you’re in the moment and taking life as it comes.

So telling you what’s next is tricky. When we know, you’ll know.

Newly retired Boomer women do know we’re fortunate to be in the position to have chosen a retired life. As we grow into it, we get more comfortable with questions. More sure about our answers.

In the meantime, forgive us if we can’t respond to a few seemingly simple inquiries. We know that not knowing is part of the journey. And part of the fun.

Have you been asked some difficult questions since retiring? Are any of them too much to ask? What questions do you hear on repeat? How do you respond? Please join the conversation!

This is indeed a blog about wearing minimalist shoes. But I want to disclose up front that I do still wear pretty shoes with heels for fancy occasions. I admit that this is not an optimal strategy for my feet and my alignment. It is a bit like having an occasional cigarette (which I do not do.)

Let’s Start at the Beginning

Your feet and ankles have 25% of the human body’s bones and muscles. They articulate about 33 joints, and the tissues in between all these joints are full of proprioceptive abilities that signal to the pelvis how to make adjustments to keep you balanced when upright.

It is logical to me that the best way to optimize your balance is to allow all of the built-in engineering of nature to do its work. This means barefoot or minimally constructed shoes.

Let’s Talk About the Effect of Wearing Shoes

Shoes were invented to protect our feet from dangers on the ground. Sadly, the stiff and bulky soles of today’s shoes make it difficult for your feet to feel the ground, and they also force your foot into unnatural shapes. The act of wearing shoes every day has created a mitten hand situation for your feet.

We have weak underdeveloped muscles within the foot, and we have offloaded a large part of weight-bearing onto the lower leg and the joints in the foot.

Your toes should be able to move separately from your feet and your toes should also be able to move separately from each other. Additionally, the front half of your foot should move separately from the back half.

A stiff sole makes it hard for your muscles to do all of their work, and that affects your balance and your arches. Fallen arches can lead to pain and dysfunction along the chain. Purchasing arch supports is often recommended by foot doctors.

But, just like wearing your arm in a sling or your leg in a cast, you have outsourced the work of your muscles and you will have atrophy from the sling or cast being in place. This cycle can be broken, but it will take slow work on your part.

The shape of shoes affects your feet as well. Bunions are a result of undo pressure from shoes that pinch your feet. Essentially, when the toe box is too narrow. They also result from walking with a turned-out foot. That is because the turnout forces pressure into the side of the big toe joint.

Next on the chopping block – high heels. High heels is any height that is above the rest of the foot. Go ahead and take a look at your “sensible” shoes. It is quite likely that they have a positive heel. A positive heel changes the angle of the foot from its normal axis. This geometry changes your alignment.

We compensate for the high forward pitch by adjusting the way our knees, pelvis and spinal curve are sitting above the shoes. Our bodies will have individual differences in how we compensate for the heels, but rest assured, you will compensate.

This leads to pain anywhere along the chain. In addition, the positive sole in your shoe reduces your ability to have a glute muscle and hip-building gait through a posterior push off.

The Good News

Actually, the good news is that there are things you can do no matter what your age. 

Let’s Start by Getting Out of Your Positively-Soled Shoes

The changes in your alignment from any elevation changes your center of mass and thus the path of weight through your body. Start small, it can take a year or two to shift to minimal shoes. Start with a slightly lower heel and the exercises on this video:

Begin with a small amount of time in the slightly lower shoe or sneaker. Gradually increase the amount of time you spend wearing them. You are slowly strengthening the muscles in your feet.

Get a Wider Toe Box

Trace the outline of your barefoot on a piece of paper. Put the shoe you wear most often on the page and trace the toe box of the shoe. This will tell you if you are squishing your toes.

Find a More Flexible Sole

A stiff shoe prevents you from using all your muscles and joints. You need more movement to increase your foot strength and the ability of your feet to feel the ground below them.

An Attached Front and Back of Your Shoe Is Safer Than Slip-On Shoes

It can seem beneficial to slip on a shoe without having to bend over. However, clenching your feet onto the shoe bed creates a clenching that shortens and stiffens the muscles in your toes and ankles, which once again inhibits foot strength and flexibility.

Toe Spring Is a Piece of the Puzzle That I Would Be Remiss If I Did Not Mention

A majority of athletic shoes have an upwardly curving toe. This toe spring decreases the work of the muscles around the joints that connect the toes to the foot bones. The higher the upwards curve of the toes in respect to the rest of the foot, the less work the foot muscles have to perform to support the joints when walking.

Goals Are Important

I know this all may seem pretty overwhelming if you have never considered the foot health aspect of less support and not more. Now, I am NOT suggesting that everything you have been told is wrong!

I am suggesting that your goal is super important in deciding if you would like to try to move towards a more minimalist shoe.

• Is your goal less pain and the least amount of inconvenience? Maybe you will stick with your current situation.
• Is your goal to build bone density when you exercise? You may want to consider moving towards a shoe that brings the path of weight less into the front of your foot and your knee.

Do you have questions? Sarah is happy to help: sarahpurcellmovement@gmail.com

What do your favorite shoes look like? How often do you wear them? Did you choose them for comfort or style? Would you call them ‘minimalist’? Or do you still wear heels? Are you ready to start building more muscle and bone in your feet? Ladies, let’s discuss our shoes!

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 13 Reunion Fashion

While I never thought we’d see a dungeon-themed Real Housewives Reunion, leave it to the Real Housewives of Atlanta to bring it, no matter what the theme is. And cool fact, according to BravoTV.com these stunning looks were all created by Black designers.

In my opinion this was one of the best seasons of #RHOA or any Housewives franchise in history, so be on the look out for major drama on tonight’s Reunion whether we’re talking about the fights or the fashion. And get ready for everything from feathers to leather to corsets and even a whip, all served with a total side of glam and hopefully a surprise appearance from Bolo.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Kenya Moore’s Season 13 Reunion Gown

Dress by @LSODesigns

Email lsodesigns@mac.com with Inquiries

Photo + Info : @TheKenyaMoore

Style Stealers: 

!function(d,s,id)
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;
if(!d.getElementById(id))
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + ‘://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js’;
d.body.appendChild(e);

if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’)
window.__stp.init();

(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Marlo Hamptons Season 13 Reunion Look

Dress: Monot @monotofficial

Click Here for the Monot Website

Customized & Reconstructed by: @zambarrett.dialogue &@jus10__perry

Photos: @MarloHampton

Style Stealers: 

!function(d,s,id)
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;
if(!d.getElementById(id))
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + ‘://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js’;
d.body.appendChild(e);

if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’)
window.__stp.init();

(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Porsha Williams Season 13 Reunion Dress

Dress by Esé Azénabor

Photo + Info: @BravoTV

Style Stealers: 

!function(d,s,id)
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;
if(!d.getElementById(id))
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + ‘://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js’;
d.body.appendChild(e);

if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’)
window.__stp.init();

(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Cynthia Bailey’s Season 13 Reunion Look

Dress: @BridesbyNona

Click Her to Shop Brides by Nona

Hair: @tb_hairstylist

Makeup: @billieegene

Style Stealers: 

!function(d,s,id)
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;
if(!d.getElementById(id))
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + ‘://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js’;
d.body.appendChild(e);

if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’)
window.__stp.init();

(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Drew Sidora’s Season 13 Reunion Look

Dress: @bridesbynona

Click Here to Shop Brides by Nona

Shoes: @giuseppezanotti

Rings: @houseofemmanuele

Stylist: @therealnoigjeremy

Hair: @myssmonique

Makeup: @_makeuploverxo
@gonakedhair

Style Stealers: 

!function(d,s,id)
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;
if(!d.getElementById(id))
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + ‘://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js’;
d.body.appendChild(e);

if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’)
window.__stp.init();

(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Kandi Burruss’ Season 13 Reunion Look

Body suit, Sleeves, Collar + Corset – @vexclothing

Click Here to Shop Vex Clothing

Skirt: @iamrecochapple

Hair: @sewjodie

Mua: @taetv

Nails: @imnails

Jewelry: @sorrellisparkle

Styled by: @hauseofglam & @mrglamrocksoul

Photos + Info : @Kandi

Style Stealers: 

!function(d,s,id)
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;
if(!d.getElementById(id))
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + ‘://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js’;
d.body.appendChild(e);

if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’)
window.__stp.init();

(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Latoya Ali’s Season 13 Reunion Look

Dress by: @naomi_by_naomi

Click Here to Shop Her Pieces

Hair: @nickydoesmyhair

Makeup: @beatbytwiggy

Support System: @vonrhe

Style Stealers: 

!function(d,s,id)
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;
if(!d.getElementById(id))
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + ‘://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js’;
d.body.appendChild(e);

if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’)
window.__stp.init();

(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Originally posted at: Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 13 Reunion Fashion

We’re used to seeing Margot Robbie with a wavy lob so when she stepped out at this evening’s Academy Awards in Los Angeles, it was a shocking moment. Robbie debuted new bangs and a ponytail on the red carpet. She looks totally different than she did at the Golden Globes and that’s why she’s such a fun star to follow. You don’t know what to expect but she pulls it off each and every time.

Robbie also didn’t lay low just because she’s not directly nominated for an Oscar tonight. She did produce Promising Young Woman, which is nominated for Best Picture so that’s a major feat on its own. Robbie’s longtime hairstylist Bryce Scarlett is responsible for this new look, which we assume is thanks to some carefully placed extensions. The low ponytail and blunt, piece-y bangs, created with gHD hair tools, are so on-trend for spring and summer. The casual glam goes perfectly with her sparkly Chanel gown. We love the juxtaposition.

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, Pool.

Now, we can’t forget about the makeup. Pati Dubroff turned her client into a bronze goddess with Chanel Beauty makeup. “All about a bronzey sunshine glow,” she wrote on Instagram.

Source: Instagram

Robbie is also there to support Carey Mulligan, who is nominated for Promising Young Woman. In a December 2020 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Robbie spoke about how her production company and elevating female stories.

“We never started a company to be a starring vehicle for me or to be a platform for me to chase my dreams,” she said. “It was really that we wanted to expand what female stories and female storytellers could do in this industry, and I don’t need to be onscreen for that to happen. But it’s a wonderful position to be in since my platform can also open some of those doors. And especially at the beginning, there were a lot of first- and second-time filmmakers that we wanted to work with, and you can’t get something greenlit without a bankable name attached and I’m so lucky to fall into that bracket. But I’m not right for every role. I felt that way about Promising Young Woman.”