Month: December 2023

As you can see, I wore another one of my grandmother’s hatsto our annual Christmas Tea for the women at my church this year. I’m not an expert but I think my black 100% wool felt hat was a version of a fedora. It also had scarf-like material stitched into the inner rim so I could cover my ears and tie it under my chin on a windy day. Can you tell I cheated and tucked that scarf fabric inside the hat since it was a non-windy, day?

Enjoying Christmas Tea

I always have such a lovely time visiting, nibbling, absorbing the beauty of the decorations, listening to the holiday music, and soaking in the message of the speaker. I see my sister, living states away, also attended a Christmas Tea recently. It seems they have become quite common. Out of curiosity, I looked up the history of Christmas Tea and learned a few interesting facts:

• The temperance movement back in the 1800s influenced a shift in Christmas traditions from alcohol-centric to family-friendly gatherings.
• The rise of afternoon tea then became more of a social custom.
• Wassail became a holiday and special occasion tradition as a substitute for alcoholic beverages.
• Christmas celebrations evolved more towards social gatherings and festive activities than the religious aspect.
• Commercialization efforts by tea companies linked tea with Christmas cheer and gift-giving.

Take a Pause

Whatever reasons contributed to the popularity of Christmas Tea, I am in favor. It’s one of those ‘forced pauses’ that allows us to ‘stop and smell the roses’ over the holidays. During the hustle and bustle of this busy time of year, a pause is always a good thing.

What other holiday traditions do you enjoy? Or which ones have you let go by the wayside? It’s interesting to see what we did as children vs what we still do today.

Holiday Traditions

When I was a child, we had never heard of St. Nick’s Day. So when it became popular during the time our children were growing up, I had a hard time remembering to have the kids put out a shoe before bedtime for St. Nick’s overnight visit. My consistency with that tradition was bad so it never really took hold at our house.

Some families open gifts on Christmas Eve and others on Christmas morning or some variation in between. Some families hang stockings to be filled. Some families leave a note with cookies/carrots for Santa and his reindeer. Some families have a certain meal over the holidays (my husband’s family had Oyster Stew on Christmas Eve). Some families go to a movie theater on Christmas Day. Some families run to two or more houses on Christmas day. Some families celebrate holidays other than Christmas. So much variation!

The Importance of Traditions

No matter what the tradition, I think part of the value is in the fact that you have a tradition. It becomes part of who you are, what you value, and something you look forward to. There is no right or wrong here. If you grew up with a tradition you love, keep it. If you didn’t, then choose and start one you do love. It’s never too late!

I encourage you to intentionally think about your traditions, current and future. Really soak in the enjoyment of the current ones you intend to keep. But also give some thought to any you might want to start.

Appreciating Quiet Times

In this older and wiser time of life, I am noticing more quiet times. With four children, we were plenty busy until Empty Nester time. And now, there are 19 of us when we are all together (9 grandchildren keep the house noisy again). But between our together times, I see the opportunity to be totally in charge of the quiet time busyness.

One of my quiet time realizations is that end-of-year holiday time is a good traditional time for me to think about my intentions, hopes, and wishes for the next year. I’m a believer in New Year’s Resolutions. Even if you don’t fulfill them, the exercise of reflecting and then looking forward with intention is worth doing.

Good Intentions

Yay for me! Wearing this hat was one of my New Year’s Resolutions this past January (to wear my Grandmother’s hats more often)! I find it motivating to have a variety of new habits or projects I want to tackle. Some fun and some not so fun, but important nonetheless.

A Time for Reflections

Maybe a tradition of reflecting on the year in December should be our prerequisite for declaring our resolutions for the new year in January. If you’re like me, a reflection on the year may uncover the realization that everyone is aging. And all around us, we have friends/family dealing with illness, incapacity, and death.

This would fall under the ‘not so fun’ category of projects to consider in the new year but getting financially organized makes those stressful times go so much smoother. Tony Steuer, financial literacy guru, suggests the best place to start is with a FREE Get Ready Roadmap. It provides habits, an organizing guide, and tips plus a newsletter with weekly action items.

“I don’t want my family to deal with the aggravation I have gone through with my parents’ affairs…”

My Everyone Bundle provides the checklist tools and several options for completing your Get Your Financial House in Order project. One recent user shared “I don’t want my family to deal with the aggravation I have gone through with my parents’ affairs. The information in the checklists by far supersedes the information I found on other websites. I have saved so much time by utilizing your checklists.”

If you don’t already, I encourage part of your holiday traditions to include a personal reflection on your year. And then, more importantly, to turn that into your intentions for the year ahead. Traditions are a wonderful part of life, make this one you do for yourself.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What holiday traditions from childhood do you still enjoy today? What new traditions have you incorporated into your holidays? Do you have a favorite or least favorite one? Let’s have a conversation!

Lisa Hochstein’s Light Blue Button Dress / Real Housewives of Miami Season 6 Episode 8 Fashion

Lisa Hochstein had a rough one on last night’s Real Housewives of Miami. First with the ladies criticizing her parenting and then Lenny trying to take the kids. I can’t imagine anything worse. But as always, she still managed to look pretty and put together through it all. Her light blue, slit, button detail dress looked perfect on her. And though all the stock has slit split, I’ve got some more bold, buttoned up styles that will perfectly suit your style. Even if you’re not the prettiest one in the class.

The Realest Housewife

Big Blonde Hair

Originally posted at: Lisa Hochstein’s Light Blue Button Dress

Thirteen years ago – when she was 65 years old – Barbara Pagano stumbled on a longevity website. She plugged in her basic health information, along with her family’s diseases and history, and pressed submit. What popped up on the screen was her proposed life expectancy. And that number was 98.6.

Whether or not that number holds true, seeing it on her screen was a game-changer for Barbara. She realized, “Wow. This really can be me. I may have 30 more years.”

Fortunately, Barbara had her health, good genes, her husband and daughter, and a fulfilling career as a successful author, keynote speaker, and corporate coach.

What to Do with Her Remaining Time?

She was content. But the magic question rolling around in the back of her mind – a question for all of us – was What do I want to do with the years I have left? “Yes, I’m happy,” thought Barbara. “But can I be happier?”

Her latest book, The 60-Something Crisis – How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement offers a powerful message for the last third of our lives.

With research gathered from interviews with more than 200 retirees and individuals preparing to leave the workforce, Barbara guides readers on how to invest in themselves and live a satisfying life in their later years.

Barbara’s goal, despite the inevitable challenges, is for “people to fall in love with life after 65 and all it can offer to each of us.”

While researching the book, Barbara discovered that “a big regret many have is they get to the end of life and wish they had lived truer to themselves.” Many wish they had devoted more time and energy to what they wanted to do, rather than what they should do. “I am determined not to review my life with regrets,” says Barbara.

So… between that 98.6 flashing on the computer screen and the regret research she uncovered, Barbara made a decision. She would invest in herself and figure out what she wanted to do with her remaining time.

What Are Your Dream?

Barbara scoffed at the question What are your dreams? That concept seemed too large for her. “The idea of dreams didn’t move me,” she says. But what did move Barbara was the word aspiration.

According to Barbara, aspirations are possibilities. Oh, she might dream of packing up and moving to Paris for a year. But, for a variety of constraints, a French sabbatical is not doable for Barbara. Setting aspirations forces us to narrow our focus to what is possible, what we can do.

She advises that we look at each year ahead of us and, like a mental spreadsheet, decide how to fill our boxes. One individual may want to read 60 books during the following year. A couple may wish to take their grandchildren to Disneyland. Another woman may like to try her hand at knitting, writing, or painting. Cook Italian dishes, learn a bit of Italian, travel to Italy. Meet someone new and have 30 more years with that friend. Invest in a business and run it for 20 more years.

Barbara’s Aspirations

When she sets aspirations, continuing to work – about four hours a day – is a no-brainer for Barbara. “Writing books and articles and speaking to groups make me happy,” she says. She also enjoys the income.

“I had wonderful experiences with two grandmothers. And I want to be a crackerjack grandparent,” says Barbara. “I want to take my grandchildren places and buy them things. And that costs money.”

Tap dancing and bike riding were other activities she wished to pursue – other aspirations.

After pondering aspirations, it is time to make choices and carry the idea forward. How do I make bike riding or tap dancing or Italian cooking or a Disneyland trip happen? “When the idea moves from aspiration to intention, we are FULL ON,” says Barbara.

In Barbara’s case, she visited bike shops, bought a bike, mapped out riding trails, and researched other women and groups who welcomed a new rider. She signed up for tap dancing lessons. She smiled sweetly at the store clerk who couldn’t believe Barbara needed tap shoes for herself.

She dove into both pursuits with “everything she had.”

She Is Learning

In her dance class, Barbara is the oldest. She watches the new steps, videos the instructor doing them, and practices diligently at home. “High desire will trump your skill level,” she laughs.

“As we get older, we must be very protective of our self-confidence,” says Barbara.

Plenty of folks think she’s crazy to hop on a bike and zip down the Natchez Trace trail. What if something happens? She hears it again and again.

“But I am capable, and I want to try,” says Barbara.

Barbara believes many people accept a comfortable life. And that is their choice. But, through her book, she hopes readers realize they can change how they live at any time – at age 50, 60, 70, 80, or beyond.

At her recent tap dance performance, five women – all over 50 – strode onstage. The audience applauded as the smiling women, in sparkly tops, denim jackets, and dance tights, shuffled and tapped to the music. “It’s not easy for me,” says Barbara, “but I practice hard and can hang with the others.”

And her grandkids are proud of their working, tap-dancing, bike-riding Gigi. How wonderful is that? “Part of my job is to set examples for my daughter and my grandchildren. Not that they will do it like I am. But I want them to see that our later years can be a good – better than a good – an extraordinary time in life!”

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you have aspirations for the next year? How will you set intentions to move those aspirations forward? Any regrets about what you haven’t done yet?

Originally posted at: Dorit Kemsley’s 90’s Supermodel Sweatshirt

Sutton Stracke’s Butterfly Dress / Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 13 Episode 9 Fashion

While Sutton Stracke may not love the world knowing that her driver gave her butterflies, we’re here for the butterflies she’s giving on her dress on tonight’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. And though Sutton’s little fling sounds like a one and done, unfortunately her butterfly style might just be the one that got away for the rest of us.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop it on eBay

Originally posted at: Sutton Stracke’s Butterfly Dress