I closed my business - Desert Bloom Designs - in December 2022. And I enjoyed a stress free 2023 doing what I wanted to when I wanted to. But I’m feeling the need to connect again, so I decided to start this blog of sorts called Silver Musings. I plan on musing about a lot of things that help me make it through each day. And there will be some very special jewelry drops for subscribers only. I hope you follow my journey here.
A rosy fingered dawn
There are science-backed benefits of having a morning routine: research has shown that a consistent morning routine can reduce stress, boost your energy levels and improve your productivity at work.
I retired to Tucson in 2010 and my morning routine has more of less been consistent. I love to get up early and do my morning walk. I walk for about 30 minutes five days a week and it totals about 3500 steps a day. This morning I started a little earlier and it was still dark, but I was rewarded with this unbelievable sunrise. Consistency is the key here. How many times over the years did I start an exercise program that was just too hard to keep up so I quit. Walking is perfect for me. I love doing it even when the temps soar to 105 here.
Black Eyed Peas Anyone
According to Southern tradition, eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will bring a year's worth of good luck and/or monetary gain. Well I’m not a superstitious person by nature, but I do like to eat black eyed peas every New Years Day. I know that Hoppin John is a traditional recipe but I like to make a Cowboy Caviar instead. If you want the recipe click here.
Fashionista
I really love fashion, but over the last few years I realized that I am a minimalist at heart. So I cleaned out my closet several times and I have settled into a capsule wardrobe mentality. I change my capsule wardrobe monthly so I know I will rotate through all the items in my wardrobe instead of wearing the same ole things. There are a lot of folks out there giving advice on how to achieve a capsule wardrobe so I won’t get into that. But I will definitely be sharing mine with you. In the meantime if you want to organize your closet here are some suggestions.
Organize your closet by category. I hang my jean, pants and shorts , dresses and skirts, short sleeve shirts, long sleeved shirts, blazers and jackets in separate areas. And I fold my sweaters.
I hang them by color from light to dark.
I use the same style hanger which actually helps with space and really makes the closet look good. I use velvet hangers for most everything and wooden hangers for my blazers and jackets.
I separate my clothes by season and store the clothes away that I know won’t be used for awhile.
And I reserve a portion of the closet for my capsule and use only those clothes to get dressed. You could also use a rolling rack. I do this so I am assured I will rotate through the clothes I have. Plus it’s really easy to get dressed when you have a finite number of choices in one place.
Tucson Gem and Jewelry Shows
January is a fun time in Tucson as it’s the start of the famous Gem and Jewelry Shows. I haven’t attended in a few years as Covid played havoc with them, but I think I can say they are back in full swing, and this year I’ll take you all along as I do a little shopping.
Resetting
Back in 2016 on January 1st I started a “diet”. Hate that word, so I started an eating regimen to restrict calories so I would loose some weight. I lost 40 pounds in 9 months and went from a size 12 to a size 6. Other things were going on in my life then and actually restricting calories was the one place I felt I was in control. The weight loss really made me feel so good and healthy and confident that even my jewelry looked better on me.
Alas, during Covid I put a few of those pounds back on (12 to be exact) so on December 1, 2023 I started what I call a reset. I joined Noom which is a program to help you eat healthy. It also helps me with accountability. I have lost 3 pounds and given that Christmas was smack dab in the middle I am happy with my progress. I also realize that as I age I really need more protein in my diet so I am concentrating on that too. A woman losing weight in her 70’s is hard but not impossible - it’s just a lot slower. I have now a great selection of meals that keeps me in a calorie deficit and gives me more protein that what I was consuming. Oh…. I take Sunday’s off - not crazy off, - but a girl needs her chocolate.
Well for the first blog I have rambled enough. If you got this far thanks for reading.
Happy new year.
So good to hear from you again.
Well done on your efforts: capsule, pairing down, ramping up and everything in between. Looking forward to a year of new changes for me, as well.