Lifestyle
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Things I Love – #6
Our daughter has been studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark this spring semester. In a couple weeks, John, my husband, and I leave for Copenhagen to see where she’s been living and to meet her host family. Then, we will travel with her to Stockholm, Sweden and Amsterdam, Netherlands before bringing her home. As you can see by my list below, I’m already thinking about what I’ll wear and pack for this trip.
Click on the photos for more details or to order.
Tag Heuer Aquaracer: John bought me this watch in Bermuda last year. I love the combination of black and silver. 
Mer Sea wrap: I love this wrap for travel. It doesn’t wrinkle and it looks just as good over a dress as it does over a t-shirt and blue jeans. Mine is the lighter acrylic but they also make cashmere blends for the colder months. 
Lululemon Align crop yoga pants: these are so comfortable. I love the capri length for long flights. They’re good for working out, too. 🙂 
J Crew denim shirt: this shirt dresses up my yoga pants (and covers my bottom) enough to wear them on the plane or run errands. 
Nike Women’s Free RN: these do not have enough support for me to run in, but they are great for traveling and site-seeing.
Bosom Buddy Bag: I found an adorable basket purse on a girl’s trip in Charleston. (Mine has a black ribbon.) Straw basket bags are very popular this year and you can custom order your bag with a specific color ribbon and bauble. 
Away Luggage: I bought this luggage for our daughter before her semester abroad and I have luggage envy. Soon I’ll purchase some for myself. Note: if you buy a set of two, you get a better price than buying one piece at a time. 
Archipelago Botanicals: the Charleston scent has notes of hyacinth, white jasmine and tuberose. 
Lubin Epidor Eau de Parfum: I discovered this at a small shop in Charleston. I love the scents of violet, jasmin and orange blossom mixed with vanilla, almond and sandalwood. (Of course, I found it on Amazon when I needed to replenish.) 
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Coming Back Home
Well, our two months in Arizona were over like a flash and we’re back in Saint Paul in the middle of a freak, record-breaking snow storm. We really enjoyed our time in Scottsdale and it wasn’t just the weather. First, I was shocked at how many people we knew in Phoenix. In addition to my parents, I have a lot of extended family who winter or live in the Phoenix area and I have now learned that many of John’s golf friends spend part of their winter there. Although we really enjoyed our time alone, there was no shortage of golf or dinner companions.
Second, I felt very relaxed there and I attribute a lot of my reduced stress to renting a house. (These millennials might be on to something.) I had no lists of things to have updated or repaired. I didn’t need to coordinate or oversee the people who did the yard work, filled the propane tank or cleaned the pool. When there was an issue with the pool or sprinkler system, it wasn’t my problem to fix. My daily chores consisted of cooking, dishes, laundry and walking the dog. The extent of my decorating was buying candles and flowers – you know, the fun stuff. It was nice to pour a cup of coffee in the morning and sit at my computer for hours working on my blog or other projects without worrying about all of the other things I should be planning, organizing or repairing.
I know buying a home in a warm weather location is our long-term plan and even though I’m excited to decorate another home and live there with all of my own things; as the person who oversees the household, I am in no rush to have another To Do list.
I must admit, I did enjoy the view of the pool from my desk in Arizona more than this view of snow from my desk in Saint Paul.
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Things I Love – #5
Sephora Beauty Insider: if you’re a beauty product and make-up junky like me, consider joining the free rewards program at Sephora. Once you accumulate enough points you will be able to select free items and eventually qualify for free two-day shipping. 
Lacôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover: gently removes even waterproof eye make-up 
Murad AHA / BHA Exfoliating Cleanser: this cleanser is nice during the winter because it helps to remove dead, flaky skin If your Mom didn’t tell you, I will – NEVER go to bed with make-up on, your skin recovers during the night and it can’t regenerate with dirt, oils and make-up clogging your pores. Your skin will appear dull and prematurely age if you don’t remove your make-up before going to bed. If you don’t believe me, read 6 Awful Things That Happen When You Sleep in Your Make-up.
Garnier Micellar Water: if you are too tired to wash your face, remove your eye make-up then wet multiple cotton pads with micellar water and wipe your face and neck until the last cotton pad is clean 
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Cream: great for mornings since it smooths, brightens and depuffs 
Smashbox Iconic Photo Finish Foundation Primer: fine lines magically disappear and it creates a smooth base for make up to glide over 
Laura Mercier Eye Basic: a great eye primer, I’ve been known to just wear this without any eye shadow 
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiance Perfecting Pen: apply this under eyes, on sides of nostrils and center of chin to brighten your face 
Beauty blender: make this damp and use it to blend in eye primer, concealer, foundation, etc. 
Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment: this is very moisturizing, I apply it multiple times throughout the day and before I go to bed 
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Adult Dinner Topics
If you’re under 40, this post isn’t for you… but I guess you can read it for entertainment purposes.
To my friends and family over 40, have you noticed how dinner conversations have evolved over the years? When we were younger we discussed our jobs and our children’s activities like their current sports teams, school fundraisers and birthday parties. Now that we’re older we talk about our medical conditions, medications and retirement plans.
How many people over 40 haven’t heard at least one funny colonoscopy prep story? Like my friend who took the prep in one long drink instead of diluting it with Gatorade and consuming over two hours like the directions indicate. Not a good idea, especially when it’s a Sunday evening and she still had to drive home from the cabin for her Monday morning appointment. Or the person who used red Gatorade as the mixer – note: never eat or drink anything with red dye before a colonoscopy. You will need to reschedule and prep again!
Other fun topics include:
Annual mammograms or other tests as a result of a mammogram like ultrasounds or biopsies. After your first few mammograms it’s really no big deal to flop your breast on the imaging plate. For those of you who are younger, know that mammograms have gotten so much easier! The imaging for dense tissue is so much better now and I swear they don’t squash your breast nearly as hard as they used to when the imaging was lower quality.
Knee and hip replacements, this includes conversations comparing orthopedic surgeons and physical therapy clinics as well as offering up crutches, braces, ice packs or other medical equipment and tips that made the recovery time more bearable.
Favorite chiropractors and massage therapists, including details about the areas being worked on such as “I have chronic pain in my shoulder from that car accident when I was younger” or “my L-4 is giving me trouble again.”
Current medications or supplements (like CoQ10 for heart health and muscle aches – I never heard about this until I was over 50 but everyone older than me seems to know about it!) and foods or beverages that don’t interact well (“No Paloma for me, I’m on a statin.”)
Instead of discussing our jobs, we discuss the benefits of working remotely and our retirement plans. This includes when and where everyone is going to escape the cold winter months and the benefits of renting versus buying, driving versus flying, golf course memberships, etc.
Don’t get me wrong, old people are fun to hang out with… not only are we all well-versed on medications, body parts and diets but we have more disposable income for traveling, going to nice restaurants and drinking great cocktails. And with all of this traveling, eating out and drinking we have a lot to talk about in addition to our aches and pains.
Cheers to getting older! It’s better than the alternative. 😉
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Things I Love – #4
It’s time for spring break. Here are a few essentials to pack in your bag.
Intelligent Nutrients antibacterial spray: this is always in my carry-on bag. 
Intelligent Nutrients Destress Express: I use this to freshen up our hotel room and mist my pillow at night. 
Illesteva Women’s Leonard Sunglasses: This style and color looks good on just about everyone. 
Sunbum sunscreen: I prefer spray sunscreen and this smells like summer. 
Elta MD Skincare UV Clean Boad-Spectrum SPF 46: this face sunscreen is light but has a strong SPF. 
Seafolly Cover-ups: I usually buy a couple of these every spring. 
Tory Burch Miller Sandal: This sandal will go with your swimsuit during the day and your dress at dinner. 
Yeti mug: This keeps my beverage cold by the pool / ocean. It also keeps hot beverages hot, if that’s your thing. 
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Being a Vegetarian, Married to a Carnivore
First, I need to clarify, technically I’m a pescatarian. Many people don’t know what that means so often I’ll just say I’m vegetarian to keep things simple. In case you’re wondering, the photo below explains the difference between vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian.
I’ve never liked meat, but growing up in the Midwest I didn’t know any vegetarians and I didn’t realize not eating meat was an option. I would wash my cooked ground beef to remove all the fat and meat taste before adding seasoning. I would marinate my chicken, steak and pork or put it in some sort of sauce to disguise the taste. The idea of eating chicken skin or wings off of a bone made me gag. As I got older I just naturally ate less and less meat. When our daughter tried a 30-day vegan diet several years ago I learned A LOT about protein – how much we really need and the huge variety of protein sources. I enjoyed researching new recipes, reading labels and creating things like fresh vegetables and pasta with a cashew “cheese” sauce.
Our daughter has been vegan for a couple of years which made it even easier for me to go vegetarian. (I was the easy-going one because I would eat foods prepared with milk or cheese.) If you know us, you know we enjoy going to restaurants for great cocktails and dinner at least a couple times each week. Quickly I discovered that many vegetarian options in restaurants would be things like fettucine alfredo with broccoli or something deep fried like eggplant parmesan. Not the healthiest options, and as someone who is lactose sensitive and gets sick from deep fried foods they aren’t an option… So, I decided I would include fish in my diet when we went out to eat since most restaurants offer a simple fish dish or at the very least a shrimp cocktail and a salad.
Luckily, my husband is very easy going and will eat just about anything I make myself for dinner and he’ll just grill a chicken breast, pork chop or steak to eat on the side. On the other end of the spectrum, our son has recently invested in a Yoder Smoker Pellet Grill. Most of his meals are centered around meat and he considers most vegetables and fruit as garnishes. The upside of having such diverse diets in our family is everyone has learned how to cook.
If you’re interested in reducing the amount of meat in your diet (Meatless Mondays, perhaps?), I have a lot of meatless and vegan recipes on my Pinterest page.
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Things I Love – #3
Himalayan Salt Lamp: I received one of these for my birthday and I’ve bought three more since then. 
Privé shampoo & conditioner: I’ve used several varieties – amp up, damage fix and every day. They are all very hydrating for my fine, colored hair without weighing it down. 
L’Occitane cleansing and nourishing almond shower oil: I love how this foams up when it gets wet, and it smells great. 
Herbivore Coconut Milk bath soak: This makes your bath feel silky and it smells like coconut. 
Essie gel couture nail polish: This is the only polish that will stay on my fingernails more than a few days, and it doesn’t damage your nails like gels. 
Intelligent Nutrients OneBody hand and nail balm: I keep this next to my bed and put it on my hands at night. The scent is very calming. 
Vital Proteins Collagen: Add this to smoothies, coffee, whatever you drink in the morning. Your skin will thank you. 
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Working Long Distance Versus Vactioning
When we decided to work from Arizona for the months of February and March, I think many people were under the impression we would be on a two-month vacation. The first thing John and I did in our rental home was claim our office spaces.
We pulled a desk from one of the bedrooms into a nook in the kitchen for me and we set up the printer and John’s multiple computer screens, keyboard and laptops in the casual dining room. I will admit working with a view of a pool and palm trees is a lovely change of scenery; but with this new blog and all of the projects I kept putting off while we were getting ready to leave Saint Paul, I’m logging more computer time than I ever did at home.We have gotten into a nice routine during the week; whoever is up first in the morning, puts on a pot of coffee before sitting down to work. Then, John and I will often work for hours without saying more than a few words to each other. Our first full week alone in our rental house, we found ourselves working 10+ hour days and the week flew by. On the second week, we realized if we weren’t careful our two months in Scottsdale would be over and we wouldn’t have done anything fun together except when we had company in town. So, we decided to set aside time at least twice during the week to do something fun – sometimes we go on a hike or a long walk through the neighborhood with Sadie, other times we just go exploring or out for happy hour in a new part of town. Our first month in Arizona has already ended and we have a lot of company in March so I feel like we’ll be loading the car up for the trip back home before we know it.
AND, it’s also the time to find a home to rent for February and March 2019! Our plans right now are to rent in the Florida gulf area. Now that we’ve gotten a feel for “living” in the desert, we need to give equal time to the beach. I’m truly shocked at some of the homes for rent on VRBO. Of course, there are many beautiful homes, but I’m talking about the ones that are over decorated, incredibly outdated or painted crazy neon colors. And, they are still asking premium prices because of their location. Every time I start looking on VRBO, I say, “John we should buy and rent out houses in this area.” Easier said than done, but seriously… if you’re going to rent out your house, please at least clean out the closets and wash the dirty dishes before you take photos!
Any tips on where to stay or things to do on the Florida gulf side?
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Favorite Hostess Gift Ideas
If your hostess gift is in a gift bag, consider a short note or at the very least a gift tag. If the gifts aren’t opened until after the event, your host won’t have any idea who to thank for the thoughtful gift.
Specialty candy / chocolates: a special little treat for the hostess to enjoy after the party.
Breakfast: your host will appreciate a fresh loaf of breakfast bread or muffins to enjoy the morning after the event.
Candle or room diffuser: unless you know specifically what kind of scent your host likes, select a mild scent.
Flowers: almost everyone loves flowers, but the last thing a hostess wants to do is leave her guests to find a vase and arrange flowers. Consider a seasonal flowering plant: jasmine, poinsettia, azalea, etc. Or consider sending flowers the following day with a thank you note.Alcohol: bring something your host enjoys (wine, bourbon, scotch, Baileys.) It doesn’t count as a hostess gift, if it’s something you want to drink during the party.
Pet treats: consider bringing the family pet a container of healthy treats or a new toy.
Thank you note. It doesn’t have to be a hand-written note (although a handwritten thank you note truly warms my heart and is usually on my bulletin board for weeks, if not months, like the card at left), but make sure to send a text or e-mail message to your host within 24 hours of the event.
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Things I Love – #2
Nest orange blossom candle – I love this scent in the middle of winter when I’m longing for flowers and sunshine. 
Malie Organics Linen & Room Spray – Pikake. Pikake is the Hawaiian name for Jasmine. 
Nutribullet Pro: make sure to purchase one with 900 watts or higher to have the power to emulsify your greens into smoothies and nuts into sauces. 
Wüstof chef’s knife and the serrated paring knife are my go-to knives. 
Williams Sonoma Home blanket – cozy cotton; lightweight, but warm. 
Turkish-T Beach Towels – so soft and absorbent. And they still look great after several washes! 
Huggable Hangers: thin, lightweight and easy to pack. The velvet surface keeps your clothes from falling off the hanger.
Doctor Becker’s Bites – one of our dog’s favorite (and healthy!) treats. 