BE Happy

A few things that make me happy right now...

(1) MENU CHALKBOARD: I love being organized and I also love NOT hearing ‘what’s for dinner?’ So, when I had a full house during the pandemic, I got myself a menu chalkboard and I’m still using it! Planning out the week's meals is always a good idea, but when we were eating all our meals at home it was an absolute necessity. I found the cutest menu board on ETSY and then picked up THESE erasable markers. (NOTE: Make sure to get the fine tip ones!) Each Sunday, I figure out what I’ll be offering for lunch and dinner and then I have some fun creating the board for that week. It turns out it makes me happy to be both organized and creative, and my fam loves knowing what to expect for dinner!

(2) BATHING SUITS THAT FLATTER: I like to get a new swimsuit each year and am always looking for new brands that flatter. The older I get the harder this is for obvs reasons 😏. This summer I bought two AMAZING suits from Bleu Rod Beattie and they are not only cute on, but super well made too. Lots of styles to choose from and, although pricey, I think they will last me several seasons. Like all of us, I hate trying on swimsuits so the fact that I found two from this brand that made me look pretty decent makes me very, very happy.

(3) CUTE DRESSES: I love a good bargain and lately the dresses at Target have been calling my name! As you know, the minute you step into Target you are committing to buying at least $100-200 worth of crap. {Honestly, do they pump buy-inducing pheromones into the air or something?!} So, I figure if I'm getting a cart full of stuff I don't need ,why not include something for myself?! My favorites are THIS $20 black t-shirt dress that I love with little white sneakers (also comes in a v-neck style) and THIS easy flow dress for $28 that can be thrown on after a day at the beach for effortless style. I've honestly gotten more compliments on these two dresses than others that I spent way more on!

(4) "I AM INVINCIBLE": I discovered Norma Kamali on a podcast I was listening too and was immediately smitten. I had never heard of her before, but she is a long-time fashion designer, and somewhat of an industry/feminist icon. What I found most inspiring though was her spirit, agelessness (she is 75, but looks 50!), and zest for life - seemingly always striving for happiness and health. On the podcast, I learned that she turned what was a personalized bunch of recommendations for a friend's 50th birthday into a book titled “I Am Invincible”. It is a great read and full of SO many gems applicable to anyone looking for inspiration- especially those of us 50+. Add it to your summer reading list and you won't regret it.

(5) BOREDOM BUSTERS: Are you doing any post-covid traveling/vacationing this summer? I hope so! Unfortunately, sometimes with travel comes down time so here are a few suggestions to bust your boredom: (1) NEW GAME- One of my kids told me about the water sort puzzle game and I've been hooked ever since. The idea is simple, get each test tube to contain one color, but don't let that fool you! It is super challenging and gets harder with each level; (2) CROSSWORD- The Atlantic is a literary and cultural magazine/website that is super well-written and somewhat above my intellectual pay grade, but full of great content. What I enjoy most about it though are its daily crossword puzzles. The puzzles get harder as the week goes on and they are like mini versions of the very challenging New York Times puzzles, but they come with hints! Keep your mind sharp and give them a try!; and (3) SERIES TO BINGE: Don’t miss The Restaurant series on Amazon Prime/Sundance. It’s the story of a Swedish family who owns a restaurant during the end of World War II. It’s got love, history, activism, family strife, and so much more! I loved it!