f r e n c h b r e a d o n f r i d a y . . .

j o y e u x v e n d r e d i L o v e l i e s !

about last friday FboF.

 she was packed by two o'clock.

( ready for her sleep over )

"grandma!"

"i'm wearing my macaron shirt!"

( we found it for her at Old Navy )

the first time i bought her macarons, i had not yet met Holland's sweet face.

( taken at her baby shower, "mai" 2009 )

:: FRENCH CLASSICS DISNEY - ICI! ::

we told her that she could bring a movie if she wished . . .

( of course, she brought Cinderella )

the movie began, we were on the couch, under a pile of blankets and quilts.

"grandma!"

"will you wrap me with your arms?"

absolument!

parfaitement!

her words transcended me from Cinderella to Fairy Godmother !

bibbidi bobbidi boo !

withLove

j u s t o n e p i c . . . w h a t " t h i s " i s a l l a b o u t . . .

h e l l o L o v e l i e s !

on Tuesday i shared one of my favorite quotes . . . 

Linda @ Linda's Life Journal left a comment . . .

" I love that sign! I needed to hear that this morning! 

I am off to dress up and show up and I will NOT give up!!! "

i popped over to her blog last night to check on her.

( it's no secret that Texas has been plagued by flooding.)

her home was flooded.

i read her words and viewed her photographs.

Linda and her beloved LD, had spent the holiday battling the wrath of mother nature. 

they laid sandbags, moved furniture and relocated much of their

cherished home goods and keepsakes to higher places in their home.

her Wednesday blog post confirmed the words ( comment ) she wrote

beneath my blog post on Tuesday.

:: image via LLJ ::

does this look like a woman who's home is in utter chaos?

. . . look how beautiful!

 ( . . . from her head to her polished crimson toes! )

* * * 

before i took my recent 31 day retreat from "34",

 i had honestly thought about retiring from "posting" in blog land.

i was worried that i was boring.

redundant.

after careful consideration, i returned with clear and present goals.

 first of them adding "self care" to the mix.

i am so glad that i did!

who doesn't want to wake up in the morning with a response that you may

have made a difference in a friend's quality of life?

if only for a day . . .


Linda is a dear blog friend.  she is also quite the motivator.

i admire her weekly rituals and her passion for God, family and love of her Texas home.

as for blog land?


 S E R E N D I P I T Y  on a daily basis!

"the place where so much helpful happenstance happens!"

why would i ever think of leaving?

you all (y'all) give me gifts every day.

thank you!

withLove!

W e d n e s d a y = w e l l n e s s

h e l l o L o v e l i e s !

i spent my 50's . . . until recently, sleep deprived.

i would get up in the middle of the night and iron,

watch TV, fold clothes, read, pay bills  . . .

i had no problem falling asleep. i just could not stay asleep.

i was diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis at age 52.

what did i do?  like most in the world, i was placed on a medication.

nothing more.

nothing less.

if you have been diagnosed with this disease, 

i recommend this book.  i wish Izabella Wentz had written it ten 

years ago. it's loaded with lifestyle interventions that could have

also addressed symptoms that occurred in my body during

pre-menopause, menopause, and now, post menopause.

when i was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, the first thing my

hematology oncologist did was "up" my vitamin D.

i asked myself . . .

"why on earth did i not know that i was deficient before now?"

vitamin D deficiency has been brought to the forefront since then.

the first thing that grabbed my focus in Izabella's book

 was a page or two about  m a g n e s i u m  deficiency.

i n s o m n i a !

it set me on a google quest!

you don't need to pop another darn pill!

the therapy is . . .

. . . spa like!

i have started a little ritual of taking Epson Salt baths in the "am" three times a week.

i also do lavender foot soaks before bed.

after the soak, i mix lavender essential oil with jojoba oil and apply it to my feet and legs.

it has worked for me.

i stay asleep until the alarm goes off , ( or just before it sounds ).

Wally World sells the package above for $5.99.

i buy my Dr Teal's at Fred Meyer when they do a "two-for" or "BoGo", which usually 

works out to $3.50. 

another topical option is magnesium oil. ( it's not actually an oil.)  the tutorial to 

make your own, and more on this subject can be found here.

i also encourage you to google or search for foods high in magnesium.

most listed offer additional nutrients and benefits.

i wish you wellness!

withLove!

( i was not compensated for the products mentioned here.

i am sharing because the new soaking rituals and diet focus have worked for me.)

y e s t e r d a y ' s t a l k = t o d a y ' s r a n d o m t h o u g h t s . . .

h e l l o L o v e l i e s !

y e s t e r d a y started by sipping coffee and reading inspiration from blog friends.

because it was a holiday, i could be spontaneous!  within less than an hour,

  i was sharing live chat over a late morning mimosa at my girlfriend Al's house.

it was some of yesterday's words that inspired this post! 

. . .one of my favorite mantras.

for me, it's like the sign "above" the locker room door.

the sign you touch before you take the field.

:: tutorial here ::

Jen was talking about re-organizing, and refurbishing closets.

her post got me thinking of a space that needs further attention.

she inspired some creative energy here on 34.

( could it be my years spent in merchandising and buying

that makes me yen for a "rolling rack"? )

a couple weeks ago, i found this cute vintage bar height

table at the modern cottage company.

i love it's practicality and mobility.

this vignette turns into theater seating for the grands on movie / party nights.

have your read Melissa's book?

it's a fun little reminder to dress up love the home you have.

Melissa is from the Pacific Northwest too!

i call her one of our local brilliants!

i can't identify my style, other than it's a mix

of found by me and Mr D and thoughtfully chosen gifts from family and friends.

the "T" was one of my Mother's Day gifts from Chrislyn, Jason and the grands.

( . . . sort of adds a pizzazz to the mix, doesn't it? )

before blogging this morning, i took a minute to make a 

" quick change" on the new - old table.

( i noticed that it was missing some French! )

my French is not fancy, just a practical touch here and there.

speaking of there . . . 

. . . wishing that i could be mapping the "metro", but  it's . . .

got to go!

time to show!

withLove!

. . .r e m e m b e r i n g 1 9 6 7 , 2 0 0 8 a n d a l l .