Monday, August 10, 2020

Self Care

The former dining room

A peek at the former dining room - in the middle of a thunderstorm yesterday. I'm just starting to play around with decorating it. The gold leaf pagoda Ralph Lauren chandelier was a HomeGoods find back in Alexandria - it was hanging in my dining room there. It retailed for $2,200 and I got it for $350 - one of my favorite pieces. Oh and the Mongolian lamb and lucite bench was a HomeGoods Alexandria find too. The pups are fascinated with storms here - it is quite dramatic overlooking the preserves and wetlands with the huge palms swaying. So very Old Florida.

Here is the original post on finding the chandelier at HomeGoods and the follow up post. Worth a read - it's a wonderful story about a very wonderful follower of CC going out of her way for me. A lovely act of kindness.

I am now turning my attention to some much needed and long overdue Self Care. I feel that between the trauma I have been through and dealing with lots of people over the past month despite the pandemic - police, movers, painters, countertop people, handyman, the list goes on and on, I need to take care of myself and my immune system. So I am taking care of me. The good news is I feel fantastic.

1. I got my hair done and a manicure and pedicure as previously reported.

2. I have gone grocery shopping and stocked up on all my favorite foods and wines. (I was at Costco yesterday and it's the only store GG and I both will be shopping at - I had a PTSD moment thinking I'd run into him and it was quite unsettling. I never want to see him again EVER).

3.  I have been working on my home and garden which is therapeutic for me.

4. Lots of time with my angel pups.

5. Catching up on much needed sleep - going to bed when I please, getting up when I please, even an afternoon nap if I feel like it. I have been seriously sleep deprived of late.

6. Sprucing up my Florida wardrobe - I love J. Crew and their sumer sale is fantastic. Lots of color - especially pink, green, and blue like my home. Recent purchases -





7. My two new velvet sofas are finally in Florida - Jacksonville as of yesterday, but that's progress. The pink goes in my office and the navy in the living room. Both are from Article. Naps on these sounds lovely.




8. Lots of fresh air - working in the garden, walks with the pups, chilling in the lanai.

9.  Being thankful every day that I escaped and I am really looking forward to this next great chapter. I seriously can't believe how in love I am with my home and where I live. I am so fortunate.

10. This blog - it really has been great to be able to share with all of you what has ben transpiring and to have all the wonderful support and feedback from my followers. Thank you so very much.

I think Self Care is especially important for all of us in these very stressful times. I would love to hear what you do to take care of yourself in these crazy times we are living in. Please share.

Jut now - somebunny seems to like blue and white Chinese porcelain too.



35 comments:

  1. I LOVE your style in decorating, fashion, writing, everything. You are such an inspiration. This blog is self care for me. Thank you for my daily dose.

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    1. Thank you so much. It's a great feeling to be a bright spot in your life.

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  2. Replies
    1. LOL - yep - helping myself and the economy - nothing wrong with that!

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  3. I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night in California to look for your posts! It’s good to recognize that you have experienced so many major life stressors in the last few years. The loss of your husband, selling your family home, a major move into a traumatic relationship, finding your new home, not to mention a global pandemic. Look into that beautiful mirror and see the reflection of a woman who is strong, resilient, and yes, needs restorative self care. All that adrenaline needs somewhere to go. Let it release into the storms around you and fly away! Good luck!

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    1. Thank you so much for your lovely comment. But wait until the morning to read CC - LOL.

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  4. I love that you are enjoying your new home so much. Self care will be much easier without all the stressors that you had been going through. Onward to many happy days.

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    1. Thanks so much - you are so correct. Sleeping properly has already been a huge improvement.

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  5. The former dining room is gorgeous. Your painter is a true craftsman! I love both sofas and wish I had known about the source when searching for my Boca home. The prices and styles are amazing. Can’t wait to see the rest of your home. You are so resilient! Everything is coming together beautifully.
    Re my self care, manis and pedis top the list. After dealing with pandemic closures, I don’t think I will go back to gel in the immediate future but that Friday appointment is my down time. I am needlepointing for the first time in years and going to the club pool every weekend (because there is nowhere else to go safely). I still shop a bit online because eventually this horror will be over. I have a great wardrobe and dress every day even if just for myself. It gives me a lift.

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    1. I would love to return to needlepointing - a great idea. I love to dress too but my wardrobe has changed from lots of black with heels and designer bags to caftans, color, and flats.

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  6. I love your new couches! I think getting enough sleep plays such an important role in self care; that’s always a goal for me Also some exercise every day, usually yoga/stretching in the am and a walk and bike ride after dinner.

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    1. I am sleeping so well! I plan to get a bike - very popular here.

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  7. Good for you for taking care of yourself!
    Working from home, I am logging lots of screen time. Taking frequent breaks with my pup outside in the sunshine, meals on the patio, gardening, meditation,using essential oils, and inspirational reading are helping me get through this time. And, of course, looking forward to Chinoiserie Chic each day.

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  8. I realized the importance of self care after the death of my son 5 years ago. My true friends were my salvation. I am proud to say that exercise has been a blessing. Mat and Reformer Pilates and low impact weights continues to help me physically and mentally. I have met new people which has expanded my friendships. Of course I have to mention retail therapy which has been online. We all have to find our way after dealing with hardship in our lives. Sitting home having a pity party gets you nowhere Life is too short so go out and make the best of it!!!

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    1. I don't know you Laura, but I do know grief. So sorry for your loss and I am glad that you have found a way to celebrate his life, by living yours everyday with meaning and grace.

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    2. I am so sorry for your loss Laura. Home Before Dark expressed it beautifully that you have found a way to celebrate his life by living yours with meaning and grace. My very best to you.

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  9. I so love that light fixture. And I am thrilled at all the fun you are having. I must go to that website to see if I can get those flats in my size. So wonderful. Love, love, love this blog and you!

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  10. I'm so glad you're happy! That pink/orange/white J Crew dress is fab. I can't find it on their website. :( Wear it in good health!

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    1. Check back on the dress - it keeps selling out and restocking. I have turned into caftan queen down here. LOL

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  11. I have got to get to a Home Goods at some point.

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    1. Oh yes. They are doing a good job IMHO - senior hours, plexiglass, sanitizing carts, limiting customers, less inventory and more space, masks - I feel very safe.

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  12. Have loved that light fixture since you showed it in your NOVA home. I don't think I remembered that you scored the deal of the century on it. None of my new fixtures came to me with that kind of score! You are one lucky girl. Things are really shaping up at CC Casa in the most joyful, delightful way. As for self care, I've always been a news junkie. My dad used to read me the daily newspaper when I was a little girl! My mother would find us, me in his lap, the newspaper spread in front of us, and my father not only reading, but talking to me (a toddler) about the events of the day. LOL!!! No wonder I became an English and journalism major. That said, I've had to back away from my intensive daily news intake. I'm am forcing myself to read various genres. I finally bought a Kindle because I am running out of book room!I cook everyday and still excited to learn new things. I just bought a Thermomix. It looks like something out of the Jetsons! It just came and I haven't had time to use it.I learned about it when we were in France last year and people were swooning about it.I've never been a mani-pedi kind of girl, but new tools whet my whistle (my dad's influence again). I started keeping a journal about our lockdown experience. On the fourth month, I walked away. In less than two weeks the students from all over the world will be coming back to KU. By all that's already happened, that should take about two weeks for the geniuses to realize, that was really not a good idea!!!!! And so it will continue. Sorry about that PTSD/anxiety response about the monster. Always a good thing to realize "triggers". Time to shop during his favorite, T time, no? Glad the pups are doing well and are taking the storms on with,"I'm the likes of you!" mentality like their WonderWoman Mama!

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    1. Read the post again - I have added links to when I found it seven years ago - a great story. I am a politics/news junkie but left that off my list because I didn't want people to launch into more divisive comments - yikes! I love to cook as well and I cook a lot - what choice do we have? I am not changing my routine for that monster. And my pups do follow my example - if I'm cool, they are.

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  13. Your new home is already beautiful with your special touches. I am looking forward to seeing more of it. I've only been to Home Goods once. I look forward to going again with a new perspective. You have found so many great things.

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    1. Yes, HG is my fun outing every week and they are doing a great job IMHO of making it safe.

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  14. Those sofas are so smart! How fabulous the pink one will be in your office. Yummy. Question: which Alexandria HG did you shop -- Potomac Yard? 💚

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  15. Everything is beautiful in your new home! The pink sofa is so lovely, I used to visit with a friend who had a pink sofa and I always admired it! The new shoes are great, the green ones are super, I have a pair of green suede moccasins in that shade, my embroidery instructor was wearing some and that was my inspiration! Thanks for showing such fun pieces.

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    1. Thank you - I have always loved pink and green, but it's perfect for Florida.

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  16. You must have bargain radar, or something, Beth. The Ralph Lauren chandelier is beautiful. Personally, I've found shopping for anything fun to be more challenging these days, because there are so many choices available online that it's overwhelming, and so much is only available online. One never knows when the item arrives if it's what you thought it would be. I like to see and touch things, whether it's clothes, shoes, decor or whatever.

    How I long for some wet weather, some lush greenery, and some ocean! Spring is really the prettiest time of the year here in northern CA, and once that is over, it's just hot, dry, and the rolling hills turn yellow and brown. I love lightening and thunderstorms, and we rarely experience them. Sweet that your pups are fascinated by the tropical storm. Aren't animals amazing? They give so much, and they ask for so little.

    One of the first things I'm going to do when all of this SIP ends, is to check into a spa for the day. It's such a therapeutic experience.

    The PTSD thing is a little concerning. Can you go to another Costco or Sam's Club close by?

    Keep up the good work, CC Lady!

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    1. As for shopping. I too love to see things in person, but ...... many online stores now offer free shipping and free returns. So risk free. This time of year here, we get a thunderstorm almost every day late in the afternoon - I love it. Everything is so lush! There is not another Costco close by and I am not changing my life for that monster.

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  17. Love those green flats! And your former dining room is looking great! That chandelier is beautiful. And just wanted to tell you that the orange powder room is STUNNING! The wallpaper and paint color pair beautifully. It looks like a little jewel box and I´m sure is making you very happy!Carry on with you wonderful new life and enjoy each day.

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    1. Thank you so much. Everything is turning out so well. I couldn't be happier.

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