A Week of Disgrace and Shame

I don't know about you but I was in shock at the news of Matt Lauer's firing. I always knew (via the tabloids) that he wasn't the best husband-but propositioning staffers and assaulting them wow.  I  think about disgrace and shame a lot.  Having been a HR officer in the 1980's was very different than the HR departments of the millennium.  I feel guilty that I did not do more to protect the women at the various organizations I worked for. Mind you no one ever came to me and said that they were assaulted but many said that men in higher positions flirted with them excessively.

I have spent the good part of today thinking about Savannah Guthrie's comment "how do you reconcile the behavior of someone you care about who has behaved so badly."  Where do you start?  I have been in the position of shame at a few points in my life-I can tell you that it takes many years for people to regain your trust. Some people show forgiveness and others can't  let it go-ever! Actions speak louder than words.  No written or apology works. It takes years of action .  How do you feel about this topic?

Disgust

This post has been a long time in the making . It took me a few weeks to be able to find the words for how I feel.

I am totally repulsed by our President. I was never a liberal.  However each day that I hear about President Trump and his unpresidential behavior I become more liberal.

I do believe that athletes should stand for the National Anthrm. However I don@t approve of our President referring to them as SOB’s.  It is unpresidential. He thoroughly lacks or does not want to understand the Constitution.  People have a right to protest whether we agree or not. I also have a problem with the way that the President has handled the emergency in Puerto Rico. These people are American citizens and deserve all of the help that we can give them.

How do you feel about these things?

Texas

The situation in Texas is unreal. I have friends who live in Houston and in Beautmont.  The devastation that they are facing is unprecedented. I complained that we did not have power for a week during Hurricane Sandy.  We were amongst the lucky ones. Do you have friends or family in Texas?  If so how are they doing?  Please share. I am anxious to hear how everyone is.   Ugh.

On a lighter note I am enjoying my Labor Day Weekend. The weather is not very nice but I have gotten a few things done in my apartment.  It's nice to have a rainy day once in awhile. What are your Labor Day Plans. How is your weather?  I hope every9ne has a wonderful weekend

Old Times

Every once in awhile I feel the urge to look at my copy of the Preppy Handbook.  It's interesting to me that many of the brands mentioned are still very much in vogue and timeless.  The once brand I really miss is Pierre Deux.  I used to love all of their bags and pillows.  Is there a preppy brand that you miss?  Please share!!! I am anxious to hear from you!!!!!

E

Great Etsy Find

I love Etsy.  It's nice to give a boost to small business owners. The Band It Up Boutique is no exception. They make wonderful headbands in all colors.  They are great for the gym and for everyday wear. Check out their Etsy store.

Fun Sandals

I had to share these fun Steve Madden Flip flops .  I bought them at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale at www.nordstrom.com. They are so girly and comfy.

This and That

This past was brutal. It was almost 100 degrees for the past few days.  I hate the heat and the humidity.  The fact that I have breathing problems does not make the weather better. How was the weather where you live?

It seems that everyone I know has a big problem now. Whether it be illness, illness of a parent, or various other things it's been a rough week. I hate to see people in physical or mental distress.

I will get back to regular posting tomorrow.

Photos

Going through old photos makes me sad. Sometimes I cannot bear the thought of it.  Last night I was searching for something else and found this photo of Mom.  Do you have trouble searching through photos?

Self Improvement

This picture describes how I feel right now-not happy with the way I look! Granted I have been through a lot but now it's time to diet.  My breathing problems prohibit me from doing much exercise so diet it is!! Wish me luck. 

Drybar

Drybar at www.drybar.com has finally come to the Main Line.  Today was my first Drybar Experience and I loved it.

Please excuse my selfie.  It's not the greatest.  My nose is not centered evenly on my face and it seems to be getting worse lately.

Hydration

It's been so hot and humid lately.  I am good about drinking water but with these great bottles from www.swell.com it makes it easier.

Decor

I am very traditional when it comes to decor.  For those of you who know me from my previous blog Preppy 50 and Loving Lilly you know that I lived with my Mother for many years.  When she passed away in 2014 I sold my house and moved to an apartment.  This is my living and dining room.  It's a mini version of my house.

We all know the saying that life gets in the way.  This week has been hectic.  Between work and keeping up with friends I am beat. Let's remember that it is about 100 degrees in Philadelphia today and is expected to be 105 degrees tomorrow.  I find myself pulled in many directions. Between work, building friends, old friends, and old neighbors I am stretched very thin.  I try to keep up with everyone and sometimes it's just not possible to be there for everyone all of the time.

I find that summer comes and goes way too quickly. I normally vacation in the winter and the summer. I hope that I will be able to squeeze a few shore days in during August.  Are you feeling pushed and pulled in many directions??

Saying No

Is it me or do you have trouble saying no? Because I lived with my Mother as an adult I see the need to say yes more than to say no.

An acquaintance of mine in my building asked me to take her to the train in downtown Philly this morning. She was not feeling well so she cancelled her trip. I made other plans for the day.  As I was walking out of my apartment she called and wanted me to take her to urgent care.  I had to say no as I was on my way to visit a sick friend.  She has family close by .  I still feel guilty.

Arm Candy

Are you a bracelet fan?  I am! Bracelets are my faves! Do you stack yours? Please share

Tote Love

It's no secret that I love totes.  The totes from Crab and Cleek are some of my favorites. I adore the prints and the quality is unsurpassed as well.  Are you a tote fan. Share some of your favorites

Remembering Dad

My father died in 1986.  I was 27.  There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him, hear his voice or his laughter.

He was taken far too young .

Birthday Fun

Last Sunday I celebrated my 59th birthday! It was full of family, friends and Lilly.  You can't beat that!  Where do the years go?

The Doldrums

I used to think that depression wasn't real.  I thought that anxiety and depression were a choice.  Over the past three years (since my Mom died) I have suffered from both anxiety and depression and take medication.  Whereas most people suffer from depression during the darkest days of the year mines seems to peak in early June (as my birthday is the 11th).  It's crazy-I never experienced the unable to get out of bed syndrome and now I pray that I can get out of bed during my bouts.  Fortunately my medication does work.  I don't know what I would do without it.

Do you suffer from anxiety or depression?

An Interesting Tidbit

For those of you who read my blog Preppy 50 and Loving Lilly (which somehow got deleted by Google) you know how close my Mom and I were especially during the last 23 years.  A friend of Mom's called me today and told me that my Grandmother used to refer to my Mom as her personal Alice in Wonderland.  My Mom was beautiful and my Grandmother was in the dress business so it's a logical comment.

I get nostalgic about these things as I have such a bad body image (particularly because my Mom was so pretty and had such a good figure).  It was always drummed into my head that I was not pretty or thin.

Are you the victim of body shaming?

Friendship

I value all of my friendships.  However being single sometimes I am insensitive to my couple friends having problems.  I have a female couple who live down the hall from me whom I am very close too.  However sometimes I forget that they are a couple and not just roommates.  I know that they have issues as one of them is frail.  I find that I can be overbearing sometimes and want to fix everyone's problems.  Do you find yourself in that situation. Please share.

Gift Idea

I am trying to drink a lot of water for my diet. I like ice cold water and have found that corkcicle meets my needs. I have a few of them and use the larger one for entertaining (as it holds an entire bottle of wine).  These also make excellent graduation gifts. They can be monogrammed as well.

Ballet Flats

I am a ballet flat fan.  They look nice and are comfortable and come in many shapes and sizes.  I broke my right foot a few years back and after the boot came off the only shoes that fit me were Tieks.  Granted they are expensive but they last forever and go with everything.  Have you tried Tieks?  What is your go to shoe?

Paper Goods

I own many sets of dishes, serving pieces etc.  However, when I entertain now I tend to use fancy paper plates.  I love to got to Tuesday Morning and buy up their awesome selection of paper plates, bathroom towels and cocktail napkins.  It's a fun way to change the décor and makes clean-up extremely easy.  Are you a paper plate addict like me?

Catching Up

The past few months have been hectic. Oh so hectic.  I just returned from a week long stay in Aruba. It was a magical vacation filled with sun, surf and many frozen margaritas.  I needed  to get away and Aruba was the perfect spot to unwind. It is a direct flight from Philadelphia and you even go through US customs in  Aruba.

I hate when things break. Tonight I scratched my care a teensie bit while pulling into my garage. I am unnerved by it.  Do these things bother you or I am just being silly. I rubbed most of it out but I know it's there. Ugh.

Hope you all had a good weekend.

The Hunt

I don't know about you but the harder something is to find the more I want it.  the
Swell Lilly Pulitzer bottles for Starbucks is not exception. I called eighteen Starbucks stores today and no one had the bottles.  Some  sold out, some had not received them yet and some had no idea what I was talking about.  Are you someone who is on the hunt?  Pleaseshare.

I have not blogged regularly in a long time.  I hope to get back to it on a regular basis because I miss it. I miss the readers and the friendships that I made blogging.  I realize that I need to get back in the groove. It helps me and fulfills me.  Blogging puts me in a happy place-with people who have similar interests.  I miss the preppy side of my life and the preppy people in it.

I am happy in my current life and have met many new friends in my apartment building. However they are not part of the preppy world that I was used too.  So here's to blogging on a regular basis. Do you feel that blogging connects you to a world that is not part of your day to day life??

J McLaughlin

I love J. Mclaughlin.  I buy a lot of clothes there. They are pricey but the quality is over the top.  I purchased this sweater recently at the Wayne PA store and am thrilled with it.  I purchase a few items a season at  full price and then add to my wardrobe at the sale.  Do you shop at J. McLaughlin. What's your go to store?

Great Slippers

I like slippers but I like them to look like shoes. It's a quirk of mine passed on by my late Mother.

These Birdie slippers at www.birdiesslippers.com fill the bill. They are luxurious, comfortable and stylish.  Have you tried them yet. If you haven't you must.