#thisismy62

2017 was a transformative year for me. I began my healthy living journey, aka weight loss and exercise. While I didn’t go through a terrible menopause, I did experience internal pizza oven like hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, (because of hot flashes) and most importantly a significant weight gain issue. Bio-Identical hormones eliminated the hot flashes and helped with the sleeping but, I kept waiting for the weight to drop – and it didn’t. Add insult to injury I gained more weight. WTF?  At the end of 2016, I realized something had to change.

January 2, 2017, I began a journal. Not about my feelings or a food diary, just the date and weight. I’m a google expert and along with my own anecdotal history about what works for me, I decided to try intermittent fasting. Before anyone jumps on the “you did what?” bandwagon, I believe there are many different types of sound diet methods that work for losing weight. For me, and the natural way I eat, made intermittent fasting a good choice. I began losing weight and kept track of the weight loss which was very slow but steady. By July of 2017, I was halfway to my goal and feeling good about my accomplishment. I was ready to add the “fit” component, but what to do?  I have a terrible track record regarding exercise – really, really, terrible (it was bad).  Joining a gym and never going, paying for classes and going once or twice, equipment at home, you get the idea.   I had to examine what would or wouldn’t work. I was motivated, and I watch my husband get up at 5am every morning to get to the gym. Ok, so what? That’s him. I’m always motivated in my head but sticking to something is the problem. I had to look at all the reasons why consistency and that joy of working out alluded me.

In the past, I was working full time and raising three kids, and that right there will suck the life right out of you. Too tired to go at 5am OR go after work? No way. Driving to the gym? Always too far and if parking is an issue, forget about it. Working out at home? LOL!!! Private training at home? Maybe next life.  Undoubtedly many people can and do work out consistently under those same conditions, but I was never successful.

Around the end of July, my Facebook feed featured (ad) a small local gym, which I had never heard of. They were introducing a six-week goal-oriented program of getting fit and losing weight. Wow, four min by car, a neighborhood place, and parking looked easy. I actually drive by this gym a million times a week and had never noticed it. I followed the link and joined the next day. About 7 months later, I have been attending classes five to six days a week. I attend a mid-morning class which is not too early or too late, just perfect for me.  Hey, retirement and age do have its privileges. The coaches know my name and how to push me when I need it. I love it.  Well, the truth is I don’t love working out but, I do love, love, how I feel after I have worked out, The sense of accomplishment and knowing I’m getting stronger. That’s the feeling I chase and win every time I go. That was the secret I needed to know.

It’s now March and I’m turning 62 on the 18th. I’m maintaining my goal weight and visibly look stronger. Age brings a lot of changes to our bodies that working out can’t reverse. This is the privilege of getting older. I’m ok with that.  I’m even going celebrate a first this summer, by wearing a two-piece bathing suit. I haven’t done that in oh, maybe thirty years? I don’t think any of my three kids have ever seen me in a two-piece swimsuit. Newsflash, this grandmother is gonna rock it.

#thisismy62

Love,

Corinne

 

 

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Summer

On my last blog post in March, I told you I would be wearing a two-piece bathing for the first time in many years this summer. Well, here we are late August and I guess one could say summer is coming to a close.

Why did I put this news flash out there that this was a goal of mine?  Wearing a two-piece bathing suit? I look back now and it’s kinda silly. Everyone should wear whatever bathing suit they want and not need to make it news worthy, right?

It had been so long since I wore one publicly or privately that I was stuck. My self-consciousness grew to the point had I not said it, it wouldn’t have happened.

We went to Santa Barbara for a couple of days and I packed my bathing suit.

I felt great.

Love,

Corinne

 

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Growing out my gray; UPDATE!

 

 

 

outsideI can’t believe it was 2015 when I posted the first pic of my hair growing out. That must have been about six months or more of growth already.  Love that outfit, broke those sunglasses.

So not long after that pic, I did this…

white hair pic

I highlighted my hair big time. Now that I look back at it? I really LOVE it! haha! I could totally do that again, well, maybe. The thing about extreme white highlights is growing them out is just as difficult. They fade and turn a funky greige that I don’t really like. But, I’m all about doing it to help grow out that really hard stage, so do it.

chi spaca anni pic

Oh, this one’s good too! On our way to our Anniversary dinner 2015. Honestly, I don’t remember if this has a filter but I don’t think so. This is my hair curly and oh that great red lippie!  This color of hair is a mix of highlights, gray roots, and a crap load of texture and hair spray.

brunch pic

Well? This is funny. It really was a good hair day 2017 but my expression or lack thereof is awful. My hair grew rather fast and the natural gray is about mid ear. I think I love dressing to match my hair, although here in LA, wool and coats are not a necessity.

red chair hair

Oh, look, a smile! kinda. Note the boot color.

just done hair

In July of this year, I decided to try a Keratin hair straightening treatment. I’ve been growing out the layers to update my style. The layered curly look is great, but I needed a break from puffy hair. The verdict?  I LOVE IT! This is right after I had it done and it’s so slick and smooth. Kinda looks like I still have some greige by my chin but I only notice it in the pics. I was so scared to wash my hair. I was worried it would wash out immediately. Yay! it didn’t.

neck scarf

Yikes, this is close. It’s been a while since I’ve blogged so I’m really rusty on the—everything.  Anyway, this was just the other day. Trimmed and still straight. I do use the blow dryer and flatten the curlies that pop up with a flat iron but whoa, it’s a breeze. I’ll totally do the Keratin again.

I could still throw some white highlights in….

 

 

 

 

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The Fashion Selfie

I wore tee-shirts, jeans and clogs everyday for over twenty years. Now mind you I totally rocked that look but sheesh, I so wanted an opportunity to dress and the excuse to buy statement pieces or any pieces for that matter. Oh happy day when I started work as facilitator/tour guide at a museum.  “Professional Attire” OH THE POSSIBILITIES!!!

Here’s where the selfie comes in. What? I know in today’s blog world peeps have “people” who style and take the professional shots. I don’t. So, I will be OG and continue with the selfies. I promise not to use a selfie stick, ok?

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Love this! Top Shop Vest, Zara Pants, Cos t-shirt and shoes.

white dress

Oh yes, Cos Dress and Zara Jean Jacket

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Hmm, Everything vintage here — well, except Nikko #themostinterestinghuskyintheworld.

vintage boots

Here’s a close-up of my boots. These babies are over ten years old.

style selfie

Are you sensing a theme here? I’m always looking for ways to change up pieces that I own yet keeping with my style. Oh wow, I have pieces! Oh and I have a style!!!

stan smith

OG Stan Smith with the Navy Heel. So cool to make this work in the “professional attire” category. I was focused on the kicks but crisp white shirt (shocker right?) was on top.

shopping

Here’s a weekend look! Oh and it’s not a selfie!!!! Can I count hubby as my “People”?

Coming soon “Growing out grey” hair update.

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Homemade Dog Food

Homemade Dog Food.

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Homemade Dog Food

We have an amazing Siberian Husky named Nikko. You might have even seen pictures of him on my instagram feed.  But just in case —

Nikko surveyI

Doesn’t he look like batman? Here he is from the front.

Nikko

Love that boy.

But –

Why is there always a “but”? This really isn’t a “but” like we love him any less, it’s more of a matter of fact aspect of our love for him. Yeah, that’s it, a matter of fact aspect. Sold.

Nikko has a yeast allergy. It took quite a while to get to the bottom of it and it’s his tush. Oh ha ha! Pun intended. I’ll spare you all the details, but suffice it to say — he has a yeast allergy which means anything he eats with starch converts to yeast and that’s bad. So off the list are …  potatoes, rice, sweet potatoes, yams, carrots, barley, really anything that is used to help fill that large tummy of his up are off-limits.

Our kindly, yet traditional vet was of no help in diagnosing him, actually he made it worse by giving Nikko antibiotics and an oral flea medicine both of which stripped his intestines of the good bacteria needed which lead to an overgrowth of the yeast.  Not good.

We bring Nikko to a dog park regularly and what do people talk about at a dog park?  Yes, their dogs. You sharp people you. Anyway, the discussion of dog allergies came up. We spoke about Nikko’s issue. One of the dog owners was a client of a holistic dog nutritionist in our area and had great things to say about him. We brought Nikko to see him and after giving him Nikko’s recent history, vet meds and a good look at his tush, he concluded that Nikko had a yeast issue.  We bought dog food from him and while his tush improved our wallets emptied. He was great about giving us tips to make our own and off to the races we went.  Making dog food is very common these days for different reasons. Our recipe is tailored for Nikko’s specific issue. You can tailor it for however you need to.

Oh and one more thing, there is really no recipe.

Which brings us to the present and this

dog food 1

Ok, lets begin.

Buy meat. Any meat really. It all depends on your budget. Nikko eats about two pounds of food a day split into two meals. Our needs border on “Holy Cow, we need how much meat?” We look for sales and buy 30-40 lbs at a time which might last 3 weeks. Our last buy was Top Round at $3.49 a lb.

meat

We bought everything they had. Here it is as we cut it up.

dog food 13

Our goal is to cut it up in strips then a couple more chops and get it bite size. These steaks were long thin cuts so rolling them up and using a very sharp knife was the way to get through all of it, and there was a lot. After chopping it all up we started to cook! I use a commercial size stock pot since we don’t want to do this every week.

dog food 17

Here’s a look at the meat cooking

dog food 4

Cook batches at a time so you can get a nice brown on it.

Once all the meat has been browned dump it all back into the stockpot.

Grated Ginger and Tumeric are added. The amount is measured as an “essence” and not an ingredient. If you are cooking 10 lbs add just a teaspoon or so of each. You don’t want the flavor to stand out and then have Fido walk away.

IMG_0316 (2)

Next add enough water to cover the meat by about 2 inches. Essentially, whether you’re cooking 5 lbs or 50 lbs cover the meat by about 2 inches. Cover and bring to a boil then reduce to simmer for about 45 min. Keep it covered so you don’t let the delicious stock evaporate. As it simmers I add uncooked lentils for some healthy filler. You can add sweet potato here or really anything you would like to add to your dog’s diet, remember to add sparingly the first time to see first what goes over well. I added 2 cups of lentils for 30 lbs. I might add more the next time.

Add the Veggies at the last 10 minutes so not to make mush out of everything. I have pictured here fresh shredded zucchini, frozen peas, frozen spinach, fresh chopped bok choy and the lentils which I added earlier. Once again I put in a little at a time and made sure not to over add. You know kiddies and their veggie issue.

dog food 2

We did add an optional item this time because we had them. We had beef bones which we roast for Nikko as a treat and I thought it would add a nice flavor to the mix. We pre-roasted these in the oven at about 450 for 30 or so minutes.

dog food 0

We fished them out after and still can use them as treats. Double duty!!

Here is what it looks like ready to portion out into a one meal container. Note it looks like a ton of veggies in there but they’re just floating to the top.

dog food 9

Let it cool some and then ladle it out into whatever portion control containers you have prepared. We fill each container with a lot of meat making sure to add stock as well. The meat soaks up the liquid in the fridge or freezer.

assembly

Whatever stock we have left, we’ll freeze and add to the next batch we make as a stock base.

dog food 5

My freezer

dog food 7

We keep a few days at a time in the fridge. Dog food takes up a lot of space before and after…

Bon Appetit!

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My Life Lesson

Trust and business dealings go hand in hand like a hungry coyote and a neighborhood cat. Unfortunately —

I was the cat.

No, no, no don’t worry, there’s no need to start a KickStarter campaign on my behalf!           This was just the final chapter of my small business that was supposed to bring me some closure. Actually, some monetary closure.

Things did not go exactly as planned.

Which begs the question…

Can you make a bitter business deal taste better?

You betcha.

I decided rather than be resentful over the final outcome (“outcome” might be code for betrayal)  I would use the winnings (“winnings” might be code for”it’s such a small” amount, using “winnings” just makes me feel better) to buy something that will bring me joy and happiness for a lifetime, forever.

happy 3

Yes people, it is possible. Joy and Happiness!

  1. Louis Vuitton Bandouliere Keepall 45 Damier-Ebene                                                                  2. Rimowa Salsa Deluxe Carry On in Brown                                                                                      3. Louis Vuitton Speedy 35 Damier-Ebene                                                                                      4. Louis Vuitton Zippy Organizer in Damier-Ebene

There is no way I scored enough “winnings” to buy this all brand new. I did purchase my beautiful Rimowa Carry-On Luggage new at the Rimowa store here in Los Angeles, but all that gorgeous Louis Vuitton was very cautiously, carefully and patiently purchased pre-loved. It was quite the challenge to get it all within my budget, but I managed to do it and have fun while I was at it.

I researched the exact LV items with the price and then went to work. It is very important to know the basics on buying from a pre-owned site and how they protect the buyer. You also begin to learn the “rhythm” of the site or seller and what makes a good deal.  Google was my friend and we visited often. I would enter the item always using authentic “pre-owned” first and the entries popped up. Every pre-owned luxury site such as Real Real, Tradesy, Malleries, Posh, Yoogi’s Closet, Fashionphile and of course EBay would be searched several times a day. Heavy emphasis on “several”. Outside observers might even mention the word “obsessive”?

Whatever. It worked.

Authentic, perfect and quite a bit of savings.

I am at peace now 🙂

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What to Wear, styled by yours truly

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Follow my Polyvore link and get all the details there. Let me know if there is a particular look you would like to see! http://doublenickelsstyle.polyvore.com/

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Nouvelle Sortie

Obsessed. I am and forever will be obsessed with Black and Grey. Every now and then I might add a pop of color here and there. Maybe just there.
Nouvelle Sortie

Get the details on my Polyvore page http://doublenickelsstyle.polyvore.com/

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Nouvelle Sortie

Who can forget Kathleen Turner’s look in Body Heat? Her jump of the screen sexuality melting every man’s heart. Here’s my Kathleen’s Body Heat Homage.
Nouvelle Sortie

Find all the details on my Polyvore Page http://doublenickelsstyle.polyvore.com/

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