Monday, July 14, 2014

Back In It, Back On It, and All Over It.

After over a week away to help make some important decisions about the future of our business, I can report that all is copacetic (or at least approaching it) and I'm at last comfortable coming back out to play. We had to do some serious thinking about how we want to continue since we decided to carry on with our little restaurant. And there's no doubt about it; some of the decisions were based on our ages.  Of course, that mindset has slopped over into my thinking about how I want to conduct my own aging generally and how all that affects personal style.


Consequently, I've been doing a lot of consideration of what I want to personally accomplish and how I want the rest of my life to be.  Some of that is inevitably about what I wear and what I want to say with my choices. I have no big conclusions to offer you, only an increased awareness that the process is really important to me. It can be good to reach for a modicum of control where there seems to be none. I hope to get much older, and hope to do it with as much consciousness and thoughtfulness as possible, for as long as it's fun.

I've missed you all, and am sorry that I'm so far behind in getting around to see what you all are up to. I owe all of my blog-buddies some catch-up time at your respective blogs and will make that the focus for the rest of my week.

So, here's a What I Wore photo for your consideration. 



Wasn't hard to make a decision about how to dress. It was bloody-blazing-hot and humid (your can see the indelicate sheen of sweat on my chest) and I dressed to go off to the Big City for supplies and a bite to eat with Dan on Sunday. Keeping it simple, 'cause it's serious summer-for-real now. A loose-waisted cotton dress ( that Dan especially likes) over jeans to keep it comfortably casual. But, true to form, I couldn't bring myself to get too casual, and chose minty high heels just because really wanted to wear them. No jewelry except the wedding rings and a plain gold and turquoise band, and lots of antiperspirant. Lots and lots of antiperspirant ....


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I'm off to say hello to everyone over at Festive Patti's Visible Monday . What cool a treat after a long, hot weekend!

54 comments:

  1. Your dress is very beautiful, Jan! Great for hot days (we got some here too, imagine that). I am glad for you that you've reached some important decisions. It's always hardest to be "in between". Have a wonderful Summer and show us more of your dresses! :) xxxx

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  2. I've just had to look up the meaning of "copacetic" - I love to learn new words, and will slip it into conversation all week long!
    Good to see you, Jan. It sounds as though there has been some soul-searching and business-planning and age-considering and control-regaining. All hard work, I imagine, so I'm not surprised you needed to focus on that for a while. But you're back, looking gorgeous - I love that dress (Dan has great taste) and just look how perfectly co-ordinated you are!
    Hot hot hot - not just the weather, I mean YOU! xxxx

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  3. Patti_NotDeadYetStyleJuly 14, 2014 at 5:26 PM

    We have to keep making decisions, or else others will make them for us, and we're not ready for that! It's wonderful that you and your husband can communicate about the big and small things in life. You look gorgeous in this dress and mint heels; thanks for linking up with Vis Monday. xox

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  4. Jan - you are one classy diva! That dress is to die for and only you would think of and be able to thoroughly pull off wearing it deliberately with jeans. And sheen of sweat? Pshaw! You are radiant, m'dear!

    And I'm glad everything is copacetic. I look forward to more of your ruminations on aging and style.

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  5. The dress looks great on you, so feminine and summery. Smart thing to pair it with jeans! Jan, it's wonderful that you've reached a decision about your business. I wish you the best! We're also having a hot-hot weather. My body doesn't take it well... I basically suffer :(, don't sleep well because it's so stifling in spite of the conditioner... Well, I'll survive :)

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  6. May I disagree Jan? I think I speak for the masses when I say we're all big, big fans of your blog! Clearly, you've had some important stuff going on, stuff that takes time, energy, thought, more time, more thought. Catch-up time is not requisite. We don't want you to feel overwhelmed! I'm more than content to read along with you here until the fires die down.


    I think blue is a great shade for feeling just a little cooler. Honest! I didn't see the glow until you pointed it out, and even then, not so much!


    And is it bad of me to have hoped just a teeny bit that you and Dan decided to cash in and move up to Seattle?

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  7. Firstly, may all go as planned for you both as you continue along this journey know as life. From time to time we all have to make some hard decisions, sometimes in our control sometimes not.
    Glad to see you still chose a pair of your stunning shoes to add to that pretty dress and jeans.Try to stay as cool as possible in your summer heat.( I do have trouble getting my head round the temperature extremes in your part of the world.)

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  8. Such a pretty outfit - you look fantastic in those colors! I know what you mean about making those decisions - I've been doing a lot of that myself these days.

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  9. HappinessatmidlifeJuly 15, 2014 at 1:05 AM

    This is such a pretty dress on you. I love those mint heels with it. I have been wanting a pair of minty heels and have not found one that I like yet.


    I am always worried about my retirement and pray that I have enough for that day to be able to enjoy life and leave enough money for my son.


    Alice
    www.happinessatmidlife.com

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  10. Always difficult, these decisions about the future. As you never know what the future has in store for you. You can think, weigh and make decisions and it is still very uncertain.
    I am dieing to know what the outcome of your contemplating is. Please don't feel guilty about not visiting blogs or not commenting. We still love you and can do without it for a change. All for a good cause: your future.
    As for the dress and shoes: I love them. Fabulous dress. I just don't understand why you would put on jeans when it is so hot. Why not wear it without the jeans?
    Greetje

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  11. Doesn't it feel good after you've face those fears and make a decision about something important?
    Your dress is gorgeous and I'm starting to get very jealous, every US blogger friend's post this morning has mentioned the heat. We've got temperatures of 90 arriving by the end of the week and I cannot wait! xxx

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  12. You look stunning in this outfit. But it is your smile that really sets it off.

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  13. Big decisions take time, and it is important to live your life the way you want, whatever your age.
    The dress looks great, and the colours are gorgeous! But how can you wear jeans when it's hot? My preferred accessory for hot weather is the bucket of ice water I keep wanting to dip my head into...

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  14. Where is your restaurant? We are taking a weekend getaway in a couple weekends, and I'm wondering if we will be in your neck of the woods! :)

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  15. Sounds like some big life decisions ahead. Change is good. It keeps us young : )


    It has been very hot and humid here as well. I chose to think of the sweat as a lovely "glow".


    I love the mint heels.


    bisous
    Suzanne

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  16. You look great! Good to "see" you back. Ah, yes, July in Arkansas...I remember it well. Actually, rather fondly as the last week we had days where we barely passed 60 here, gray and rainy, so I wouldn't mind a bit more sun and heat. Although, we're getting some of that today (finally).

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  17. I love wearing dresses as tunics, you look great! And you look hot, but in a good way! :)

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  18. cherie james (stylenudge.com)July 15, 2014 at 1:48 PM

    Hi Jan, I love the mint heels. I am a big fan of heels with jeans, makes your whole look more sophisticated. Glad to have you back in action!

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  19. NorthernmumdownsouthJuly 15, 2014 at 2:43 PM

    Decisions take up a lot of energy and time - it's not good to rush big decisions and as others have said sometimes you just don't know until you have the benefit of hindsight whether you did the right thing or not. It's a big relief when you have made a decision though as then you can get on with things. Best wishes with moving on with your decisions. You look lovely in those colours xxx

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  20. I love the dress over jeans look, especially with the colors that you chose today. Your minty heels pull the color from your dress with perfection.


    I'm very familiar with your focus on how you want the rest of your life to be. I think about this frequently! Life changes on a dime sometimes, and then everything changes again. Have fun with the process!

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  21. Glad to see you back, though I'm sure it was good for you to take the time to work on all that personal stuff. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and the lovely comment you left - so sweet! I LOVE this dress your wearing. The coloring and print is gorgeous, and I think the silhouette looks fabulous on you. Those mint heels are great, too!

    Sammi@http://http://beautifuldreamerami.blogspot.com/.blogspot.com/

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  22. It's necessary to take stock of where things are heading in life versus where you want them to go. Good to hear things are in good order though (like Curtise I had to consult the dictionary!).
    What a pretty feminine look and the lovely mint heels are the icing on the cake. I love how you can't resist a heel! I've been wanting a pair of stilettos in pale mint - now I shall have to have a little shop round. I wish it was hot here - apparently it will be 30 later this week in London yay!

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  23. I took early retirement when I got to 50 in order to live, but having been a civil servant teacher for the government made it an easier decision.
    You look glorious, my dear Jan
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  24. I don't like changes, they kind of freak me out. On the other hand, if there were no changes our lives would have been quite boring and monotonous.
    Love your dress, such beautiful colours and print. And the shoes match it so perfectly. It is hot and humid here too but I stopped using antiperspirants, just don't see that they really work at such weather.

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  25. PinkCheetahVintageJuly 16, 2014 at 10:07 AM

    Lovely outfit! Being aware, living consciously is great in general. Makes life richer. I need to know who is next for the book :)

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  26. I just love the turquoise in your dress against the navy .. it's really quite eye catching. I hear ya on decisions and changes .. Now that I'm "half way through my life" (ugh), it is time to say "hey this doesn't work for me" time to change it. Sort of a now or never attitude .. now I'm older and have the attitude to make changes :-)


    monica, www.pear-shaped-gal.com

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  27. Thank you so much for visiting and your lovely comment dear Jan! :)

    This is from today my absolutely favorite outfit of you!! It´s divine! These beautiful colors and print!! Love it from head to toe! :)

    have a beautiful and stress-free week dear
    Dana
    http://danalovesfashionandmusic.blogspot.de/

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  28. I love that dress and I love even more that you wore it over jeans. I have yet to try that, maybe I'd better get with the program! So you were up to some deep philosophical life thinking, were you? It seems the older I get, the more I find myself doing that. I've been thinking a lot lately because there is a pressing (and messy) family issue that I absolutely have to deal with and I keep putting it off. I've been trying to psyche myself up to do it this Friday morning...hopefully I grow a set and get on with it! In any case, you are supremely beautiful as always!
    Debbie
    www.fashionfairydust.blogspot.com

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  29. This is a gorgeous outfit and you look very chic and fresh in it. I don't know how you can mange denim in the heat. I am a melted puddle even in just a little cotton dress and our temps are probably lower than yours. I guess one gets acclimatised. I am sure you could pull off that dress without the denim though it is a great pairing. I love the shoes with it and I really think adding just the right shoes is one of the things you do best! Still love that haircut too! It's nice to see you back!
    xoxoxo

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  30. You look so lovely, Jan! I absolutely ADORE the dress!!!

    xo,
    Janise

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  31. Everything gets pushed back, blogging included, when big life decisions need to be made. Even in my life, everything stops until I change my son's diaper LOL. Wishing you all the best in what you're next goals and moves will be with the restaurant and all.


    I'm also delayed in visiting my favorite blogs. I attended a reunion on my husband's family and we spent 10 days for that. It was hard to find the time to even check my email.


    I love your dress, it's something I would buy if I see it! I would also probably pair it with a mint shoes but flats since that's the one I have.

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  32. Love the colour palette here, very nice! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier x

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  33. You look gorgeous no matter the weather. A lovely print dress and those stilettos! Great colors too.
    Important decision making that involves aging, tell me about it! Nothing like having Mom die to get you there fast, ready or not. You cannot look at all you have in the same way and what will happen to it after you. etc., etc. Say no more, say no more. And my art

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  34. Jan, I think we've been going through some of the same thought processes. I've been thinking a lot about how the next two or three decades will play out, and let's face it, that's about all there is left! It's pretty heavy stuff knowing that time and money are much more limited than they were even a year ago. I'm glad to see you putting on your beautiful clothes, sexy shoes, and a winning smile to face whatever is in your future!

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  35. You look fab as always, Jan and I´m loving the color palette that used in this outfit. Our summer is getting hotter in here too and thank God that it rained today.


    Have a great weekend! :)


    http://dressingupforme.blogspot.com/

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  36. Debbie Baker BurnsJuly 20, 2014 at 8:24 PM

    This outfit is the BOMB...LOVE IT!!! You look great and I am loving your hair. You got your cut just before me. I remember seeing yours and thinking...yeah, I'm making the right decision. These colors look great together. Maybe it's just the time of life we are at, but I went through that "what do I want for the rest of my life" thinking while I was laid up with my broken ankle. My thoughts led me back to blogging for one thing. I have lots more things I thought about that I am gradually implementing. What kind of restaurant do you have? Debbie @ ilovemylemonadelife.com

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  37. Jean at Dross into GoldJuly 21, 2014 at 8:05 PM

    Are we living in parallel universes? I think so. At least you've been able to reach a place of decision for now. I'm still in the float zone as I help care for my parents a gazillion states away. But i count the blessings; one being that i can still talk to them and say I love you. Things like lovely dresses and turquoise stilettos definitely help, as do wonderful friends like you. XXOO

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  38. Thank you, Natalia! I appreciate the kind thoughts. More dresses to come ... I'm in that mood this time of year! So happy to hear from you.

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  39. I began hearing copacetic in the hippy-days of the mid 60s ... lots of surf community use. Military, as well, and I'm guessing it came into use during WW2. Great sound, though, yes?
    Twenty years at our business and we had to do some tap-dancing to keep it going. The worst is over and all is better, but it's all a process. I'm feeling stressed and saggy, but I'm glad you like the look. Thanks so much, Curtise. I really appreciate every morsel of your friendship!

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  40. Thanks, Patti, for the support. We persevere and things are, indeed, looking brighter. Dan and I have worked together since we met, and while it's not always easy, it's the only way I'd do it. We are pretty happily co-dependant ... urk ... but it works for us!

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  41. Awwwh. Thanks so very much for all, Maricel. Very kind of you. The dress is a little big and a little square and very, very insubstantial and light, sheerer than it looks, so it feels better as a tunic than a dress. I like this silhouette quite a lot and get away with it whenever I can. More than once, I've noticed some man look at me, then at his wife, clearly a little confused ... I'd swear I can hear him asking, " So is that a thing now? Dresses over pants? Really?"
    I think a lot more about my age when I'm tired, and I have been lately. Gotta keep it positive and wise, but if that's not happening, then I'll try to be entertaining.

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  42. Thank you, Joni! (I know I've told you I'm glad you're back a couple of times, but it bears repeating!) Moving to a warmer clime? From Seattle? Yikes. My move was a necessary thing, but if I had had a better choice, I'd be there still. No ... not too vain. Smart!

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  43. Have you ever seen such a strange summer? So green for July, and we've been down into the 50s at night ... IN JULY!!! Climate change? You think?! If it stays like this we won't be able to afford to live here. No fear, though. It will be hot again and soon.
    Hope you're well and as adorable as always. Think of you often, dear heart.

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  44. Thank you, Oksana ... I appreciate your kind thoughts. We've had our business for almost 20 years, and had to decide to make the big push or go another way. We're staying! Glad you like my little dress ... it's flimsier fabric than it looks here, and works well over the jeans.
    The weather has been so strange here ... hot, then cool. It was in the 50's one night ... in JULY!
    Me, too ... I have to sleep in a cool room. Dan freezes, but that's how it goes ... more blankets!

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  45. Oh, thanks, Neti! Glad to be back, although it's all process and ongoing ... you know that about having your own business, I know. Glad you like my dress. Nice of you to say!
    The picture of you, neck deep in water is inspirational! Summer-perfect.

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  46. Hi, Sue! "The masses"... you crack me up, Gorgeous Girl! It has been very stressy, very tiring and I'm just not feeling funny or creative, but I see daylight. I was born overwhelmed, so I'm used to it! Things are ironing out well, and so far so good.
    No, we have to stay put to stay employed, but when I win the lottery, I'm on my way up!

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  47. Thank you, Darlene. Glad you're home safe and in dryer air ... humidity is the thing I hate worst about Arkansas. No... it's the ticks. No, wait ... it's the chiggers ...
    I'll stop before I depress myself!

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  48. Thank you so much, Carmen. Glad you like this look. It's so comfortable, and more fun than just jeans and a shirt.
    It's been a crazy couple of weeks, all process, but I have a great partner in my huz for the decision part. I never have any trouble making decisions, but I fall down in the implementation department!

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  49. Oh, thank you, Jill. Business process is always change, or die! We've been here not quite 20 years, and we've decided to persevere a bit longer. Not quite ready to quit, just yet.
    It's been hot, but not so bad as years past, and more strangely still, it's been in the 50s at night recently. NEVER happens here. Scary.

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  50. I'm okay making decisions, it's the implementation I'm bad about! But, we persevere. Hope your decision making is going well for you! You have my empathy. Thanks so much for your sweet comments, Lana.

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  51. Welcome back Jan. What a beautiful dress. I love, love, love the colour and style of your dress and you look fabulous. xoxo

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  52. You're too funny!! :-)

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