It’s fall, and for the first time in 6 years, I’m working in an office.
I haven’t shopped for work clothes in almost 10 years! In my last in-person gig, I lived in a corner office with a view, and dressed the part. Lots of pant suits, 3 inch heels (albeit block heels), inseam 30 inches so the bottoms skimmed the floor perfectly.
When I was on a break to stay home with the kids again, I lived in jeans, sweaters, and runners. Very suitable to be on school councils, meeting other SAHM’s for coffee, running errands, a little consulting here and there. The wardrobe suited me well for remote work, which followed. I loved the Pacific Northwest style of that job – jeans, puffy vests, boots, running shoes – perfect! Did not have to shop for a wardrobe.
So today, even though workwear is decidedly a lot more casual, there’s an inner girlie shopper in me who feels the need to flex her retail muscle! Yikes! I am conflicted, because remember, I am in a decluttering mode. I already donated a lot of my shoes of yore (no more Cinderella, I will never get back into them, darn bunions – and my daughter is not the same shoe size). The suit pants I have can work, but they are all slim ankle grazing. I have a couple of the trendier wide-leg pants, but they now pool on the floor when I wear my ballet flats or flat booties. I have a sewing machine (remember, the masks I made during Covid)… but I don’t have the patience to hem them. And hemming these days costs more than the pants themselves, especially if I get an amazing sale at H & M, Uniqlo, Old Navy or the Gap.
“Shop my closet” – well, that has merit, as some of my stuff is so old it’s on trend again. Not even kidding – big padded shoulders a la 1980s – it’s a look! Long leather coats? Pointy-toed shoes – yes, even my flat boots, all pointy. Skinny leggings for the win!
But still, I have the urge. After all, most of my stuff is black. And the newest trend – Nature, browns,, animal prints – brown is the new black. Thank goodness Black Friday deals are coming up early.
Do you journal? I suppose blogging is a sort of journal, at least that’s the way I use it often.
But I also have about half a dozen physical journals, as I like the notebooks.They keep piling up though, many of them only partially started. Like the 5 minute gratitude journal. I could barely keep up, so funny. And then I go away for a while, away from my daily practice which was a way to keep me grounded.
It’s not such a good thing though, is it, to feel the pressure to write? On my. blog, in my journal, a scene for a memoir.. I crave it though, I need a writing outlet, especially now that I’m working fulltime again. And I love to read.
I’ve made a commitment to myself to stay committed to work life balance. I went back fulltime for a reason, for fulfillment, to make a difference. To avoid becoming a couch potato who loves to snack post 9 PM at night while professing to be intermittent fasting, who works out more than occasionally, but now getting lazy after a drive home from work.
So my morning routine is thus:
1/ Drink coffee (hopefully I had energy to make it the night before and schedule it
2/ Do a brief Headspace exercise – I joined the stress management program. 2 minutes a day. And add a motivational few minutes in there as needed.
3/ Do a quick Duolingo in French – I’m past a 580 days streak! I hope to be able to stretch that muscle again next year in France!
4/ Then I check my work phone to double check what’s going on.
5/ If going to the office, I’m out the door. With my travel mug of coffee. If lucky, my garage door opener will work – figures it’s glitchy now that I’m heading out more often. First world problem I know, but not helpful during a snowfall!
If I’m working from home, I crack open my laptop in my home office. Coffee in hand.
What’s your morning routine look like?
Been a busy week, getting back into a routine of doing new things!
So today will be a catch-up day for my reading and writing assignments. Including for this blog.
Welcome to any new readers who have stopped by via NaBloPoMo this year. A get to know me post will be coming up for curious minds!
It was gray, and wet, and a little sombre today as I drove home from the gym.
A classic rock grunge song played on the radio, reminding me of the gray, wet, and somberness that often greeted me whenever I went to Seattle for work, a few years ago.
Chris Cornell was such a huge talent; I was shocked and saddened by his death in 2017. He was just a bit older than me and is now forever frozen at 52. Such a tragedy. I took a pic with his statue one of the last times I made it to the city.
Soundgarden was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last weekend. I didn’t see it, but hope to catch the ceremony on Disney plus.
I was in Pike Place Market around this time 2 years ago, and took a pic of this store window – I just had to — that T-shirt was great! I wish I had bought it. All those Christmas-y things, I guess the holidays are just around the corner!
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We went to a holiday dinner hosted my husband’s cousin tonight. It was a lovely get together, but with all the kids now young adults, the vibe is really changing. The kids’ table (all in their 20s) was drinking the wine – and the adults’ table, was drinking mostly water (well, at least after one glass of wine)! My daughter, home for the weekend, was supposed to join us but she felt a cold coming on and decided to stay home. She made herself a potato, cheddar and bacon soup for dinner, a perfect meal for a cold.
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Tomorrow, Sunday, is another workout day. I’m glad I came home early enough – no excuses, I have to make it to the gym in the morning.
I reached my Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2025 with 66 days to spare. I had a lower goal this year, to be realistic at two books a month. I’ve been fortunate to discover some excellent choices through Netgalley, which also provides me with some incentive to flex my writing muscle by preparing reviews and sharing on Goodreads.
Of all the books I’ve read this year, I think only a couple were in physical copy. Most have been via e-reader or on my ipad. It’s just so convenient, especially when borrowing from the library. And I have so many books in the house that I’ve read,so while I am now in a decluttering phase, it almost pains me to have to purchase any physical books. Even if I enjoy the feeling of an actual book in hand.
One of the issues I have these days is sleep, as in trying to get enough of it. I know that sleep hygiene is key to that, and part of a good routine is to avoid any blue light/ electronics, within a certain timeframe before bedtime.
Which is the major challenge – I like to read before bed! With the preferred method being my iPad or e-reader, even on my computer, this is an issue. And a dilemma. I like paper, it’s likely better for my sleep, but is impractical.
I love reading on my electronics, which is bad for my sleep.
Conundrum.
What’s your preferred reader – physical book or device? Inquiring mind wants to know!
My sister took me to Kandl Artistique Yorkville for a candle making workshop for my birthday (I plan on celebrating all year, BTW) this past weekend.
It was so much fun, to choose my own scents – Top, Middle, Base Notes – to create something that will burn for 60 hours.
I named the candle accordingly!
She even had a delish charcuterie board made for the occasion.
It was definitely worth the trip downtown!
What do you think about celebrating milestone birthdays all year ?
As if I can make my sleep last to 6 AM – usually I’m awake just before. And I don’t make my bed because my husband is still sleeping.
I don’t take the train, if I’m lucky it can be a work from home day. And if I have to go into work, then I should have already set out my outfit for Monday.
Listening to the lyrics of this song brings me back. I have a greater appreciation now than I did back in the original day – 1985-86, I was a student, not yet working at a fulltime job, but did take the train to school.
And my Sundays were more fun days than they are today, guaranteed. I mean, a quick date yesterday was an excursion to Urban Barn with my husband to check out beds and dining room tables.
But isn’t this song great?
At a time 