Fall Style Over 60
When basics become so much more
Happy Fall Everyone!
Fall style over 60 is all about basics when you style them to be so much more.
Sharing some pieces that have already paid for themselves by price per wear. We don’t need more more more do we ladies? When pieces are wardrobe workhorses it makes it fun to get dressed and even better, you feel pulled together and polished.
So what are my go to pieces?
I always add jewelry because without it I just don’t feel polished. I will add them below. Can’t you see these easy to throw on and go pieces working in so many ways for fall/winter?
As always, thanks for stopping by and let me know what is inspiring you for this season.
XOXO,
Kimberly
Fridays Favorites
What you need now
Hot enough for you? If you are like me, you are melting in this heat. I have a few found treasures to cheer you up! So let’s dive in.
These brought a little joy to me. Hope you check them out and let me know your thoughts. As always, I love hearing from YOU! What is bringing you joy right now?
Thank you for stopping by.
Kimberly
Swimwear over 60
My New Favorites from Lands End Swimwear
Finding swimwear over 60! It’s a quest isn’t it? Hot summers and swimwear are a necessary combination here in Texas. If you are a woman of a certain age it may feel like finding a flattering AND comfortable swimsuit is HARD! Luckily I have found some favorites from LandsEnd for you!
Let’s start with color and comfort, shall we? I absolutely fell hard for this one. The colors are HAPPY and the cut is flattering. No cheeky business here.
Isn’t this coverup darling too? I love it and you will too!
If you prefer classic black, this one is outstanding. It is chlorine resistant and shapes you in all the right places. The tummy control and adjustable straps make sure you feel confident all day too!
So whether you are hitting the beach or sitting by the pool, check out LandsEnd for all your swimsuit and accessory needs. Isn’t it wonderful to see a brand showing older women in their advertising. I encourage us all to support them when they do. LandsEnd gave me a code to share with you too! SUNNY40 will save you an additional 40% site wide until June 30th How great is that!!!!
As always, thank you for stopping by!
Kim
I Became a living Kidney Donor at 65
Our Remarkable and Emotional Journey to Kidney Donation
Hello Everyone!
What a whirlwind it has been these past few months.
In March I became a living kidney donor. I donated my left kidney to my younger brother. He has been a diabetic since grade school. It had been a long and crazy road to get to donation (about 11 1/2 years). We had starts and stops along the way which were very difficult. This past year during evaluations, breast cancer was found in one sister. She feels that my brother Bob saved her life. She was not due for a mammogram for several months. She had surgery and radiation and is doing well. We pray everyday that she stays that way. I was up for consideration again (11 years ago a mass was found in my breast which turned out to be fine) After several trips in to Chicago, and many many tests in Chicago and Texas, we finally got the news we had hoped for. We were a go! On March 10th, World Kidney Day, we got it done. I live in Texas now but am from Chicago where all my siblings and our oldest daughter still live. The surgery’ was scheduled at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. I flew to Chicago on Monday, tested for covid on Tuesday and was in the OR at Northwestern on Thursday morning. We had great surgeons and to them I say thank you for using all your skill to help us. We are eternally grateful.
I stayed in the hospital until the following Sunday. My family took such great care of my me and treated me to recover in a fancy hotel downtown, The Four Seasons. along with rides, food, staying with me and so much more. I could not have done this without all their support. I love my family. Our daughter Sarah was with me every step of the way pre and post op. She nursed me back to health at the hotel and then at her condo. All of Sarah’s friends spoiled us rotten too. I stayed in Chicago for about 3 weeks. Our youngest daughter Liza, came to stay in San Antonio and kept things running smoothly there during my time away. After I got home, our son Ed, who is a nurse, came to San Antonio and was so helpful getting me on track. My husband Ed was a trooper too. Cooking, cleaning and doing his best to make me comfortable. Check out the story Brenda Coffee did on us here My brother Bob has an angel named Monica for a wife. Their kids, Bob and Barbara, were very helpful and encouraging during every step of the process and after. All of our nieces and nephews were. It was amazing to have so much support. The prayers from around the country and world made me so emotional and grateful. Neighbors sending food and love was overwhelming. To all of YOU, thank you so much. I will never be able to express my gratitude adequately.
I would say the first few weeks after donation were pretty uncomfortable. We found out the hard way that I do not do well with prescribed pain meds and could not tolerate them. Tylenol was about all I could take to help me with pain. At the one week checkup the Dr. allowed me to take one ibuprofen along with one Tylenol and that made a huge difference in my pain management. I have three incisions total. Walking was hard but necessary and I did my best. A heating pad felt wonderful. I drank a ton of water. I was showering daily. The incisions were closed with disolving stitches, glue and steri strips. They were supposed to fall off on their own but mine needed some prodding. I was instructed not to lift anything more than a gallon of milk (or ten pounds) for 6 weeks. That was harder than I thought, especially when you start to feel better.
At week 5 1/2 I was feeling sooooo much better. Still some discomfort but I was sleeping so much better. A crazy story. I have a wonderful San Antonio food blogger buddy, San Antonio Munchies, who was doing an instagram giveaway with a local mattress store here in San Antonio, Miracle Mattress. I entered and WON an adjustable frame and mattress. It was such a huge help with my recovery. No more pulling on the sheets to pull myself up. With the touch of a button I could raise myself up and get out of bed. Such a game changer. So huge THANK YOU to Alex and my new best friends at Miracle Mattress San Antonio. At 8 weeks I felt comfortable enough to drive (the decision was left up to me) And that first bath felt amazing!!!
I am so happy that both my brother and I are recovering well. We are looking forward to wonderful times together in the future. I am honored to raise awareness on how donation saves lives. My life is forever changed in the best possible way too. If you are interested in learning more about kidney donation please check out this link here. And please please sign your drivers license to be a donor too. There is so much need out there.
We are very well aware of just how lucky we are. If you are waiting for a donor, or the family of someone needing a donation, know I am praying for you.
Thank you for following along, for all your love, care, prayers and best wishes. God bless you all.
Best always,
Kimberly
Elegant Christmas table 2021
Untraditional Tablescape
This year I created an elegant yet untraditional Christmas table for my family. The dreaming and scheming are all part of the fun for me. It had been a few years since we had all been together (like so many around the world). Once I heard everyone would be able to be here this year, the joy started for me. This became a true labor of love.
Well I am here to tell you that using fresh garland and fruit in South Texas was not my smartest idea. A week into prep had foliage browning and oranges rotting. I replaced all the fresh with faux and it turned out better than I thought it would.
DETAILS:
Tablecloth was my Grandmother’s, Dishes here, Napkins here, I found an unbelievable price for Silverware here. Glasses are vintage finds. Plants are from Tuesday Morning and are now on huge clearance, Faux Oranges here, I hot glued these clips on the big oranges available here, Reindeer and trees are from Target (now sold out but check next year.) Velvet bows are only available in store from At Home. All wreaths and garland are from the TJMaxx Home Store. All my jewelry is Susan Shaw, designed and made here in Texas. You can view and purchase all her jewelry here. My caftan is old from H&M.
I hope you had a very lovely Holiday. Thank you for your continued support and inspiration. Wishing everyone a healthy and happy New Year.
XOXO,
Kim
One Set three ways
How One Neutral Set Makes Fall Dressing Easy
These two neutral knit pieces from Zara became the basic of many looks for me this fall. I dug through my closet and found my old Gucci Boots that were perfect! (Snagged these boots yearssssss ago at the after Thanksgiving sale at Saks Fifth Avenue! They had the BEST sales! Great memories of shopping with my girls! We would get up super early and shop until we dropped!) Pays to dig around and see what you have before purchasing new. Added a purse from Off 5th. I added some of my favorite Julie Vos bracelets which I am rarely without!
For this look I added a long cashmere cardigan. (I bought this cardi years ago at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Again great memories of getting up so early to shop with my daughter Liza of That Blonde Rebel. We would have lunch and a glass of wine in the restaurant! It was wonderful!!!! Same boots, and jewelry too. I switched out the bag to. one of my favorites from Chanel.
For this last look I threw on my favorite blazer from HM (I did just purchase this one) and my 25th Anniversary present…the pouchette from Louis Vuitton.
So three looks from one set worked well for me. I have lot’s of other ideas to break up the set too. A wise investment for under $75.
As always, thank you for stopping by.
Best,
Kimberly
Fredericksburg, TX
This week we celebrated our 42nd Wedding Anniversary! A day trip to Fredericksburg sounded like fun. The sun was shining so off we went.
Our stomachs were rumbling by the time we arrived! We received so many recommendations for restaurants. (The food and wine scene in Fredericksburg is awesome) After calling several places to see how crowded they were, we decided to try Emma and Ollie. (Thanks Amanda!) Pay attention because you might just drive right past it.
The portions are huge!!!! We probably should have split a sandwich. I give Emma and Ollie a 5 star review. We sat on the outside back deck and enjoyed the beautiful day, friendly service and outstanding food. Seriously, do try this place. They have the best bakery too. You will love every delicious, homemade bite!
Next we decided to walk a bit. We needed to burn off some of those calories! So we parked and went exploring.
First stop was Carol Hicks Bolton’s shop and WOW! She has been featured in many magazines for good reason! If you are looking for unique and exquisite things do come here. The smell of the French candles wafts through the air. Much to my delight there are very fine antiques, exquisite bedding, religious artifacts and more. My imagination was going into overdrive! The warehouse setting adds to the shopping ambiance too. I could have stayed all day. Hopefully I will be going back for some bedding ASAP!
Next up was Loft. It’s also set in the warehouse district. I was lured in by the garden pieces outside wanted to see it all.
Loft had mirrored old doors, gorgeous rugs, lots of modern pieces mixed with repurposed things along with great urns and garden decor. What a delight to see. I was now inspired to go home and try to mix up a few things I may have stashed away! I love when that happens, don’t you?
Main Street was next. It is the hot spot for all the tourists. The Dooley’s 5-10 &25cStore is a throw back in time. We love going in every time we visit Fredericksburg. So much to see that takes you down memory lane. If you remember a five and dime store that’s what this is and more! Down from Dooley’s is Pritzer Sweet Shop. If you just want to grab a drink, a treat and people watch on the sidewalk bench, this is your spot. There are LOT’S of shops to explore on Main Street! Just go and have fun.
We have taken Fredericksburg wine tours before and they are FUN! This time it was just the two of us and since the day was sunny and cool, we drove down the road to Signor Vineyards.
This winery is stunning. It may be just down the road from downtown but I felt like we were in Napa (With a good stretch of the imagination, Italy! Hey, after a year and half in quarantine it’s allowed!) Sitting under a gorgeous canopy of trees sipping wine I was a bit overcome with gratitude. How lucky are we to be together to enjoy today. This 200 acre estate is growing and I was so impressed with the friendly service, manicured grounds and fun gift shop (buy some cheese to go with your wine at the gift shop or order a charcuterie board or box)
Before we knew it is was time to head home.
I had saved our highly recommended Lemon Cookie for the ride back to San Antonio! It was OUTSTANDING! We had the nicest time celebrating in Fredericksburg. The pace felt slow and relaxing! Ed and I can’t wait to get back soon. Always check hours of business for the places you wish to visit because many are closed Monday & Tuesday. There are also lot’s of places to stay to make it a vacation. From San Antonio it’s just a one hour drive. We took the back roads and the views had us in awe. It really does your soul good to just take it all in.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Let me know your favorite Texas spots. I’m ready to find new and exciting places to explore and y’all have the best recommendations.
XOXO, Kim
Family Room Makeover with La-z-Boy South Texas
HOME SWEET HOME
Our family room makeover with LA-Z- Boy South Texas is here! Due to Covid things did take longer than anticipated but it was so worth the wait! We worked with designer Dorothy Burrows at the 1604 San Antonio location. I had an idea of neutrals for large pieces and Dorothy helped me to pick fabric that could be neutral yet very easy to clean. We did add the fabric treatment to keep things looking fresh. The possibilities of color and style are pretty endless at LA Z BOY. The quality of the furniture is on another level. Dorothy has so much experience and insight. This experience helped me take my problematic space to one that is so comfortable and stylish. I am thrilled every time I walk into our family room! Such a joy to see and use!
We went with the elegance of the contemporary Edie Duo reclining couch. This couch is very popular for a multitude of reasons. The Edie Duo couch has the recliner option and a usb cord charge station for each seat also! (hence the name duo for duo controls!) As some of you may know, my husband has a condition known as ankylosing spondylitis. His new recliner has him feeling much more comfortable and I got something that worked for the style I was looking for in our space. Function and style are equally important to how a room feels. There is also the option of battery packs to avoid cord situations too!
Then it was time to chose a coffee table. The one we chose has two soft close drawers to store all that I want out of site! Don’t you love the soft close drawer! The two side tables with a bottom shelf from the same line as the coffee table completed our big pieces. The look is comfortable and will endure for years and years to come. To have things made here in the USA is really so important to us and I love that this brand is doing this.
From top to bottom, accessories to large pieces I give LA-Z-BOY South Texas the highest marks for quality. Be sure to check out my reels on instagram showing the room before we began so you can see the before and after.
I have a special giveaway for YOU too! Click here to see my instagram post and enter to win a $1000 gift card to LA-Z-BOY South Texas. If you leave a comment here you will get an EXTRA ENTRY!
You can shop all the available pieces in this room here.
Thank you so much for reading, and leave any questions you have about our room in the comments!
XO
Brought to you by LA-Z-BOY South Texas
Happy First Day of spring
Happy first day of spring! I am so happy to see spring is here. There is just something about the hope spring brings. This year more than ever, the mind and soul is feeling hope. So much suffering from Covid, horrible storms and seeing all the political and social strife has me dreaming of better days ahead. Vaccines are happening, schools are going back, stores are opening and it is giving us all hope.
Today I had the privilege to attend the launch of the Antonio Melani, Born on Fifth collection at my local Dillards at The Shops At La Cantera. A few of us had an exclusive peek at this amazing collection. Everything was so well made and the sweet southern vibes made me want to put on a dress and feel feminine and free! Is there any better feeling than when a gal swishes in front of the mirror because she feels pretty and happy? I think not.
I have noticed that many retailers from Amazon to department stores are doing brand/blogger collaborations. What a wonderful way to put out a collection. The only issue I have is where are the gals over 40? Being a women of a certain age (cough… 63) I would love to have someone my age who is not a model but a real life person with bodies the general population can relate to, launch a collection for the women our age. After all, we have the most discretionary income of any demographic and we enjoy looking and feeling our best.
Once I was told that it’s not our turn anymore. I took such offense at this. Why would it not be our turn? Are we done because of too many birthdays? Should we just hang it up and stop caring. Not in my world and I hope not in your world either. I do believe SMART business’ should bet on US older gals! Some brands are and I appreciate them so much. Still, it’s just a very small sliver of the fashion pie. At this age we know what works and doesn’t for our bodies and our life. So let’s see if we can make this happen. I would love to have this opportunity to design a line for all of us real women. It would be inclusive of size, shape, age and all ethnicities. What a dream come true it would be. Putting it out into the universe!
I hope you are feeling all the joy spring brings. As always, thank YOU for stopping by. Let’s get to know each other better and drop a HI in the comment box.
Here are a few favorites from today. All are from Antonio Melani and some are also from the Born on Fifth collaboration.
Always,
Kimberly
Bye Bye 2020, Hello 2021
Hello 2021 and Happy New Year to YOU! As I was reminiscing about the year of 2020, I recognized that this for me was the year of easy dressing. Dresses and caftans were easy to throw on and made me feel pulled together and chic. I hope 2021 brings us all love, peace, joy and health. Thank you all so much for all your support, comments, emails dm’s, likes and shares. Each one made a dark year so much brighter.
XOXO,
Kimberly
OBSESSED
