Wednesday’s Wisdom
On this weeks Wednesday’s Wisdom I am getting very personal. This week marks an anniversary I really wish I did not have. One year ago this week, my daughter Liza and I had discovered that we had suddenly, completely without warning, lost one of our greatest treasures in the world, our beloved Suellen. She was only 66, a jazzercise enthusiast who went almost every day, she never smoked, hardly drank, ate well, did yoga, gave everything she had out into this world to make it a better place. For everyone who knew and loved her the grief was unbearable. We were all in horrible shock. You see, Suellen was never an “ordinary” person. She did EVERYTHING with a giving and joyful heart. She was a young girl when she married and traveled all over the world with her then military husband, teaching school and making friends that lasted a lifetime. She had two children, the true loves of her life. Suellen’s family grew with the addition of her beautiful and amazing daughter in-law and a soon to be son-in-law who is so sweet, kind and talented. And then her life became complete when her first grandchild, a baby girl joined her. She had many many nicknames, Foxy and Swell were a few but her favorite came with that baby girl, SUSU! There was her daughter’s engagement party planned in two weeks and the planning phase of that wedding was just getting started. And there would be another grand baby within the year. How and why was this beautiful soul taken at this time? I have agonized and asked over and over why and there is no answer except it was her time to go.
I won’t get into all the details of her life but I will say this, if anyone had a reason to be bitter or angry it was Suellen and yet she was the opposite. She chose joy and happiness every single day. She gave and gave and gave and gave some more. I have lost my best friend, a true sister whom I loved dearly. After her retirement from teaching, I spent almost every day with her. My family had known and loved her for over 20 years, my family lost their Swell, our nickname for her since that is what she was, a swell human being! The world lost its biggest cheerleader. Everyone of us was trying hard to go on the way Suellen would want us to. It was impossible.
Her Celebration of Life was beautiful. It was a packed house with all of her family, friends, students, jazzercise buddies, fellow teachers, parents of students and just about anyone who had ever met her attending. The Spurs organization along with many many others sent flowers, there were pictures everywhere. A video of her talking about her teaching and what it meant to say a kind word resonated with us all. The tributes were beautiful, funny, heartfelt and lovely. It was a night of true celebration of our beautiful Suellen. Are you getting a true picture of her yet, the most amazing, kind, up for fun and beautiful spirit you could ever meet. A true blue girl if ever there was one.
And now I must learn to live without her. Suellen’s children have been amazing. They have allowed me to grieve with them and to celebrate together too! I cannot express how much this has meant. We all take the bitter with the sweet, that is life. There is so much joy and happiness to come for them. It will not be the same but it will happen. A new baby joined their tribe last week and I wept with happiness and sadness. Oh Suellen, in her role as SUSU, would have been there with balloons, monogramed outfits and she would have driven them crazy with ALL the pictures she would have taken. The upcoming weeks will start the showers for her daughter’s wedding and then the wedding itself. I do believe we go forward, never the same, but with a new reality, a new normal.
So how do we do this? How do we get to the other side of this grief. This became a year of turning inward, of having very deep thoughts and feelings. To turn 60 without her by my side was strange. I am thinking of when my death comes. Am I ready, absolutely not, but I know I do not get a say in this. Thoughts of what is really important swirl through my heart and head. How do I let all my love for my tribe show so they know how deeply I love and care about them. It has been a year of deciding how to live this last chapter, and knowing that I will only choose happiness. I want to ENJOY this life, not just go through it. It makes me laugh at myself that all those crazy and wonderful quotes are true. SEIZE THE DAY!
There have been great gifts shown to me this year. So much kindness, stronger friendships, more opening up with my friends, getting closer and allowing myself to be honest and true. That is the silver lining. We all need these connections and I am following Suellen’s lead. I also encourage EVERYONE to get a calcium score screening if you are over 50. A stent would have saved this beautiful soul who showed no sign of heart disease.
I thank you for being a part of my journey. I have a long road ahead. I will never ever be the same. But today, as I said last year, I will ask myself what would Suellen do. I am trying. I am taking those trips, smiling at those around me, being kinder, saying please and thank you and taking lots and lots of pictures.
There will never be another Suellen. She was a piece of stardust and magic. I love you forever my friend. I hope you are enjoying sunshine on a white sand beach with a pink cocktail in one hand and a juicy novel in the other. Until we meet again.
XOXO,
Kim
Friday’s Favorites
Friday’s Favorites are here! How excited are you that spring is ALMOST here too? In Texas at least we are seeing the trees blooming and the wildflowers are just starting to peek their heads out. We need to enjoy it because it is the shortest season we have before the heat of summer comes to stay until October! So let’s get on with what made my heart soar this week!
THE RED SUIT
The color red is a powerful color in my book. Since this week we celebrated International Women’s Day, it felt right to have this color on to show how powerful we gal’s are when we stick together and support one another. Do you have a color that makes you feel powerful and confident?
YSL FOUNDATION
Hands down, this is my favorite foundation. And let me tell you, I have tried LOTS of foundation. It gives my skin a radiance that I love and with SPF 22 I am protecting my skin as well as making it look great.
BARGAIN EARRINGS OF THE WEEK
Who doesn’t love a bargain? After a quick run to the mall, I stopped into HM and saw these. I was thrilled to find such a WOW earring for this price. Pretty sure I will be wearing them during Fiesta and all summer long. Also, Porter magazine is one of the few magazines left with quality content and photo’s. It never ceases to give me inspiration and education.
Well, that’s it for this Friday’s Faves my darlings.
As always, thank you for stopping by and I wish you all a happy and safe weekend. Chins up Buttercups, we are almost to Spring!
XOXO,
Finding The Perfect Vanity Mirror
Since becoming empty nesters, all the extra space in our house has sat empty too! But now I have an office/dressing room in one of the previous bedrooms. I have loved every minute making this space my own. I had been searching for the perfect vanity mirror for quite a while. I went to Soft Surroundings and found this beautiful one!
At this age, the closer I can get to the mirror the better, anyone else with me? This Tri Fold Demoiselle Mirror met all my requirements. I love that it is a streamlined interpretation of a french antique reflecting so much elegance in its beveled and etched glass. This mirror gives me all the feels of an antique mirror with all the convenience of a new one.
There are so many beautiful mirrors at Soft Surroundings, check them out. I have my eye on several others that will make my home feel elegant and new! I think mirrors make everything sparkle and shine, don’t you? Candlelight is magnified, flowers look twice as full, all my jewelry shines in its reflection and the fact that I can see putting on my eye makeup makes this a win win for me!
I, for one, love how this beautiful piece made such a feminine statement in my new favorite space in my home, my office/dressing room!
Yes, I am an empty nester but I am enjoying making old new again and loving reinterpreting the empty space into something I can use and enjoy.
I would love to hear what you have done to reinterpret space in your home to make it more useful and enjoyable.
As always, thank YOU for stopping by.
Feeling All The Love in Pink
Ahhh, February, the month of love. Whether you celebrate loving yourself (which has to be number one),your family, your friends or your significant other, I hope this is a time of joy. I try to embrace how lucky I am to have so much love in my life. Is each day perfect, oh gosh no, are there struggles, absolutely, but that is all part of love. And I for one think LOVE is the most important thing in the world. When all is said and done in my life I hope it can be said that I loved with all my might.
Isn’t it funny how things you never loved before suddenly are at the top of your love list? That is me with the color pink right now! I was never a pink girl but now I can’t get enough. Ok all you color experts, tell me what this means?!!!! All I know is as the years march on, it is not only my body that has gotten soft! LOL! Is there a color you are really feeling right now?
In the spirit of pink, I am loving all the different textures and the details of this coat.
I hope you celebrate LOVE today and every day. YOU are worth it!
As always, thanks so much for stopping by.
Mardi Gras Ball
I had a real life Cinderella moment last week with my daughter Liza. I mean if you get asked to go to the ball you go, right??!!!! So here are a few highlights of the weekend in NOLA. We started out wearing vintage fur and favorite dresses.
If ever there was a night to bring out the jewels it was this night! So of course I brought Julie Vos along for the ride!
When you wear fur and gold masquerade masks you know it’s going to be a FUN night!
So the moral of this fairy tale is if you get a chance to go to the ball by all means go! Wear the masque, drink the champs and enjoy the ride!
Thanks for coming along with me. And as always, thank you so much for stopping by!
XOXO,
![](http://<div class="shopthepost-widget" data-widget-id=""3012207"">
<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">
!function(d,s,id){
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? 'http' : 'https';
if(!d.getElementById(id)) {
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + '://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js';
d.body.appendChild(e);
}
if(typeof window.__stp === 'object') if(d.readyState === 'complete') {
window.__stp.init();
}
}(document, 'script', 'shopthepost-script');
</script>
<div class="rs-adblock">
<img src="//assets.rewardstyle.com/images/search/350.gif" style="width:15px;height:15px;" onerror="this.parentNode.innerHTML='Turn off your ad blocker to view content'" />
<noscript>Turn on your JavaScript to view content</noscript>
</div>
</div>)
Chunky Knit Sweater
I have been searching for an affordable chunky knit sweater for so long! I came across this one and since it was on sale I knew it had to be mine! I feel anabolics online like a Barbie doll in this pink and these sleeves, well don’t they just make you smile?!!!! It comes in three colors, so I ordered the pink one for myself, but the red (oh the red) and tan one are equally fabulous! It is so cozy and warm, perfect for these cold Texas temps! (um 27 for the low in South Texas, say what?!!!!) You can wear it long with leggings or scrunch it up a bit with jeans. And check out the affordable dupes for the metallic Gucci loafers! Yep, they are so fab and comfy too, so there’s that! Add the white sunnies, ripped jeans and loafers and I am off for a day of hot coco and shopping!
I just love sharing my favorite pieces with you and hope you enjoy this post. I would love to hear from you about what you like (or don’t like) or what you would like to know more about. As always, thank you so much for stopping by.
XOXO,
SaveSave
That’s Life
This MacKenzie dress is one of my favorites and will be for years to come! It is available here (runs large, size down) If you know me you know I love this jewelry so so so much so I linked it all below
2017 sure had its highs and its lows. While there was so much heartache and grief this year, I know I have so much to be thankful for. What I have learned is that THAT’S LIFE. The ups and downs, the smiles and the tears, the joy and the sorrow, is all just a part of life. We can’t avoid any of it. It comes and it goes. Life is going to be a ride. Not a single person has all the good and none of the bad. With every new day we can choose how to face our challenges. I am not a resolution kind of girl. Sooooo, instead I will work to become stronger in every possible way this year. I hope to stretch and see who I can become and to embrace all the life possible. The goal is to be fearless (easier said than done) in searching for this strength of heart, soul, body and mind. As you may have figured out by now, I am no ace in the tech department but I am determined to keep trying and learning more every day. And if you know resources that could help PLEASE send them my way! I also received a camera for Christmas and will try my best to master new angles and settings AND to use a tripod and remote (egads is this possible?) Again, HELP!!! I have so enjoyed being part of this blogging community especially as an over 50 blogger!!! It has been one of my biggest highs to see brands recognizing that over 50 is something to celebrate and not a time of a downward spiral to dowdy and sad. We are an emerging demographic that is being seen and celebrated and to me that is so exciting!!! I cannot wait to see what the new year will bring on this front.
I thank all of you for being on this journey with me. Your kindness and support means more to me than I can say.
H A P P Y 2 0 1 8 !!!!
XOXO,
Celebrating 60 by Living The Gold Life With Julie Vos
Hey y’all! I’m celebrating one heck of a big birthday and I want to give YOU a present for being such wonderful followers! I am partnering with my favorite jewelry brand, Julie Vos, to give one lucky follower a $500 Julie Vos gift certificate to purchase your favorite pieces from their brand! How fabulous is this?!!!!! Once you take a look at this jewelry here, you will want to win this. This wearable luxury is for everyday and for special occasions. Day and night, young and old, everyone should be a “Julie Girl”! (Yes, I just made that term up but I kind of love it, don’t you?) I will post all the rules at the end of this post and it COULD NOT BE EASIER! No loops just easy peasy! So let’s get ready to do a happy dance!
And here is how I wear my Julie Vos every day and every season! I even keep it out to decorate around my home. It’s just too pretty to put away!
And here is how your beautiful jewelry will come packaged just add ribbon and you are ready to give or get for any occasion or Holiday!
SO BEAUTIFUL! 
So are you as excited as I am? Here are the “RULES”! Please follow each step so you are qualified to win! Enter as many times as you wish! The sky’s the limit!
- Follow me @frickspicks on instagram
- Follow @julievos on instagram
- Like my instagram JULIE VOS GIVEAWAY POST
- Tag three friends in one comment on my post on instagram
A N D…. If you want an extra entry: Leave a comment on the blog why you love Julie Vos!
THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO DO! So celebrate my birthday with me and Julie Vos and Good Luck Babes!
As always, thank you for stopping by!
XOXO,
Kim
Going Green
Hey Babes! Fall is a favorite time of year for me. I loved the whole going back to school and being excited for football and caramel apples, burning leaves, pulling out sweaters and getting a few new pieces when I was young and I still do. But fall in South Texas means a whole other thing! I’m not in the midwest anymore! It can be summer for a few days then a day of fall and then back to summer! So when I saw this green velvet kimono I thought it would make a great transitional piece. I love this shade of green and think it will work for the holidays too.
Wishing y’all a fabulous fall wherever you are. I hope your days are full of all the wonder fall has to offer. As always, thank you for stopping by.
XOXO,
Kim
Capri Travel Guide
Leaving Positano made me sad and excited too! After 4 days of no ferry’s running along the Almafi Coast due to weather and rough seas, we were finally in luck and hopped on one to take us to heaven on earth, Capri. We docked and left our luggage with the concierge that we had arranged to take up to our hotel for us. We then headed to buy tickets to the funicular for the inclined cable ride up to the beautiful city center of Capri. (arrange for your luggage to be taken up for you, it’s well worth it rather then dragging it up yourself! You can also take a taxi but we wanted to see all we could) The streets were very crowded but the beautiful high end shops (Armani, Chanel, Missoni, Moschino Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Brunelli Cucinelli, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes, Alberta Ferretti, Gucci Dior, Fendi, and so many more) and gated gardens made this walk to our hotel delightful. From the moment we arrived at Hotel Flora, it was as if I was living in a dream! We took the elevator to our room where Stefan opened the door and showed us everything and he then opened the balcony door to show us the view! I started to cry! The beauty just overcame me.
After unpacking, we decided to stay by the pool and have lunch which was delicious. The service we received was top notch. Thank you to everyone at Hotel Flora, especially Stefan and Bruno! We then decided that we would wait until the last ferry left at 5 and then venture out to the street to explore. This was a brilliant move if I do say so myself, lol! We strolled and ate and shopped in peace and it was perfect.
This sculpture by Carole Feuerman is in the center of Capri overlooking the beautiful sea. Isn’t she lovely? I love the sculptor’s view on water as a symbol of life, how water cleanses and purifies. “Water touches all people, animals and things. Water connects one land to another. Water moistens and revives.” That is what Capri did for me, it revived me!
The days passed by and we saw so much! There were gorgeous flowers coming in for a wedding, shop owners who were as stylish as any fashion model regardless of age, little grottos with fresh flowers honoring Mary, so many different views, the best people watching and we enjoyed all the food too! But the best was yet to come. We decided to splurge and take a small boat out just for us! This is a day I will remember for the rest of my life.
I was hoping to be invited on board for a drink, but no luck!
We decided to explore Ana Capri too. The weather had turned a bit chilly but off we went. I’m so glad to have seen this quaint town with beautiful grounds and views too!
And just like that it was time to go! I cannot wait to go back to the Almafi Coast. The people, the views, the food and the shopping make this a dream vacation for all ages! (Wear flat and supportive shoes!!!!).
Next week will be our stay in Rome! I hope you will come along! And as always, thank you so much for stopping by.
XOXO,
Kim
OBSESSED
