What is Real Beauty?

We celebrated my husbands big 5-Oh this past week. (He was a real good sport letting me take this picture of him with his new glasses.)   This new decade has caused us both to reflect on where we've been and where we're going.  Doing so we have decided to make some big changes.    

Up until now we have both felt invincible and that the end of our days wasn't even on the radar.  I still have 5 1/2 years to go until I reach this milestone, but being a woman in your 40's still makes you reflect on similar emotions.  One particular emotion that I have been struggling with, as I assume most women in their 40's do, is how your appearance starts changing.  Keeping that youthful look takes a lot more work and despite all your efforts, your skin and waistline have something different in mind.  In fact it made me start recognizing that almost Mom you see on television no matter the age, except for Roseanne, has a very nice figure.  On the flip side, you'll notice that most Dad's on these shows can't say the same.  Makes we wonder why it is okay for the men to show their years, especially in the middle section and not women.  Think about it, even Marge on the Simpson's has a smokin hot body while Homer... well that's a different story.  What's up with that?  I guess that's another topic for another post.  

Tonight I stopped by the blog Naked Girl in a Dress which put these concerns in perspective for me.  She shared a quote from Audrey Hepburn which really hit home.  I'm already a huge Audrey Hepburn fan, but I think this quote below makes me adore her even more.  I now have a new outlook on the meaning of true beauty:   

• For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
• For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
• For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
• For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
• For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
• The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
• The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. 
• The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
• It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows.
• The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.

All those concerns and pressures of trying to keep up with those unrealistic looks you see plastered all over magazines and the media now seem much more insignificant.   

Thank you Audrey!   

What To Do on a Beautiful Day in Seattle

What to do, what to do?  It’s Friday morning, early Friday morning mind you because my daughter has orchestra rehearsal before school so there is no sleeping in (which comes quite naturally on these rainy, gray Northwest Spring mornings). I also remember this is the Friday that the wonderful Caprice of Cinderelli Cleaning is coming to magically transform our house into a sparkling clean haven once again so we are back to the original question: what to do, what to do? Well, the obvious choice is… Seattle Urban Fix!  My husband and I love the city, any city, so it’s in the MINI and  off to discover something new just 20 or so miles from our little suburb by the sound.

We decide on Capitol Hill.  We had been through this area a time or two but never in discovery mode so we didn't know what to expect.  Not really having any expectations we just drove up or down whatever street looked interesting and by this method we ended up on 15th Avenue.  Keep in mind it's the morning and of course that dictates the need for breakfast so now our carefree plans of exploring and making new discoveries have suddenly become not so carefree.  You see there are many delightful eateries along 15th Avenue so now that we have to make a choice of which one!  We eventually give the nod to The Coastal Kitchen at 429 15th Ave. which turns out to be an excellent gastrononmic decision!  

Charming décor, terrific service topped off by superb food! Good call! Well needless to say we were back in the land of carefree! Being back in our original mode, the obvious after breakfast activity would be simple; a stroll through one of the most architecturally pleasing neighborhoods in the city (or country for that matter!).  We begin our trek but don't get very far when we are  greeted by Mr. Alex Soto who is just stepping out of Flowers on 15^th  at 515 15th Avenue (That’s a lot of 5’s).  The serendipity continues as Alex invites us into his amazing shop of floral delight and introduces us to Carolyn who is busy creating beautiful arrangements and a warm, homey atmosphere.  

We had the most engaging conversation with Alex and Carolyn who not only have a thriving business but an admirable care and concern for the neighborhood and community!  Along with flowers and arrangements they allow other artisans to display and market their wares and encourage local participation!  They even kindly offered to help my promote my Scentsy business by proudly displaying a Scentsy warmer along with my business cards in their delightful shop.  I highly recommend stopping in.  It was a completely unexpected discovery for me (which I usually find is the best kind!) and meeting Alex and Carolyn was a blessing and joy!

Hope you get downtown to meet them soon!