It doesn’t take a genius

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As I sit here, staring out the window, I notice two things. First; the “behind-us-neighbors” have painted their house a lovely sage green which  blends into the cedar trees between our yards and doesn’t demand my attention like it did when it was a two-story, cardboard-beige box. I still wish we had more privacy, but this is so much less visually-intrusive.  Good job, neighbors, good job!

And second; I have an old Supercuts ad running through my head on an endless loop! It features Albert Einstein and his notoriously wild hair, and proclaims, “A bad haircut can make anyone look stupid!”  They would know…  Einstein's Beach Sandals

I fell in love with Albert, all over again, when I recently saw a photo of him on a beach in Europe in 1933. His pose was reminiscent of the old “bathing beauties” we’ve seen. What really tugged at my heartstrings were his sandals. People didn’t walk around barefoot the way we do now, they wore shoes to stroll the beaches, and I was most struck by how feminine I felt these shoes were.  A beautiful mind, and pretty ankles! I remembered growing up seeing men in Fisherman’s sandals (which I love to this day) but I’d never seen anything like these.

In high-school, in the 1960’s, my friends Rosie and Joachim moved here with their Mom and Dad and Oma (grandma) from Germany. I loved going to their house to visit – everything was at once both more formal, and more casual, than at my house. For instance, breakfast at my house was a kind of  free-for-all with two adults and five children. Chaos!  But at Joe and Rosie’s house it was a mellow affair. Soft-boiled eggs in egg cups (which I had to learn how to eat), cloth napkins, and a basket full of freshly made toast and rolls with soft butter and plum preserves (which I’d also never had before, grape jelly ruled supreme in our house). Everyone talked to each other about their week, and everyone helped clean up afterwards without being asked, although Oma, in German, always said she could manage. She’d wave her hands to shoo us out of the kitchen, go on!

Fisherman Sandal1Joe and his Dad were rebuilding a car, ( a 1957 Chevy Belair) which Rosie and I loved to sit and watch, or hand them tools and ask questions. They both wore athletic undershirts ( called “wife beaters” these days) and  brown Fisherman sandals.  Joe wore his with bare feet, but his Dad wore his with black socks. I noticed that a lot of my friend’s fathers  from Italy, Germany, Poland, and Greece did the same.  Try as I might, I cannot remember what my Dad wore with shorts in the summertime (I remember that he liked to sunbathe, and used Ban de Soleil orange tanning gelee), but I can’t remember what he wore on his feet…I will have to ask him later.

I went online to see if I could find a pair of sandals like Einstein’s for myself, and I got pretty close!  Einstein's Modern Beach SandalNow when it warms up, I need to get a sexy spray tan, and I’ll be ready to walk a mile in Einstein’s shoes!  Copy of Einstein's Beach Sandals

XODonna

No limitations…or consequences

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Can you even imagine that?  Not having any limitations or consequences. Now for some context. I was looking for  motivation and inspiration, and after reading my two favorites – Danielle LaPorte and Marie Forleo – looked for more, I’m greedy that way! I watched Tony Robbins, then saw a video of him and Frank Kern, a mellow, laid-back, surfer entrepreneur who really resonated with me. He talked about having done this PERFECT DAY exercize (the one I am sharing with you below), and years later finding that everything he had carefully written, he was now living!

The only guidelines offered were to keep it in the present tense, in the now.  And to go into as much detail about your day as you want. The more you can see it and feel it, the better.  He joked about needing to “remake” his friends so that they could have a conversation that wasn’t gossipy over their lunch together – but rather talked about ideas, goals, and helping the world. Luckily, my friends are already like that and I’m sure yours are too!

Carmel, CA 046Here is my photo of where I would live.  This is the view I imagine as I am eating my fruit and yogurt after I’ve finished doing yoga. 

Have fun with this, and if you care to share a photo of your perfect day, I’d love to see it!

XO Donna

If there were no limitations or consequences, what would your perfect average day look like?

  • Where would you live?
  • What would your house look like?
  • When would you wake up?
  • What would you do in the morning?
  • What would you have for breakfast?
  • What would you spend the first half of the day doing?
  • What would you have for lunch?
  • Who would you eat with?
  • What would your friends be like?
  • What would you do for fulfillment?
  • What life purpose would you strive towards?
  • What would your business be?
  • What time would you start work?
  • What would you actually do at work?
  • What are your clients like?
  • What is your relationship like?
  • What would you do for family time?
  • What would you have for dinner?
  • Where would you eat, who would you do it with? What would you talk about?
  • What would you do at night? Who would you do it with? Where would you do it?
  • What would your thoughts be as you went to sleep?

Well heeled

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Since I stand on my feet all day I love comfortable shoes. And since I don’t want to look like I’ve “given up,” I also love stylish shoes. (It takes a little more work to find that perfect combination).  I know what DOESN”T WORK, and fortunately, that leaves a lot of sexy options for what does. I see so many clients come in wearing shoes that can ruin a whole outfit, so I thought I’d give you clear guidelines on what shoes not to wear!

Plain White SneakerThis is a sneaker. It goes with athletic wear and is worn to the gym, to the trail, to your tennis lessons. It doesn’t matter how comfortable it is….it should not be worn with slacks, a skirt, or worst of all, capris!  There is nothing sexy about this with everyday clothes. The only thing worse would be to buy them in black thinking that it would “go with more of yourBlk Skecher MaryJane clothes.”  Unless you are a nun, remember…we are talking sexy here. And these are not. There are options out there for stylish, sneaker-like shoes that will go with jeans, khakis, simple slacks and shorts and still keep you looking your best. I like these by Skecher, for example.

Ugly RedThe next thing I see a lot are  slide-on ‘comfort sandals’. And I’ll bet they’re comfortable, but they are not chic. Or sexy. I promise that you will find comfort and style if youPretty Red Sandal just do some exploring.  Perhaps they will cost a bit more, but they should last and keep you looking great for years! Look for a shoe that is a classic twist on what’s currently trendy. There are many sandals that will look just right on your foot shape, ankle shape and at the height you are comfortable with.  See the difference in these two red sandals, for example. 

And last, but not least, the classic ballet flat. I know lots of women wear them, but the traditional rounded toe isn’t sexy. Yes, I said it. A pointy toe adds just a touch of “hipness”.  And that’s just the beginning; to that pointy toe you can add a small heel,  a bit of embellishment, a wild print. I noticed that when I see rounded-toes on young women, it works. When I see rounded-toes on women our age it’s…matronly. I chose these as a starting point, and there were many more to choose from!   BigBlueBalletflat

I hope this has been fun for you, and given you some ideas!  If you go shopping and find something you love, feel free to share a comment and a photo. I’d love to see what you got, and how it fits your sexy-past-sixty style!

XO Donna