Hot Girl Summer: Midlife Style

Trust me on this... when you're in perimenopause or menopause, "hot girl summer" takes on a whole new meaning. While hot flashes are common during this phase of life and occur throughout the year - combining the summer heat and humidity can make a summer day feel like you're living in an inferno.

It's not in your head!  According to the Mayo Clinic, fluctuating estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to become more sensitive to temperature changes. This is what triggers hot flashes. It can also explain why we may find that we are less tolerant of extreme temperatures than we used to be.

Are hot flashes more frequent during the summer?  One small study did show an increase in hot flashes and nightsweats during June and July, but for the most part the jury is still out on this.  There is one thing we can all agree on though. If it's already 90⁰ and humid when a hot flash starts - it is just going to feel that much more intense. 

So, what can we do to keep our cool during hot girl summer season? Here are a few tips that might help:

• Keep your home cool. Run  your air conditioning and use fans to circulate the air. Close the blinds and curtains to reduce heat gain from sunlight. 

• Wear light, breathable fabrics such as linen and cotton.  Avoid tight, restrictive clothing.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods. These can trigger or worsen hot flashes.  Drink plenty of water.

• Use cooling products.  From cooling wraps (or towels) and eye masks to bracelets, even cooling gel pads to wear in your bra - there are many products on the market designed to help lower your body heat.

• Talk to your doctor.  Hormone replacement or low-dose antidepressants can help ease or eliminate hot flashes associated with perimenopause/menopause. 

Perimenopause in the summer may feel like nature turned the heat up just for you, but you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not powerless. With a little planning, a lot of water, and maybe a fan in every room, you can stay cool and feel more like yourself. Listen to your body, and don’t be afraid to slow down when you need to. This season of life—and this season of the year—might be intense, but so are we!

What's your best tip for staying cool when summer and perimenopause turn up the heat?

Friday Favorites: In The Summertime

It's summertime and the livin' is... well,  really freaking hot!!  Anything approaching 80 degrees is too hot for this gal.  90 and above days make me feel pretty much like this...

Wicked Witch GIF from Melting GIFs

And that makes me very grateful for being able to stay inside with the air conditioning running and hide from the heat!

I really shouldn't complain.  I know other parts of the country have had it much worse than we have here.  My sister sent me a picture from her car the other day showing the outside temp as 105 degrees.  YIKES!!

Despite the summer heatwaves, there are still plenty of things about the season to enjoy.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Seasonal Summer Fruit:  Oh, how I love all the fresh, flavorful fruit of summertime!  The watermelon, the peaches, the cherries and all the various berries make my mouth and tummy so very happy!  I think I could probably survive on fresh fruit and ice cream during these warm weather months and be very content doing it.

Summer dresses:  Let's be honest.  I love a dress any time of year - but, especially during the summer months.  They're so easy, breezy and comfortable to wear.

Summer Vacations:  A vacation is another one of those things that you can enjoy any time of year.  But there's something special about the summer vacation.  I especially enjoy a get away where I can relax next to a natural body of water and do nothing all day long.

What are your favorite things about the summertime?

Currently... July 2017.

Welcome to July!  The month many of us celebrate America's birthday with cookouts, fireworks, and vacations.  You can count me in that number.  I'm looking forward to ALL those things!

Reading:  I have a HUGE stack of books I am hoping to get through this month. Mainly, I want to finally finish up that stack of Louise Penny books I've been slowly working through.  But, right now I'm reading Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory.  I've also had two books ( Isaac's Storm by Erik Larsen and A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead) which had to be returned before I could finish them, so now I am having to wait while my name works its way back up the top of the wait list so I can finish reading them.  

Eating:  SO much junk food.  Between cookouts, birthday cakes, and trips to the ball park - I have been loading up on not-very-healthy foods.  Unfortunately my weight is showing the side effects of my current eating habits.  

Working On:  Washcloths.  Yes...  STILL! 

Enjoying:  Out of doors entertainment.  I love the open air concerts, ball games, cookouts and such that happen during the summer.  Even things as simple as sitting outside and crocheting while the grand baby plays with sidewalk chalk and bubbles.

Anticipating:  See above! 

Feeling:  Hot.  Anything above 80 degrees and I just don't get along very well.  I'm just trying to power through until fall.  

What is your little corner of the world looking like as we start into July?

Wrapping Up Summer and Putting A Bow On It

So long, summer!  Fall has arrived!  And I am one happy camper! 

You may recall, I had some big plans for summer.  As you look at the list below - you'll see I didn't exactly rule my to-do list.  And I am perfectly ok with that!  It was summer, after all.  I'm sure I'll do better on my fall list.

• Finish up redecorating projects in office/guest room and the male offspring's room
•  Hike!
• Get rid of another 10 pounds
• Take part in my first 5k
• Make new decoration for front door
• Create the gallery wall in entry
• Pick wildflowers
• Make homemade ice cream
• Complete Adult Summer Reading program at library
• Finish sewing pillow covers for living room throw pillows
• Spend a day outside relaxing and reading

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

Three Things: I Love About Summer

Summer days are rolling past faster than I can say "summer vacation".  And the school supplies are already showing up in the stores.  I want to enjoy summer before it's just a memory.  And while I can do without the heat and humidity (my curly hair does not like...)  there are plenty of things I love about summer.

1)  Fresh fruit and veggies - I've said it before and I'll say it again... I've even listed in a Three Things before.  I believe it deserves repeating - there is just something tastier about locally grown, freshly picked produce.  It's juicier.  It's more flavorful.  It's just better!

2)  Lightening bugs - (or "fireflies", if you prefer)  I love being outside at night in the dark and seeing these little insects lighting up.  It's like summer's version of Christmas lights.

3)  Afternoon and evening thunderstorms - I'm a gal who likes a good thunderstorm.  Especially at night when I'm getting ready to go to sleep.  Just as long as they don't get TOO severe.

What are some of your favorite things about summer?

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

What I Actually Did

Back on June 21, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish during the summer.  Now that summer is wrapping up - let's take a look back and review...

*  Learn to make Risotto
No.  I don't know why I am letting this intimidate me so much.  I need to just do it already!

*  Spend more evenings out on the back porch, reading or just relaxing  
Nope.  But in my defense, it was one seriously rainy summer and most evenings were either wet or just too humid to be outside much.

*  Learn to make real pudding (not from a box)
Well, I looked at lots of recipes.  And technically I learned how to make it.  I just never actually got around to making it.


*  Use up stash of leftover yarn making baby hats.
Done!

*  Donate them to pregnancy support group in town   
And Done!

*  Eat less meat and pasta  
Um... yeeeeeh... No.

*  Get to the gym more  
Ha! If anything, probably went less!

*  Put down the crochet hooks and knit something  
I've looked at some patterns, but I just have so many crochet projects in the works I couldn't bring myself to set them aside for some knitting.

*  Try out more of the stuff on my Pinterest boards  
Yes! Check out some of my Pinterest inspired projects at This IS My Day Job

*  Go for a hike by myself   
Hmm.. No I didn't do this. I'll add it to my autumn list

Getting Back

It's been over a week since we returned from vacation.  Nine days to be exact.

And in that 9 days I have managed to write exactly zero blog posts.

The week before vacation, I was a writing machine.  Completing some long neglected drafts.  Creating selections from all new ideas.  The words just seemed to flow from my fingertips.  I had enough posts written and scheduled that most days while I was away there was a fresh shiny new something for all of you to read.

However, now it seems as though all my creativity slipped away into the waters of Lake Murray.  Or perhaps baked away in the South Carolina sun. 

Since returning home, I haven't had the spark to sit down at the computer and put my thoughts into print.  Not a one.  I have picture, upon picture, upon picture from our week away which should be included in a write up or two about our get away. 

I'm starting to have a few tiny little fleeting moments of inspiration.  So, hopefully all of that will be changing soon. 

Vacation is over.  It's time to get back.  To everything.

Road Trip: Poinsett Bridge

One of our family plans for this summer is to drive (as closely as possible) the path of the Old Buncombe Turnpike.  The first part of this journey took us down Old US Hwy 25, through Hendersonville, Flat Rock, and down Saluda mountain to see the Poinsett Bridge in Saluda, South Carolina.

The Poinsett Bridge in upstate South Carolina marked the gateway to the mountains as the State Road of South Carolina began the climb up Saluda Mountain towards Asheville, North Carolina.  Built in 1820, it is the oldest existing bridge in the state of South Carolina and is believed to have been designed by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument.

The drive down Saluda Mountain

A glimpse of the bridge through the trees

Poinsett Bridge's gothic arch

Under the bridge

Male off spring relaxes on the bridge

Looking down from the bridge

Road Trip: Asheville's Urban Trail (Part 3)

The family decided to play the role of "Hometown Tourists" and visit Asheville's Urban Trail - a walking tour of downtown Asheville, highlighting the unique architecture, people, and historic events of the city.

SHEville?

Asheville Community Theatre

Asheville in Motion

City-County Plaza

Veteran's Memorial

Monument Corner

Eagle Hotel

Road Trip: Asheville's Urban Trail (Part 2)

The family decided to play the role of "Hometown Tourists" and visit Asheville's Urban Trail - a walking tour of downtown Asheville, highlighting the unique architecture, people, and historic events of the city.

Grove Arcade

Battery Park Hotel

Basilica of St. Lawerence

Male offspring checks out Wolfe's Asheville

Thomas Wolfe House

Female offspring steps into Wolfe's shoes

Road Trip: Asheville's Urban Trail

The family decided to play the role of "Hometown Tourists" and visit Asheville's Urban Trail - a walking tour of downtown Asheville, highlighting the unique architecture, people, and historic events of the city.

Ready to start the Urban Trail at the Vance Memorial

Pack Place

Buncombe Turnpike

Jackson Building

O'Henry (featuring items from "The Gift of the Magi")

Elizabeth Blackwell, MD

Art Deco Mosaic

Flat Iron

Petting the kitty at the Cat Walk