Good Morning Everyone! It’s such a beautiful day here in North Carolina! The sky is so blue and the sun is shining! It’s still a little chilly but it’s supposed to warm up to the mid 60s today and it’s going to be the perfect day to go on a long dog walk and go the garden center to get ferns and a few things to plant!

I’m so excited about my brand new website that will be up and running on April 15th! My blog will not be available this coming week because all the posts are being transferred over to the new site and I have to stay logged out while this is happening! The new site will be much easier to navigate and so pretty! Please be sure to open your email on the 15th and take a look around!

I can’t believe it’s Sunday already…the weekend has flown by and summer will be here before we know it! I’m leaving for Bald Head Island for a few weeks on April 22 and in the middle of the beach trip, I’m off to Los Angeles for the grand opening of the new Madison Maison store there! I’m going to meet a few Instagram friends in person while I’m there and that’s going to be the highlight of the trip…well, that and all of the fabulous shoes at Madison Maison! Good friends, shoes, travel and I’m sure some delicious food and lots of sunshine will be just fabulous! Who knew that this little blog would give me an opportunity to fly all over the country to meet Instagram friends and have such great experiences! Follow your dreams my friends because you just never know what amazing things can happen!

Okay…now let’s get into the “this & that” part of this post! When the seasons change, especially from winter to spring, everything seems new again! Farmer’s Markets are opening, the stores are full of spring clothes and shoes and we all want to be outside working in the yard, walking, or just enjoying the warmer weather!

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this here on the blog, but I’ve taken up two new exercise classes…spinning and rowing! I have a new trainer and he’s also a spin instructor and does the rowing classes! I’m telling you, this has been life changing for me! I get up most mornings to be at a 5:30 or 6:30 am class and I’ve noticed such a big change in my body since I started almost 3 months ago! I love spinning and rowing and I love the community of people in these classes…it’s a very lively group! I’m still training with weights and I’ve also started doing more yoga because I really feel the need to stretch after these workouts! I’m so grateful for my health and the fact that I’m able to get up every day and move my body. Staying active and fit as I get older is so important to me and I feel so much better when I sweat a little every day!

Right now, as women in midlife, we’re being told that weight bearing exercise is so important and this is definitely true and will always be a part of my routine, but a cardio workout is just as important and should be combined with weight training.

“Sedentary adults ages 57 to 75 who practiced aerobic exercise for one hour, three times a week for 12 weeks, increased blood flow to an area of the brain linked to superior cognition in late life.”

I watched my parents decline so quickly and they both had Alzheimer’s Disease. I’m doing everything I possibly can to avoid this horrible disease that definitely runs in my family. Even though I’m exercising and doing my best to eat well, managing stress is also such a big part of staying healthy as we age! Here is a great article on stress and aging that you will enjoy!

I have discovered two new apps that I’m loving and using! The first one is from Gwyneth Paltrow…it’s a meditation app called Moments of Space. The guided meditations range from 1 minute (if you need a quickie) up to 22 minutes and include interesting applications such as a meditation to use while cleaning your house. I kind of love that because I put cleaning off as long as possible and usually dread it! I really could use some help, but can’t find anyone who does a good job! If anyone has any recommendations, I would love to know! Anyway, I’ve been using the app every morning and really enjoy it!

I go back and forth with meditation at different times in my life. At times, I prefer longer, deeper guided meditations and at times I prefer to meditate on my own with soft music, so this app falls somewhere in between those two and seems perfect for right now!

The other app is a workout app called The Class. The Class is an actual physical workout space that started in NYC and is now also in Los Angeles. Unless you live in one of those two places, you can’t do an in person workout, so they started an online app where you can participate in the workouts at home.

“The Class blends cardio, strength training, and guided meditation into a music-driven workout that brings you into the present moment. The practice is mat-based and music-driven. We repeat one move per song to create sensation in the body and observe our thoughts. We use sound to release energy and breath to bring awareness to feelings and sensations. The result is a stronger body, calmer mind, and a greater sense of presence.”

If for some reason, I miss my morning classes or can’t get out to walk the dogs, I do one of the workouts on The Class app. These workouts are intense and add a spiritual aspect which I love!

To be perfectly honest, after Easter, I needed a break from cooking! I had been in the kitchen so much between cooking for family and trying to do videos that I just didn’t want to cook anything! After a much needed break, I’m ready to get back in the kitchen and make some healthy recipes! Tonight, I’m grilling chicken and making my Kale Caesar Salad…it’s so delicious and easy, especially when you grill the chicken! I’ll grill a few extra chicken breasts to eat throughout the week.

I’ve been using some new makeup and skincare recently that I really like! Bobbi Brown’s new Jones Road makeup line is making me very happy! I love everything I’ve tried so far and it’s well priced. My favorites are the Miracle Balm, the Lip Tint, the Cool Gloss (my favorite gloss), and the blush! These products are great for any skin type and they come in colors for everyone!

I’m also trying two new products from Murad. Honestly, I’m having a hard time with using my Tretinoin prescription because it dries my skin out so much so I’ve been using the Murad Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Treatment because it’s less harsh, but still gives me good results. I’m also loving the Murad Retinal ReSculpt Eye Treatment. Honestly, the combination of the ReSculpt Overnight Treatment and the ReSculpt eye cream is perfect for my skin right now!

And…speaking of skin and aging, I had Sculptra injections at The Curated Aesthetic this past week. Sculptra injections are something I’ve been thinking about for a while now, but because the results are not immediate, I had been opting for Radiesse or Restylane. These two injectable fillers last for about a year. I am very pleased with the results from the Radiesse and Restylane so I decided it would be a great time to try out Sculptra because it is a great compliment to the other injectables. Sculptra is injected into the face with a cannula and you gradually see results over a period of about four to six weeks. Sculptra works with your body to produce collagen naturally.

“Sculptra™ is used as a facial volumizer and is approved by the FDA. It increases the collagen by stimulating the fibroblasts via a foreign body reaction and thickens the dermis by acting as a dermal matrix.”

I had two syringes and over the next four to six weeks, Sculptra Filler crystals will stimulate collagen production creating natural fullness and volume. I’ll need to go back once a year and get one syringe for maintenance.

If you’re interested in seeing what the experience was like, I have video on my Instagram stories. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it looks much more painful than it actually was. It was uncomfortable, but didn’t really hurt. The Sculptra has a bit of ladocaine so the site gets numb as the Sculptra goes in.

Moving on to a less serious topic...

I’ve found a new-to-me brand of jeans called AYR that are my favorites ever ever ever! I love them so much that I’ve already ordered two more pairs…one pair exactly the same and one pair in white. I also have a few of their other styles that I’m loving, but these basic ones are my most worn!

I’m also really loving these cute platform loafers that are great with jeans and shorts!

My book club book for April…Nora Goes Off Script - I’m just starting the book so I’ll let you know!

We are watching A Gentleman In Moscow on Prime and it’s absolutely fabulous! I read the book last summer and it was very very good! I highly recommend reading the book before watching the series!

I’m including a boutique below to make shopping easier! I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and I look forward to seeing you all her in a week! Thanks so much for reading!