So proud of my weight loss and my 'self care' project!

Howdy to all of my amazing sparklers!

I can't even believe it's been over a month since I've blogged. I used to blog every single day and I really miss that habit.

Blogging is like having a diary that we can go back and review how far we have moved forward...or at least we hope for that result.

I've been plugging along on my new eating program which has reaped amazing results. Starting August 1st. I decided I HAD to do something to get my weight under control.

I am now down -35 lbs in approx. 3 months..AND...I'm NEVER hungry...seriously I'm not. Get rid of the sugar and crap processed food in your life and you will do MUCH better regulating your appetite. When you do eat, have a big ole' hearty meal that is full of REAL food and drink tons f water, fizzy water...whatever you like that isn't full of fake sugar and additives.

YOU CAN DO IT! If I... (who loves food so much I could technically be referred to as a 'foodie) can do it you surely can too.

I was just ballooning upward with the pandemic. Of course a lot of the problem was so called 'comfort eating' with the grief process of losing my amazing wonderful hubby of 42 years last late July. But even more so was the lock down where I was forced to close my little consignment gallery which was considered a non-essential business March 15th. I was not able to reopen until about June 15th and things are still sketchy with the spiking numbers of the virus raging across our nation.

Of course in retail the rent keeps marching on. Talk about STRESS! My rent is very high as I'm located on one of the busiest highways in our little city of Bonita Springs. It's good to have that many cars whiz by and bad...because they ARE whizzing by.

It's been with persistence and just plain stubbornness that I've held onto my little gallery. I was lucky enough to receive a few small grants and Govt. rescue funding but that funding will soon have payments coming up. Low interest and small payments.. but STILL it's just one more cash outlay. UGH! But I AM so grateful I got those funds when I needed them so much.

I've been busy setting up my Meetup group for widows and widowers...but that too is in a bit of a stall as I worry about people being safe with this crazy virus raging.

I see other Meetup groups forging forward and I just can't in good conscience arrange for a bunch of strangers to gather together in a big group. Especially now as so many snowbirds are coming back from states that are 'on fire' with the covid virus.

I also had my first teletherapy session for some techniques to help me with my voice disorder.

It's called Spasmodic Dysphonia and I've had it for years and years. It has gotten progressively worse because it's aggravated by stress...and we are ALL under SO much stress right now.

I'm learning some pretty cool techniques from a voice therapist that specializes in SD and actually has it herself. Who better to learn from?

I've put trying voice therapy off for years and years never really finding the time to research and search out a therapist. I always used my sweet hubby as a crutch who would do lots of the phone work, or the customer interaction at the shop so I could rest my voice when it pooped out. Can't do that anymore my friends...if it's to be...it's up to me.

I've started tipping my baby toe into trying to meet another suitable man if there IS such a thing out there and meeting a new guy just freaks me out and makes my voice SO much worse.I FINALLY removed my wedding rings...they were truly my security blanket the past year and a half.

It's so weird because I interact with customers all day long and do fine in most cases but the thought of sitting across from a strange man looking into their eyeballs just freaks me out...so this voice therapy will give me more confidence and it's a long overdue ephinany on self care.


Don't you just HATE the uncertainity of our lives right now? I can see light at the end of the tunnel but it still feels like it's miles away my friends...miles away.

I am meeting a few of my grief group gals for an early dinner at our favorite British Pub here in Bonita Springs. They have a lovely outdoor section for social distancing and we go early, early before the crowds show up.

I'm particularly happy for this little get together as I'm introducing a lovely customer I met in my consignment gallery that I found lives on the same street as one of my grief group lady friends.

It couldn't have been a better coincidence since she is new to town and just moved into the same complex that my little English friend moved to a few months back and told us that she was so lonely because so many people are not returning to her condo.

Serendipity...that's what I live for my friends...I always think of myself as a bridge bringing people together.

I'm a pretty good matchmaker also. Not every situation works out but I'm there to attempt them anyway.

Welp...I hope you are well. I wish I had more time to be on Spark but I'm balancing a ton of balls in the air right now. Season is always crazy.

Stay healthy, believe in yourself, and SOAR!