Updated on October 16, 2020
FASHION FRIDAY: POWER TO THE PINK!!
I don’t wear pink to make the boys wink. I wear it to feel fabulous darling! Funny enough, every time I do wear pink, they blink or was that a wink?? LOL! It’s an old saying and who am I to disagree? I wear pink to brighten up my day. I never used to be a ‘pink girl’ until I wore it once and everybody commented on how much it suited me. Pink calms and reassures our emotional energies, alleviating feelings of anger or aggression. Wearing too much pink can indicate an individual who needs a lot of emotional support.
Psychologists say if pink is your favourite colour — and it is for many! — it means you are loving, kind, generous and sensitive to the needs of others. You are friendly and approachable with a warmth and softness others are drawn to. That may explain why I love pink shirts on men!! You are the nurturers of the world. You love to give nurturing and to receive nurturing in return. I must admit that does ring true for me. But then again, I could attribute that to my Moon in Cancer too. When speaking in public, they say pink is a colour you should wear as it endears your audience to you.
Pink is such a warm, cozy and comforting colour. Lovers of pink tend to be optimistic and have a positive outlook on life. It is the colour of Hope. They also look younger than their years. Could it be that pink glow from a scarf or sweater is radiating to your cheeks? Maybe! If I had to choose one word to describe it, it would be ‘yummy’. There are so many varieties to choose from — hot pink, which I associate with Marilyn Monroe and her song ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’. Then there is baby pink which looks divine in cashmere, neon pink, candy pink, blush pink, salmon pink, rose pink, fuchsia and orchid pink — the list of pink possibilities is endless. Whatever pink you choose, enjoy this warm wonderful colour. Let it embrace, kiss and hug you from head to toe!
Posted on October 9, 2020
FASHION FRIDAY: LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE GREEN!
Psychologists say if your favourite colour is green, you tend to be perfectionistic, analytical, and tend to crave security, both in your finances and relationships! Now, that’s interesting to note. It’s one of my Top 30 favourite colours!! I love all colours. Each colour has its own charm, its season, and its strength. In my wardrobe, I have 40 Shades of Green — I’m Irish. It goes with the territory! The month of March is dedicated to all things green. Especially the 17th! LOL! I tend to wear my greens with gusto for the whole month of March!
When I want to feel calm, serene, and super chill, I don my greens — I drink them too! I’m even voting for the Green Party this year! In my dreams I want to be the Green Goddess. Do you remember her? That gorgeous exercise guru all those years ago who dressed in green, from head to toe! There are so many varieties of green. Kelly Green, lime green, sage green, apple green, and bottle green, which my Mother hated as she felt it was an unlucky colour! My favourite greens tend to be Kelly green and Lime green because of their vibrancy and warmth.
This year, I have added this lovely Kelly Green coat to my Winter wardrobe, simply because I want fun and colour this Winter. I love yellow with this shade of green. Hot pink also looks great with it, as you will see when I do my PINK week!! If you want to know details on the coat, message me. I got it online, a super deal!
Unless it’s St. Patrick’s Day, I tend to wear just one green article of clothing and add colourful accessories. Wearing pink pants with this colourful blouse is rather different and makes me feel happy. It’s colourful and fun. If my clothes don’t bring me FUN and make me happy — then out to the Goodwill they go, sooner than later!
Finally, when my outfit is all ‘put together’, I ask myself ‘What would Trinny think?’ As you know, I’m a HUGE fan of English Fashionista, Trinny Woodall, a.k.a. London! Love her style, colour, pizzazz, and her lack of fear when it comes to colour! A girl after my own fashion heart!
Have a great weekend y’all!! Go Green this weekend — even if it’s just to drink it!
Hugs,
Patricia and Coco xxx
Posted on October 5, 2020
MONDAY MUSINGS: THANKSGIVING
“You gotta accentuate the Positive. Eeeeeliminate the Negative.
Latch on to the affirmative… But don’t mess with Mr. In-between!
You gotta spread joy up to the Maximum. Dim gloom down to the minimum…”
The above words are from a favourite song I learnt when I was in the Joy of Life choir some time ago, and they stuck with me! This past year has been anything but ‘Feckin’ great for many of us but hey! We’re still standing! Right? If you’re reading this now — you made it this far! Yee Haw! Only a few weeks to go before it’s Christmas!! I got the feckin’ great fridge magnet when I was in Ireland to help me keep my sense of humour in 2020. And, yes it brings a smile every time!
Our Canadian Thanksgiving is coming up on Monday next, October 12th. All around me colourful little pumpkins and chocolate turkeys are making their cheery way into our lives. Reminding us that yes, it is a time to be grateful for what we have, and to share our bounty with others less fortunate. Before Covid-19, I was always more preoccupied with Halloween at this time of year. We never really celebrated Thanksgiving in Ireland. It was more a North American celebration. I never really got into it that much. We’d give the teachers at school chocolate turkeys and that was about the size of it!!
This year, however, it means a lot more to me. If the truth be known — even more than Halloween! I feel any of us who have enjoyed good health this past year have a lot to be thankful for. Tragically, many people have lost their lives to COVID-19 or lost loved ones. If not their lives — their livelihoods and businesses have gone bust! What a crazy year it has been.
Restrictions are still all around, and many countries are tightening up again as Winter approaches. Some people probably don’t feel they have much to be thankful for, especially if they have lost jobs or loved ones. But yes, we all have something to be grateful for. Start counting…start with basic things, such as…
‘Thank you God, I have eyes to see the beauty all around me, ears to hear beautiful words and music, legs to adventure with, delicious food to eat, a roof over my head and a warm cozy bed to sleep in at night. I have friends and family who love me and I love them. Start with just one simple thing you are grateful for…add another, and another. Before long, you will have at least ten things to thank God for this coming Thanksgiving! And when you feel yourself getting down in the dumps – snap out of it with these words “I’M TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!” Isn’t it true though? Amen to that!
When you think about it ‘Life is Feckin’ Great!’
Wishing you a blessed and happy new week!
Hugs,
Patricia and Coco xxx
Updated on October 2, 2020
FASHION FRIDAY: BEAMS OF GOLDEN YELLOW!
TGIF Guys!
This week I needed a good dose of sunny, joyful and cheerful yellow. What’s not to love about yellow? It’s the colour of Hope, Optimism, Joy, Exuberance and Sunshine! It brings to mind Springtime and hosts of golden daffodils billowing in fields and all the promise that carries with it.
As we face Winter, I need my yellow — big time!! However, because we’re into Autumn now, it’s a different kind of yellow as befits the season. Yellow comes in so many vibrant shades, there is lemon yellow which I wear in Spring, sunshine yellow which I wear in Summer, and raincoat yellow which I wear as we transition from Summer to Fall. Currently, it’s mustard yellow I wear, and warm golden honey tones, which blend in nicely with the rich autumnal colours.
Yesterday, I dressed in the above outfit, mustard jacket with silk mustard blouse inside, matching earrings and printed cropped silk Zara pants. What fun I had! Everyplace I went, people smiled, were extra friendly, and there were many joyful exchanges. I believe it’s because they were cheered by my sunny colours, which also elevated my mood. Thank you yellow!!
I LOVE my new German engineered sunny yellow boots. They are waterproof and look great with navy, black, and grey — the colours of winter. In fairness, all yellow at this time of year would be a little hard to get away with it! Rather, I tone it down with sober colours and let it shine in all its glory!
So if you feel like you need a little cheer, bring out the yellow! Even if it’s just a pair of vibrant yellow earrings. You’ll feel fantastic and the joy it brings to you will carry forth to others!
Have a great weekend and think happy sunny yellow thoughts!
Love,
Patricia and Coco xxx
Updated on September 28, 2020
MONDAY MUSINGS: GRIT!
If Webster told me I could only choose one word from his dictionary, it would be Grit. I love that word. It’s short, unpretentious, and really packs a punch. Grit doesn’t feel the need to compete with longer more important-sounding words you can’t pronounce or even spell. Webster defines grit as a ‘Firmness of character; indomitable spirit’. And that is why it is my very favourite word, the characteristic I most admire in others, and the one thing I want to supercharge in myself!
Grit is what has kept Oprah Winfrey at the top of her game, despite being sacked early on in her t.v. career and being told she was ‘Unfit for t.v.’. Grit is why we know who Dr. Seuss is today. After his first book was rejected by 27 different Publishers, he knew he could — and he did publish that book! Grit is what Meryl Streep had after being told she wasn’t pretty enough to be a successful actress, and so the story goes…
Nearer to home, grit is what my Grandmother Lena had when left a sorrowing widow at the tender age of 32, with three young children to look after. She cycled 16 miles every day, rain or shine, to her job in the Post Office. Eventually, she became Postmistress, earned more money, invested in property, bought 3 holidays homes which she rented out in the Summer. In addition, she built a big Post Office, shop, and guest house with ten bedrooms. Later, she married again — this time to the most eligible Bachelor in town! —the woman was ahead of her time. That’s what you call Grit — True Grit!!
Author and Professor, Angela Duckworth, is a virtuoso on all that is gritty and great. You can listen to her wax lyrical about it on Ted Talks. If you have a dream, or a goal in mind, it would help to listen to her well-studied ideas on the subject. She has defined grit as a “Sustained perseverance and passion for long-term goals.” The good news on grit is that you can take steps to improve your grittiness. Here are some suggestions from the experts in the field:
Set Goals.
Pursue your passions.
Surround yourself with people that will help you achieve your goals.
Look at failure as a stepping stone to success.
Define your own values and be resilient.
Practice with a purpose.
Practice, Practice, Practice — because it ultimately makes perfect!
Focus on mastering each skill on your roadmap to goal achievement.
In Daniel Pink’s book Drive he says that to be the best, you need to do 10% more than other people. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book Outliers, points to research that states in order to master a skill, it takes 10,000 hours of practice. No shortcuts. Practice, Practice, Practice. It’s your grit that keeps you coming back each day, focused on mastering each skill on your roadmap to goal achievement. The Power of Passion and Persistence is vital and also — Don’t Quit!
Finally, in order to be the grittiest gritter in grit world, it helps to:
Stay Strong in the face of pain!
Be meticulous, detail-oriented, and careful.
Stay confident, committed and optimistic!
Be outstanding or extremely good at what you do.
Stay put in difficult situations to achieve your long-term goals.
Have a great new week and Yes!! I want to be the grittiest gritter in grit world!!
Let’s re-phrase that!! I AM the grittiest gritter in grit world!! Put that in your purse and in prominent places to remind you!!
Lots of love,
Patricia and Coco xxx
