Monday Musings- Propping Up The Economy
Happy Monday ladies. We resumed our Sunday drives last weekend and headed back to one of our favorite little towns, Nevada City.
The small businesses all appear pretty hard hit so we did what we could to prop up its economy :). My husband bought some fabulous hats at the local hat shop. We bought truffles and cappuccino at the chocolate shop, then more chocolate from another specialty chocolate shop.
It’s a charming little town with lots of historic buildings but some are in need of a bit of sprucing up.
White jeans and a long duster were my OOTD with my Allbirds. I’ve had this buffalo plaid duster for years and always wore it open over a tank and pants. Sunday, I just buttoned closed below my waist and called it done. I combined a simple, old-fashioned strand of pearls with a chain and pendant of the same length for my own version of layering.Ā
ALLBIRDS
I’ve been wearing and loving my new Allbirds Tree Runners but am finding my feet get fatigued if I walk too long in them. Could they be too flexible for my feet? I know some of you swear by these so what are your thoughts?
PEARLS
I’ve always been a bit of a crow about shiny things but in the last few years, I’ve been more attracted to things with gentle luster, brushed finishes, and things with energy. I collect stones and crystals that have healing properties but I only choose ones that I find pretty.
The little crystal shop in Nevada City is a tiny place with a pebble floor, filled with dishes of crystals so I popped in for a look. I found no new treasures this visit because I have pearls on my brain. They’ve been on my radar a lot this fall. Real and faux, I’m an equal opportunity pearl lover. Their soft luster is so easy to toss on with everything. Do I feel a bit more dressed up wearing pearls? Yup, and that suits me just fine. Sneakers and pearls work anytime:)
BROOCHES
Do you love them? I used a very inexpensive pin that I’ve had for many years to add zing to a neutral outfit last week. That inspired me to start getting out more of my brooches and pinning them on a small pillow. Why have I never thought of displaying them like that before? I don’t have a large collection, but it’s sure fun to have them out of the jewelry box so I can see them.
I went down the rabbit hole of Google looking for unique pins and found some wonderful ones.
NEUTRAL OUTFIT
I know many of you are not on Instagram, so I thought I would share this outfit with you. Yes, velcro rollers again and I will be making a video to show you exactly how I use them.
WEARING – SWEATER BLAZER – CREAM TURTLENECK – BARELY BOOTCUT JEANS – LEOPARD BELT – BOOTIES – similar EARRINGS HERE AND HERE – PEARL PIN old, similar HERE, AND HERE.
Arthritis
The arthritis in my thumb is acting up all of a sudden so I’ve gone back to wearing the little brace my Orthopedic surgeon recommended. It simply limits the range of motion which in theory gives the joint time to rest so it stops hurting. I’ve never taken Glucosamine or Chondroitin and wondered if any of you have experience with it or suggestions. It seems that my many years of obsessive knitting, continue to haunt me with hand issues…but my husband has some wonderful sweaters and it was so enjoyable:)
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Hi Jennifer,
I enjoy reading your blog everyday, but this is my first time adding my thoughts. I enjoy hosting tea parties and luncheons, and I often decorate the center of my tables with my brooches, strands of pearls, and earrings that I inherited from my mom. I have several earrings that lost their mates that I continue to enjoy this way. I weave them around candles and flowers and sometimes display them on mirrors so that the light makes them sparkle. Thanks for always getting my day off to a great start!
How fun! I bet that looks gorgeous, what a great idea.
Sneakers and pearls — sweet serendipity!! For travel I have found a soft linen-look duster is multi-purpose: robe, swim cover, shopping, alfresco lunch. Your buffalo check with hat looks effortless and fun.
Iāve tried glucosamine and found no relief. My orthopedic doctor upped my alieve to twice a day and it really helps. Do you, anyone, sleep in the hand brace(s)? Makes all the difference for me!
Also , love sketchers for running around but for walking I need more support. As Iāve suggested before, Hotters Shoes are amazing.
I swear by my New Balance walking shoes. I always wear them when I know I’m going to be walking for a long time. I had a pediatrist tell me a long time ago that I needed to start buying better shoes for myself with good arch support. He said that my bad shoes were causing my knee and foot pain. Started buying NB and never looked back. You looked terrific on your road trip and I love your brooches. I have two or 3.
I sleep in a hand brace for my carpel tunnel…oh joy:)
I have arthritis on my hands and doctor put me on gluten free diet, along withe the tumeric with ginger, hyaluronic acid, and glucosamine chondroitin with MSM. Made a huge difference. When gets bad I use the arthritis gloves for 30 minutes works like a charm. A friend who has trouble with arthritis, trigger fingers wears them all night. Hope it gets better. Thank you for your great blog am really enjoying it.
I do eat gluten-free but I need more help. What is MSM?
Hi Jennifer, for unique brooches (and jewellry in general) take a look at the Buckingham Palace Gift Shop – yes, it’s the official gift shop. They sell some replicas, but also many original works.
Wowza, this shop has some amazing pieces. Thank, Sue
Have you tried an anti inflammatory diet for your arthritis? I had terrible foot pain, caused by plantar fasciitis, last year and was having some joint pain in my fingers. I was at a loss, not knowing what to do. I finally tried an anti inflammatory diet and some foot stretches that I found on YouTube. Within a couple of weeks the pain was all but gone.
Cindy, can you share a little more about your anti-inflammatory diet? Iāve just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and am feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Hi Valorie, I too have just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and cannot take any meds with blood thinners in them so I would love to hear what Cindy shares with you. I hope you do well with getting your RA under control.
All the best
Jayne
I am so sorry to hear about your RA diagnosis. I’m wanting to learn more about that diet too. Best of luck!xx
Lots of information about it on the internet with many recipes. But, basically itās no sugar, milk and milk products, wheat and alcohol. The arthritis association has lots of information too. I really believe it has helped me.
Thank you! I need to cut the dairy totally out.
I’m so sorry to hear that. I am anxious to learn more about it too.
I do try, but admit I am not as careful with it as I could be. Thanks for reminding me to be more diligent about it.
I absolutely adore pearls! I have a strand that my husband gave me one Valentines and big grey Pearl studs for my birthday. I recently purchased a huge fireball Pearl necklace from Hong Kong and they are a statement piece for sure!
Hope that your thumb feels betterā¦I had hot wax treatments for my hand and they help. I think you can buy wax and use a small crock pot to treat your hand at home.
Your necklace is simply amazing, Leslie. I think you’re who reignited this passion for pearls in me:) I hope you’re well. XX
My guess is some of your rhinestones broaches are either Weiss or his competitor, both German costume designers in early 1900s. Very lovely, very collectible, very dear. I love mine and wear the often. Affordable ‘Rhinegold’ if you will. On a more prosaic topic, flexible sneakers are nice but are not good for long hauls. An insole might be the ticket.
Thanks, Leslie. I picked up a few at an antique shop, so I will have to check the back for markings.
Iām on my second foot surgery to correct a couple of major issues with bone, bone spurs and Achillesā tendon. My doctor said never to wear a shoe you can easily bend in half. Try New Balance for distance walking (not the ones you get from discount or factory stores, get fitted at a running shop). My husband, whose rheumatoid arthritis is worse in his feet, also swears by them. I follow a you tuber in Great Britain who is very hip and has finally found the pair of NB that is all the rage there. Who knew we might be ahead of the curve? š
Where did you get them? What do they look like?
I think we are making the curve:) Thanks Linda
My podiatrist also recommends shoes with more support for walking. I have arthritis in my feet, and any of the flexible shoes are for around the house only for me.
Love your black & white silk duster as I did years ago when I purchased it! I receive so many compliments when I sport it!
Clever idea about show casing broaches! Iām going to engage in this later today!!
Also really like the very reasonable navy and beige stripped Walmart sweater which arrived the other day!
As always, thanks Jennifer for your advice and flare!,
RPSMc
Awesome, happy Monday, Rory! xx
Do you take Vitamin D every day? I swear once I started taking it my arthritis subsided greatly.
Yes, I take 3,000 units every day and have for many years
Sorry you’re having thumb pain. I take Tylenol and use Voltaren for my aches and they work very well. You look terrific…love your hats which encourage me to definitely get one for the Fall. Take care and hope you feel better soon.
Thank you Violet
I have CBD cream extra strength (it has THC in it]. That works for my arthritis in my thumbs and knees.. my doctor recommended Voltaren but that did nothing for me.
Different things seem to work for different people.
Would you share which brand?
Could you share the brace you wear for your thumb, please?
This is the one he recommended and it does help when I wear it several days in a row.
Acupuncture acupuncture acupuncture.Essential oils for topical relief. My thumbs are so much better after years of acupuncture for osteoarthritis so now I need no meds and so far no further acupuncture treatments.Costs more than pills but you are worth it @
We are worth it. Thank you, Roe. I need to find an acupuncturist where I live now. I use to have a great one!
Such wonderful ideas! As to your feet and arthritis pain-I feel ya. I just turned 50 and was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis. I take collagen and turmeric in the morning, a cbd gummy and use a cbd/cbd/cbn body balm at night. That combination proves more effective for me than any nsaid. I think youāre correct about your shoes being too flexible. Try supportive shoes like Vionic. Theyāre cute, supportive, and comfy.
Could you share the brand of cbd gummy and body balm you use?
Which CBD balm do you like?
Glucosamine can work for some people, but it may take a few months before you notice a change. Other anti-inflammatory supplements may also be useful, like turmeric. You may have to experiment to see which ones work best for you.
I used to live in the Central Valley and visited Nevada City several times, enjoying each visit. Glad to know they are hanging in there.
You look great! I would like to try dusters, not sure how the length would work for me though.
I take both and they really help my arthritis …. I can really tell when I skip a day or two!
Jennifer, I think you’re absolutely right about your Allbirds shoes being too flexible for your feet. Years ago a well-respected podiatrist told me never to wear shoes that bend in the middle. He said it’s very hard on the foot. He told his patients to choose shoes with lots of structure and full-foot support, even though it’s tempting to wear soft, flexible styles.
I love the pillow with your brooches on display! I have my (embarrassingly huge) collection of brooches displayed on a long piece of felt, hanging on my bedroom wall. I find that I wear them lots more often than when they were crammed into a jewelry box.
Iām learning that! Darn, feet are pretty persnickety.
I know Iāll wear my pins more now. Jewelry boxes are mandatory but I forget I have things.
I have hand problems too with arthritis so I use Tylenol for Arthritis. A topical Iāve used is Voltarin which also helpsā¦a lot.
Love the idea for brooches. I must do this.
My husband takes G&C in the liquid form from Costco daily for his knees and wouldn’t be without it.
You look so good in hats. No so flattering on me, but I bought a burgundy one for fall and will make the effort to wear it.
Thank you for sharing that. Liquid would be easiest. To wear your hat, just commit to popping it on one day and keep it on throughout your day when out and about.
I take Turmeric with ginger for my joint pain and at night use the Voltaren gel. Itās not perfect, but it definitely helps.
Iām taking Tumeric but perhaps I need more.
I tried glucosamine for a few months but sadly it effected my sleep; Iāve always been able to fall asleep easily, but after a couple of weeks of taking it, I struggled terribly to sleep. Evidently this problem is a known side effect, so I stopped taking it.
My husband, however, has benefited greatly from taking it!
Wow, I hadnāt heard of that side effect. I have enough trouble falling asleep with my jumpy legs.
Jennifer do you have restless leg syndrome? I have had it for over 45 years and the only thing that helps is Ropinorole or Requip (brand name) . Mine presents itself as a feeling of jumpy legs, but also feeling of having something crawling in my legs. It is extremely annoying . It started out so many years ago, but has gotten progressively worse over the years . It comes in low does .5mg but right now I am up to 2mg in the afternoon and 2mg before I go to bed.
I do have RLS and have had it for years. My mom had it and both my brothers have it also. I take lots of magnesium, etc but often that just doesn’t cut it. I will ask my DR about this, thanks!
Hi Jennifer, I take Folic Acid for my restless legs and it works really well.
Thank you!! I will try it.
My doctor recommended Voltaren gel!
The brooch you wore the other day reminded me of one that I have. I need to pull out my brooches to wear on my fall blazers and coats.
I can’t wear shoes that are too flexible due to many problems with my feet from too many years of running. You could try putting a stiffer insole in the shoes and see if that helps.
Have you tried Voltarin on your thumb? While I don’t need it (YET!), I know several who use it regularly on shoulders, knees and/or fingers. They say it provides relief.
Your brooch pillow sparked memories of my grandmother’s and mother’s button tins. I could play for hours with those buttons when I was young!
I have tried it but didnāt notice much relief from it. I remember playing in my grannyās button tin too. What treasures!
Glucosamine triple strength does very well for meā¦I take it twice a day.
Thank you, Maggie
I have old broaches pinned to little pillows in my guest bathroom. I also have antique face powder, cologne bottles, gloves, and hand held fans on opposite sides of towels. I made little vignettes for guests and it is another way to enjoy my old things– broaches, Helena Rubenstein powder, Evening in Paris.
How fabulous and creative!
Oh those pins and brooches- love love love them! I had an aunt Ruth who collected old pins and brooches decades ago and pinned them to black velvet pillow or just velvet fabric -as a little girl it was so mesmerizing and when she dressed to go somewhere one would be pinned up near her shoulder on a jacket or blouse or even a coat. Interesting.
You look terrific and what a cute little town to explore and support! š
Black velvet sounds perfect for displaying pins