“Well, baby…it’s not quite the beach body look we’re going for, the cover-up is a little flimsy, and there’s some redundant fluff going on…but, (butt) on the upside, it’s a good thing you’ve got a couple of months ahead of you to modify your diet and then you’ll be golden!”
Post Inspiration – Linda Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday and #JusJoJan and Frank’s Dutch Goes the Photo Tuesday Challenge – Gentle, and…True to form, you know me, I can’t do just one line. Here’s the deal, today, I challenged myself to look back at the same day (1/9) last year to see what photos I was taking or looking at and that had to be my feature photo for today and my writing prompt for the day – so there. But I can’t stop my fingers from typing…
Plus…I am apparently struggling to stick to just one line (Sorry Linda!), why not, just go ahead and write two paragraphs, right?! Anyhoo…since I am conquering (a positive attitude is a key to success, no negative talk aloud, so they say) the Dry January thingy (minus my desperate longing for bite-size Tostitos) I’ve been reminding myself that months ago when we planned our once every 4-year family vacation. That we’d been saving years for – and I can’t wait to go! Since it is only 9 degrees here in rural Wisconsin this morning, with a windchill of -15 below, a few sunburned thoughts are in order. Ah…I’m dreaming of the gentle breeze blowing off the ocean at sunset….that warms my heart this my morning…
Okay, 3 run-on paragraphs, what the hell, I might as well go for it…The vacation is coming up in a couple of months…and it involves a beach setting (duh, see above). Oh, my, goodness the haunting thoughts of any redundant fluffy white skin, on my Wisconsinite body looking like Dessy’s, flaunting up and down the beach (‘cuz we do that since it’s mostly strangers anyhow…and may have in the past involved a cocktail or two…hmm…maybe, not on this upcoming trip?) sounds scary as hell to me. But what happens on a Caribbean beach stays there, right?! Yikes, so yeah, it’s time to try on the swimming suits I bought back in June…I may need to revisit the old blogs I wrote about it to get motivated again! (PS – this kind of shameless plug happens when a blogger (aka, me) invites you to read Hint #1 – can women in their 50’s wear bikinis in their older years, Hint #2 – how my butt dictated my swimming suit choices old posts). BTW – Sorry, due to my purchasing an upgrade to a new blog URL back then, and all that other WordPress technology stuff, my older posts don’t allow for comments. So…if you have any thoughts, which by the way, I adore hearing, please feel free to share them here on this current post…hint…hint…!
PS – Thanks for stopping by to check out Dessy’s swimsuit pose and to warm my morning with your thoughts of encouragement for my Dry January. Do you have plans for a spring trip, are you already packing your suitcases or trying on your summer like clothes!?
Jane Fonda is sexy and so are you, Shelley! I love that photo of you and your husband. It speaks volumes. 😊
Aw, thank you, Winnie 🙂 Way back when that movie came out, I remember thinking Jane was impressive for a 50-year-old woman. I do love that photo of us on the beach – so many happy warm memories!
You’re welcome, Shelley! I totally agree with you.
I’m excited for you and the warm beach vacation! Wear your white skin loud and proud and have at least one adult beverage while doing so.
As for a swimming suit, that isn’t in my vocabulary very often. I’d have to buy a new one before I revealed the old white skin. Think I’d rather stick to bike shorts 🙂
Thank you, Mary, I shall follow your advice! I might just wear a Wisconsinbly shirt as my cover-up and leave it behind. It’s so fun to see the locals wearing shirts from Wisconsin in the photos for the website. It appears there are others of us that go there…I hope I don’t see anyone I recognize… I think you’re brave to wear biking shorts!
Spring vacations sure do ask a lot from us. Dieting, even watching what you eat, in the dead of winter is just not fair. Try that thing on a few times and then decide. Good luck, whatever you’re decision is. As any good husband would say, “you look fine.”
LOL! That’s for sure – I like your take on it not being fair in the winter. And, Mr. is most definitely nodding as he reads your comment “you look fine”. I chuckled too, by the way – your clever wit impresses me! Way to take chances out in the snow for photos for your post, which by the way are gorgeous!
Thank you so much, Shelley. There really wasn’t much in the way of danger, but you know, you have to spin the story a bit.
LOL – as every master blogger should do! 😉
That is a great picture of you and Mr. on the beach Shelley… I have to tell you that I chuckled watching this movie clip, when the old friend commented on the years being good to her. I always have thought that Jane Fonda gets better looking as she gets older … all women should wish to age so gracefully.
Thank you, we love that photo. I do, like you, admire actresses that are embracing their natural aging stages.
Yes, I just saw Jane Fonda doing an interview – don’t know where as I don’t have TV, so watched it online, but she and Robert Redford were recently in a movie together and they recounted making “Barefoot in the Park” … he was part of the interview … he’s had a facelift or something and doesn’t look so well and I always thought his boyish good looks made him one of the s*xiest (* so this doesn’t go to SPAM) male stars ever. Jaclyn Smith also has aged well … I thought she was very beautiful and aged gracefully.
Wonderful photos and how nice to have a vacation to look forward to in this cold weather. I live in the northeast and look out onto snow and cold. Yes, it looks cold too. I always thought that one of the upsides of vacation spots far from home is that nobody knows you. And who cares what strangers think anyway!! Bathing suit and all. 🙂
Ah, the lovely view of cold – I know it all too well! I agree with you, it is fun to be the anonymous person swimsuit and all :-)! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Shelley, 2 years ago * I * wore a bikini. I was about 200 lbs. I don’t know what I looked like in photos (haven’t seen my sister’s photos YET) but I just couldn’t give a F. Go for it sister.
LOL – you’ve fired me up, thank you for that. I shall think of you while I’m on the beach and will raise a toast to “go for it” and I know I’ll be smiling too!”
well, life is too short to give a shit about what people think. My newest motto is “give no “eff’s” !!!
LOL – that it is! Way to go on your goals for the new year too!
Love the very cute photo of you and hubby! So sweet! But, Shelley, I have only 2 weeks to get in swimsuit shape!!! We are visiting my sister in Florida and she instructed me to bring a bathing suit. Ugh! Just stepped on the bathroom scale. Double ugh!!! Too many Christmas cookies.
Thank you, Laurie, it’s a fav of ours. That’s how I was feeling when I knew my physical appointment was coming up after the holidays! So far my crash Dry January thing has been working for me. To sustain that for a couple of months…………………….I’m not so sure. Too many cookies and chips and treats, oh, my is right. I’m here rooting for you-you can do it!
Ha! Isn’t it one of life’s little tricks that the run up to a spring beach vacation is in the darkest, most carb craving time of year here in the Midwest? I’ve had the swimsuit shopping/anxiety moments over the years, and I find that online shopping is SO much better. Pour a glass of wine, try on suits, print return labels for most of them. Ha! But honestly, once I’m on vacation (where I never know anyone anyway), I’m always amazed by the other people walking proudly on the beach and get over my self consciousness pretty quickly.
That said, I’m not a bikini person, and haven’t been since having kids. Yes, the body changes as we age, and honestly, I just have to think of all the people who would love to have lived to this age. Health and happiness are more important than a perfect body. As for TBS (tiny bladder syndrome), tankinis are awesome. 🙂
LOL – I totally did that – wine, shopping, returning and all (in the dead of winter, too!). I agree, our bodies definitely change after kids. You’ve inspired me to be okay with that! I did break down and buy a one piece and at tankini this time. I’m all too familiar with TBS too, and I have a hunch the tankini will win the time on the beach over the other suits! Thank you so much for your pep chat, I love your encouragement and reframing of how to get over it, that first walk on the beach is enlightening in so many ways!!
Cute photo of you and your hubby. I could do without looking at Jane Fonda’s beach body (or any other beach appropriate body for that matter). I am seriously focusing on doing something about my not ready for beach time body but I’m not sure I’ll get there by summer. Your trip sounds like fun. Can’t wait to hear all about it. You will share, won’t you?
Thank you, Janet! I know, I was jealous of JF back in the day. Do you remember her exercise book too? You can do it – you’ve got a few more months than I do to get ready. I will definitely share fun moments when I return from the adventure. It is the one time I totally unplug from any technology, except for my camera. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Most people our age are so conscious of their own body shape that they won’t have time to notice you and even if the do, let them think what they like…
Excellent advice, Marie, thank you for the reminder :-)!