Author: edebock

Dressing for the holiday season

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I used to think that dressing for Christmas events meant putting together festive outfits that incorporated sequins, glitter, metallics, satiny fabrics or velvet in holiday colours like red, green, or gold. But what if that’s not you? If glitz and glam is your thing, then by all means, indulge your inner princess, but if it’s not, don’t try to be someone you’re not. I’m here to tell you that dressing for the holidays shouldn’t turn you into a completely different person. Instead, consider your style personality, how you like to dress the rest of the year, then elevate it slightly to make it appropriate for the holiday events you’ll be attending.  

I’ve written about style adjectives many times before. These are three to five descriptive words that describe your personal style and help you create outfits that say what you want to say about yourself. My adjectives are classy, casual, comfortable, confident, and authentic. In creating outfits for Christmas events, I might want to play into the classy aspect of my style a bit more than the casual side, but I definitely want to be authentic; true to who I am as opposed to trying to look like someone I’m not.  

Holiday outfits should feel special, but they don’t have to involve buying dozens of Christmassy pieces that will languish in your closet eleven months of the year. Instead, look at what’s already in your closet that might lean toward festive with the addition of the right accessories. A black skirt or pants paired with a cream or red sweater could form the basis of an outfit that would be appropriate for most Christmas occasions. Add some glittery earrings or a festive brooch, a dressy handbag, and the right shoes or boots and you’re ready to go. 

Now let’s look at what I wore for the one Christmas event that I’ve attended so far, a ladies banquet and fashion show. Since my style uniform throughout the winter months often consists of jeans, a pullover top, and a third piece, it was easy to follow the same formula but dress it up with pieces that have been in my closet for several years.

The black pants are left over from my teaching days, so they’re probably 20 years old or more! They were hidden away in storage for many years when wide legs were out of style; one of the few times that I was smart enough to hang onto something until a trend returned! Now they’re my go-to pants when I need something dressy. The simple sleeveless top has also been around for years. It’s one of those sparkly items that only comes out at this time of year and adds a Christmassy feel to the outfit. The cozy sweater jacket was thrifted several winters ago. I knew that it would keep me warm even if the venue was a bit cool. I accessorized the outfit with a simple black belt, black booties, and a pair of sparkly earrings.  

Before I close, I want to thank everyone for the very kind responses to last week’s post that were left here on the blog or on Facebook. I appreciated them so much! ❤ I’m happy to report that I’m feeling much better now. My appetite has returned and my energy level is improving day by day. I’m still committed to keeping Christmas simple this year though! 

Book of the month – November 2025

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CLAIRE McCARDELL The Designer Who Set Women Free

Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson

When Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life, mentioned this fascinating biography in a post a couple of months ago, I knew I had to read it. A book about fashion and a woman ahead of her time all wrapped up in one! What’s not to like? I immediately searched our interlibrary loan system and requested it. I was not disappointed.

At a time when American designers were still copying Parisian fashions and dressing society women who could afford to change their clothes three times a day, McCardell fought to introduce functional ready-to-wear clothing for modern women who, like herself, were going to work, playing sports, and traveling. She introduced “menswear” fabrics like denim and tweed into womenswear. She invented ballet flats and although they shocked beachgoers at the time, she designed swimsuits that were actually comfortable to swim in! Thanks to her, we have wrap dresses, hoodies, and leggings, and although she didn’t use the term, she introduced the concept of a capsule wardrobe; a small collection of versatile, quality clothing items that could be mixed and matched to create a wide variety of outfits. And, perhaps best of all, she insisted that women’s clothing should have functional pockets! 

When interviewed by a popular radio host who asked her, “Do you believe the old saying that you have to suffer to be beautiful?”, McCardell responded, “I certainly don’t. When you’re uncomfortable you are likely to show it. That’s why I make even my most formal dresses as comfortable as a playsuit. Clothes should stay put too, so there is no temptation to be forever pulling, pinching, and adjusting them which spoils your own fun and makes everyone else fidgety. You never look really well-dressed when you’re overconscious of what you have on. Comfort should be a keynote of style.” Definitely a woman after my own heart! 

Keeping Christmas simple

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If you came to the blog last Friday looking for a new post and didn’t find one, I apologize. If you could have looked through your screen all the way to our house, you would have seen me curled up on the couch under a soft, cozy blanket that our granddaughter gave me for Christmas a few years ago. Listening carefully, you might have heard hubby in the kitchen trying to rustle up a meal for us even though cooking is not his forté. On Monday of that week, I’d had an ablation to destroy a neuroendocrine tumour on my liver and it took far more out of me than I expected.

In her follow-up report, the specialist described the procedure as a “technically challenging CT guided ablation” and challenging it was! Instead of the 3 hours that I was originally told I’d be at the hospital, I was there for over 15! As often happens with these tightly scheduled appointments, there was a delay in getting started, but it was the location of my tumour that made the procedure such a challenge. It took a very long time for her to place the probe in exactly the right location to fry the tumour. So long, in fact, that I was beginning to think that it wasn’t going to happen.

Yes, you heard that right! Although some sedation was provided to help me relax, I was awake and aware of what was going on throughout the entire procedure. Definitely not fun, but necessary so that I could inhale, exhale, and hold my breath at the right moments to help with the precise placement of the probe.

After it was finally over, we ended up having to stay at the hospital much longer than anticipated because my oxygen level dropped, possibly a reaction to pain medication. Two extremely caring nurses stayed well beyond the end of their shift to monitor and care for me, but late in the evening I was transferred to emergency. It was after midnight by the time my oxygen level was finally back to normal and we were allowed to leave. Thankfully, we were only driving across the city to our son’s place and coming home the following day!

The first few days at home are a bit of a blur. I wasn’t in much pain, but there was brain fog, loss of appetite, and absolute exhaustion. Although hubby did his best in the kitchen and I tried to force myself to eat, I lost seven pounds in less than a week. Once things began to turn around, I started to worry about how we’d possibly be ready to celebrate Christmas in just a month’s time and to beat myself up for not being better prepared in advance.

That’s what today’s post was actually meant to be about… keeping Christmas simple! Somehow, over the years, celebrating the season came to mean trying to do too much too perfectly, but lying on the couch, I had a lot of time to think about what Christmas means to me and which of our traditions matter most. At one point, I turned to hubby and asked if he’d mind very much if we didn’t bother putting up the tree this year. He said he was fine with that, so unless I get a sudden burst of energy and change my mind, it’s going remain in storage. I do plan to do some simple decorating this weekend, beginning with our nativity sets as they represent what this season is really all about. I’ll miss the lights on the tree, but some soft candlelight and a string of tiny twinkling lights will do. 

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without my mother’s shortbread and the nuts and bolts that have been a family favourite since I was a child so I’ll be making those, but if I decide that we need more baking than that, I’ll be buying it this year. 

We already simplified Christmas shopping last year by transitioning from purchasing individual gifts for each of our grown children, their spouses, and all eight grandchildren to giving family gifts instead. That’s a new tradition that we plan to continue and I’ve already informed the kids that this year’s gifts might be monetary. Without the pressure of trying to find the perfect gift for each person on our list, we’re enjoying shopping for small stocking stuffers for the son and family who will be hosting us for Christmas this year.    

As I contemplated what I love most about Christmas, I realized that connecting with people is top of the list. In addition to spending a few days with our son’s family over Christmas, we’re planning a mid December visit with our daughter and hers. While my energy level hasn’t returned to normal yet and I’m going to have to be careful not to overdo, I’m also looking forward to a few select events with friends. The first, this evening, will be a ladies Christmas banquet and fashion show in a nearby community. 

While I was lying on the couch last week, my Christmas cactus bloomed. It often produces profusely at this time of year, but this time there was just one blossom! It too, seemed to be saying, “let’s keep things simple this year!” In keeping with that thought, I’m going to be intentional about carving out more time on the couch with my cozy blanket, a hot drink (or maybe a glass of wine), a candle burning, and a Hallmark movie on TV or a book in my lap.   

Image: ChatGPT

 

The great zebra debate

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There’s a great debate in neuroendocrine cancer circles over the use of the zebra as our symbol. At one extreme are patients, usually women, who show up at meetings and conferences decked out from head to toe in zebra stripes and who refer to one another as fellow zebras. On the other side of the debate, the world’s best known and most highly revered patient advocate is so opposed to the idea that he doesn’t allow anything zebra on his social media sites. He thinks that it’s an infantile gimmick that trivializes the grave nature of our disease and that it’s actually detrimental as an awareness tool.

So, how did the zebra become our symbol in the first place? In North America, medical students are taught “when hearing hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.” Neuroendocrine tumours (NETS) are very difficult to diagnose. The symptoms are usually vague and similar to more common health problems. Many family doctors have never encountered a NETS patient so when they’re presented with symptoms like stomach pain and diarrhea, they naturally think of things like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease or lactose intolerance. They think of “horses”, not “zebras”.

When it comes to the great zebra debate, I stand somewhere in the middle. I think we need to take advantage of every available opportunity to draw attention to our cause and if that includes zebra stripes, I’m fine with that. After all, branding works. For example, the pink ribbon and the colour itself have become highly recognized symbols of breast cancer. While you’ll never see me wearing zebra stripes from head to toe, partly because I think it looks silly and partly because I don’t look good in black and white, I do have a zebra striped top in cream and brown and on occasion, wearing it has led to a conversation about my cancer.

Although within weeks of learning that I had neuroendocrine cancer, I wrote a blog post entitled I’m a zebra!, I’ve now joined the ranks of those who cringe at being called that. Referring to ourselves as zebras makes it sound like we’re part of an exclusive club or a cult! Zebra refers to a diagnosis, not a person. While I have NET cancer, I am not my disease.

In my advocacy role and as a support group leader, I work with patients on both sides of the great zebra debate. I would really like to know your opinion. Do you think that symbols like the zebra and the striped ribbon can be effective in spreading awareness of a disease? Or do you think that they’re silly and make light of an important topic? Please leave a comment and let me know.

And, in closing, although it has very little to do with today’s topic, I can’t resist sharing the cover of the January 15, 1926 issue of Vogue magazine!

NET Cancer Day 2025

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Once again, today is NET Cancer Day. November 10th is a day set aside to increase awareness of neuroendocrine cancer and to promote improved diagnostics, treatments, care, and research, but for those of us who live with the disease, every day is NET Cancer Day.

Here are a few alarming facts that point out why a day like today is vital:

  • Over 90% of all NET patients are incorrectly diagnosed and initially treated for the wrong disease!
  • The average time from onset of symptoms to correct diagnosis often exceeds 5 years!
  • Over 50% of NET patients are already at stage 3 or 4 when diagnosed!
  • Many primary care physicians are unfamiliar with NETS and some still falsely believe that it isn’t even cancer!

These are just some of the reasons that I have become involved in patient advocacy over the past couple of years. Once considered a rare disease, NETS has become the fastest growing class of cancer worldwide. Although the reasons for this aren’t fully understood, it’s likely due to increasing awareness and better diagnostics.

In addition to my role as a member of the CNETS (Canadian Neuroendocrine Tumour Society) Advocacy Advisory Board, I’ve become actively involved in trying to improve the patient experience in a number of other ways. I had the opportunity to participate as a patient representative in an Ipsen project to design an injection toolkit to make the experience easier for patients who are newly prescribed the medication that I receive every 28 days. Ipsen is the pharmaceutical company that produces the drug.

Also, if you’ve been reading my blog you know that I participated in this summer’s CNETS “Hoofing It” fundraiser. With the generous support of many, including some of you who read the blog, we managed to raise over $40,000 for NET cancer research here in Canada. An additional bonus for me was the fact that the “hoofing it” that I committed to as part of this initiative got me out walking almost every day. Now that the campaign is over and the weather has turned cold, daily walking has become a habit and I’ve dusted off the treadmill in the basement so that I can keep it up over the winter!

Another big opportunity came my way earlier this year when I was asked to co-lead the CNETS Alberta patient support group that meets online once a month. This really was a big step for me as I’d never been part of a support group before! Every month I hear stories from patients who were initially misdiagnosed, who feel confused or unheard, whose symptoms have been minimized or dismissed as all in their head, who feel lost trying to navigate the health care system, or who don’t know how to advocate for themselves. More than ever, I’ve come to realize how badly we need to continue raising awareness and promoting better diagnostics, treatments, care, and research. One day a year just isn’t enough!

And now, on a more personal note, you may remember that in my 12 year cancerversary post at the end of August, I mentioned the latest tumour on my liver. A week from today, on November 17th, I’ll be having a CT guided ablation to destroy it. A needle-like probe will be inserted through my abdomen and into the tumour where it will deliver microwave energy to kill the cancer. This is done as a day procedure, but I’ll be required to stay in the city overnight in case of complications. I’m not sure what the recovery will entail, but hopefully I’ll be back on the treadmill before long!

 

Thinking about boots

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Winter’s arrival is later than usual this year. We haven’t seen a snowflake yet which is highly unusual, but the weather forecast tells us they’re coming soon. I’m definitely not a fan of the season as it’s always way too long and too cold here on the Canadian prairie, but one thing that I do look forward to every year is wearing boots. 

This week, I decided that I’d put off bringing my winter boots out of storage for as long as I could. It was time to get them ready for the season. That involved cleaning and polishing the ones that needed it, then waterproofing all of them with a protective spray. 

Getting ready for winter also involved saying a sad goodbye to two pairs of boots. The tall brown ones that I bought second hand back in 2019 were too worn out to continue wearing and a cute pair of ankle boots, also brown and also thrifted, were donated again. As much as I loved them, they hurt my feet, so I decided to take my own advice from last week’s post and not sacrifice comfort for style.

That leaves me without any brown boots. I have one pair of tall black boots and four pairs of ankle boots in various colours and styles, so I don’t really need more, but since I love brown and it’s very much on trend this year, I might keep my eye out for a pair or two. After all, can you really have too many pairs of boots? 

Image: ChatGPT

Book of the month – October 2025

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When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress

Gabor Maté, MD

In this international bestseller, renowned mental health expert and speaker, Dr. Gabor Maté, provides insight into the critical role that stress and emotions play in the development of many common diseases.

Although written for a general audience, When the Body Says No definitely wouldn’t be everybody’s cup of tea. It’s like reading a textbook, but my daughter and I both read it recently and when I discovered that another friend was also reading it, I decided that it might appeal to more of you and that it would be worth reviewing here.

Dr. Maté has experience as a family practitioner and a palliative care physician and has also worked with the addicted men and women of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. He weaves together scientific research, numerous case histories, and his own insights and experience to explain the relationship between psychological stress and the onset of chronic illnesses including arthritis, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease. While I don’t agree with everything he says and he definitely needs to update the section on prostate cancer (the book was published in 2003 ), a lot of it makes very good sense. 

What I liked best was the fact that Dr. Maté validated what I have believed for years; that the stress I endured prior to and especially during the early decades of our marriage and the anger that I suppressed during those years contributed to my present health conditions. In fact, the author would probably say that they caused my cancers. As he says, all of us probably have within our bodies the occasional rogue cell that could multiply and become cancer. In most cases, the body has the resources to destroy those cells before they spread, but chronic stress and repressed anger reduce the body’s ability to do that and magnify the risk of developing the disease.  

In the final chapter of the book, Dr. Maté addresses what he calls the seven A’s of healing: acceptance, awareness, anger, autonomy, attachment, assertion, and affirmation. He believes that pursuing these will help us grow into emotional competence and empower us to be our own health advocates.

Note:  This book was published in the US under the title When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection.

 

10 fashion mistakes and what to do about them

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As I wrote in this post three years ago, I don’t follow fashion rules. Instead, I believe in wearing what makes you feel comfortable and confident. I do believe, however, that many of us make fashion mistakes that keep us from feeling great in what we wear. Today, let’s take a look at 10 of those mistakes and what to do about them.

Not knowing your personal style

It’s important to dress in a way that reflects your personality and says what you want to say about yourself. As I’ve written before, one way to identify your personal style is to choose 3 to 5 adjectives to guide your fashion choices. My style adjectives are classy, casual, comfortable, confident, and authentic. When I look in the mirror, I’m happiest when my outfit ticks all five boxes.

Not wearing the right colours for your skin tone

Knowing whether your skin has cool or warm undertones can help you choose colours that are best for you. A personal colour analysis can help, of course, but an easy way to figure this out is to look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. Do they look blue or green? If they appear more blue, you are cool-toned; if they’re more green, you’re warm-toned. If you are cool-toned, bright blues, deep purples, emerald greens, and frosty shades of lavender, ice blue, and pink will look good on you. If you’re warm-toned, think fiery reds, peach, coral, oranges and rusty tones, creams, camel, and earth tones. While sticking to a specific colour palette might seem restrictive, knowing which colours make you come alive and which, especially when they’re worn close to your face, make you look tired or washed out, can definitely help you look your best.

Buying things you don’t love

Shopping with friends can be a lot of fun, but their taste might be different than yours. Consider their advice, but resist buying something that they like unless you know that it’s actually right for you. Similarly, don’t let the fashion industry dictate what you wear and don’t buy something simply because it’s on sale. Instead, wear what makes your heart sing!

Having a crowded, disorganized closet

If you can’t see what’s in your closet or if it’s full of clothes you don’t actually wear, set aside some time to take everything out, try things on, and decide what to keep and what to donate. Ask yourself: Do I love this? Does it fit my personal style? Is it the right colour for me? What can I wear it with? Do I have too many of these?

Wearing the wrong undergarments

Undergarments are the foundation that an outfit is built on. Prioritize comfort and fit. Consider going for a professional bra fitting to ensure that you’re wearing the right size. In addition to enhancing how your clothes look, a proper fit provides essential support that can reduce back, shoulder, and neck pain.

Buying quantity over quality

In addition to being terrible for the environment, fast fashion is usually characterized by shoddy workmanship and low quality fabrics that will cheapen your look. Buying fewer, better quality pieces will give you a more polished appearance and if you consider cost per wear, will also be the wiser choice financially.

Wearing clothes that don’t fit well

Oversized clothes look frumpy and clothing that’s too tight looks uncomfortable and shows off bits and bulges that are better left unseen. If you shop online, use a measuring tape and pay close attention to sizing charts. When shopping in person, try everything on and if possible, look in a three way mirror. Make sure shoulders seams align properly and buttons don’t pull. Horizontal lines in the crotch area indicate that pants are too small. When you get the fit right, your clothes will skim over your body and you’ll feel comfortable.

Sacrificing comfort for style

It isn’t necessary to choose between comfort and style, but comfort is of paramount importance in choosing what to wear. This is especially true of footwear. It’s almost impossible to look good when your feet are killing you!

Trying to follow every fashion trend

Not every trend will suit your personal style or body type. Instead, invest in quality basics that stand the test of time and add occasional trends that fit your aesthetic.

Wearing too many or not enough accessories

Accessories are the finishing touches that can take an outfit from drab to dramatic. Almost any outfit will benefit from a few carefully chosen accessories, but too many will look tacky and overwhelm your look. If you like bold jewelry, choose one statement piece and let it take centre stage while keeping other jewelry understated.

Can you think of any other fashion mistakes?

Navigating family life during a teacher strike

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I was working on a fashion post for today, but then life got in the way. You may or may not be aware of the fact that teachers in this province have been on strike since October 6th. After almost three weeks out of his normal routine, our 11-year-old neurodiverse grandson was bored out of his mind. Mom and Dad were working and he was driving his teenage siblings crazy, so Gram and Grandpa decided to come to the rescue. Yesterday we drove three hours to their place, stayed the night, and then brought him home with us today.

Grandpa had a dentist appointment in Camrose on the way home, so we stopped there for lunch, a bit of shopping and a walk around beautiful Mirror Lake.

We have no idea how long our young guest will be with us. There could be movement on the teacher strike as early as Monday or it could drag on for awhile longer. In the meantime, between playing substitute parent to a very busy boy and trying to figure out how to feed him (he has celiac disease and food avoidance issues), I hope to find time to finish that fashion post for next week!

A life transformed

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Back in August when I wrote this post about several 50 year milestones in my life in 2025, I mentioned that In October it would be 50 years since I made the life-changing decision to follow Christ. A couple of readers mentioned that they would be interested in hearing more about how I reached that decision. I had already been thinking about sharing that story on the blog, so I decided I would do it today, the 50th anniversary of the day that my life was transformed.

As far back as I can remember, my family went to church every Sunday morning. I attended Sunday School and youth group and for several years, church camp was the highlight of my summers. In my early teens, I attended confirmation classes to learn more about the church and the Christian faith. The purpose of these classes was to prepare us for church membership, but when the classes ended and the minister asked me if I was ready to join the church, I said no. I felt that something was missing, but I didn’t know what it was. I knew that Jesus loved me and that He had died for me, but I felt that there must be more to it than that. When I discovered that all the other students in the class were going to join, however, I didn’t want to be the only one who was left out, so I changed my mind. After all, I was a good kid, a quiet kid who didn’t like to stand out from the crowd.

The summer before my final year of high school, my father took a job in the Northwest Territories and we moved from Vancouver to Yellowknife; from the third largest city in Canada to a small, isolated  community in the middle of nowhere. I had to leave my home, my friends, my school, my church, and everything else that mattered to a teenage girl. I wouldn’t get to graduate with my class. I was angry and I made a very conscious decision to rebel. I decided that I was going to find out how the other half lived. I quit going to church and started drinking and partying. I abandoned the morals that I had been taught and less than two years after leaving Vancouver, I entered into a teenage marriage that never should have happened.

We had only been married for a year and a half when my husband, a very charismatic narcissist, told me that he had fallen in love with someone else. He didn’t want our marriage to end though. Instead, he wanted to invite her to move in with us! I absolutely refused to allow that to happen and tried for another year to make our relationship work, but midway through my third year of university, it was over and we went our separate ways. I was broken. My dreams were shattered and I felt like unwanted, unloved garbage. That led to more unhealthy relationships.

In spite of all that was going on in my personal life, I managed to graduate from university with my teaching degree and I accepted a job in the very small town where we still live today. I realized that as a teacher in such a small community, my life would be on display for everyone to see. It was the mid 1970s and I was sure that if I continued to live the way I had been, parents wouldn’t want me teaching their kids.

Once again, I made a conscious decision to turn my life around. I thought I could do it on my own, but God had a much better plan. Richard was also a new teacher at the school that year. One evening early in the fall, he shared with me what it meant to be a Christian in a way that I had never heard before. He told me that if I acknowledged my sins, asked for God’s forgiveness, and surrendered my life to Christ, I could have a personal relationship with Him and my life would be transformed. I quickly realized that this was the missing piece that I hadn’t heard about growing up. I didn’t know that I had to make an actual decision to follow Christ or that I could have a personal relationship with Him.

At the same time, I also realized that making that decision would mean giving up control of my own life. Considering what a mess I’d been making of it up to that point, you would think that this would be an easy or obvious decision, but I wrestled with it. Eventually though, I couldn’t deny that God was calling me and I finally surrendered my stubborn will to His. When that happened my life changed completely. There were no flashes of lightning or tongues of fire, just an incredible peace that I had not known before. I felt like a brand new person, free of any guilt or shame over my past. I no longer had any desire to live the way I had been.

I quickly learned that God didn’t want to be a distant deity who cared about me, but who wasn’t personally involved in my life. Like a Japanese kintsugi artist, He began to fill the broken places in my life with gold and turn me into a vessel that He could use for His good purposes.

I wish that I could tell you that life was always easy after that, but of course, it wasn’t. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Over the past 50 years, I have suffered great loss and betrayal. I have spent the last 12 of those years fighting cancer, but I have never been alone in any of these dark times. One of my favourite Bible verses is Isaiah 41:10 which says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I can testify to the truth of that!

Whatever you take away from this post, please note that this is not about church or even about religion, it’s about an intimate, personal relationship with the Creator of the universe; a relationship that is available to everyone regardless of who you are and what you’ve done. If you have any questions or would like to chat about this, please feel free to comment below or send me an email at debock2@gmail.com.

Image: ChatGPT