Mixing old and new

May 17, 2024May 13, 2024 / edebock / 3 Comments

Instead of going home after church last Sunday, hubby and I set out for the little village of Donalda and the Willow Canyon trail, one of our favourite places to go hiking. Realizing that the restored train station near the trailhead would make a great backdrop for photos, I wore the outfit that I planned to share with you this week to church and changed into my hiking clothes after the photo shoot.

In addition to the jean jacket, thrifted several years ago, my outfit consists of one of the oldest items in my wardrobe as well as the newest. I distinctly remember buying the dark navy pinstriped pants at Uniqlo shortly after our arrival in Japan in 2008. They were a workhorse in my teaching wardrobe that year and again in 2013 when we taught in China, but after that they spent a lot of time hanging in storage. I kept them because they fit well and I really liked them and when wider legs came back in style, I started wearing them again. They’ve appeared on the blog several times in the past year or two.

Someone painted the bench in front of the station since the last time we were there, so of course I had to try it out.

The new item in this week’s outfit is the linen blend top purchased at Sweet Home on Main in Stetter on a recent retreat weekend with several ladies from our church.

It was obviously a popular item as two of us bought it and it’s presently out of stock. Simple and versatile, it can easily be dressed up or down and the soft ecru colour is more flattering to my complexion than white would be. I prefer a linen blend to pure linen as it has a similar feel and drapes just as well, but it doesn’t wrinkle as badly.

I usually wear longer tops, but I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and try this short boxy style. I just have to make sure that I wear it with high waisted pants and I won’t be raising my arms very high in the air when I’m wearing it. At 71, my midriff isn’t as attractive as it once was!

And finally, here I am just waiting for my train. Actually, I don’t think one has been by here in a very long time!

Choosing the right walking shoes

May 10, 2024May 10, 2024 / edebock / 7 Comments

Screenshot 2024-05-09 at 7.40.11 PM After writing about my 150 day walking challenge earlier this week and encouraging you to consider joining me, I thought that this would be a good time for a post about how to choose the right walking shoes. If you’re walking in comfy, but well-worn sneakers, you might want to consider investing in a new pair that are dedicated to walking.

The American Podiatric Medical Association recommends replacing your walking shoes every 600 to 800 miles (approximately 950 to 1300 km). Some experts advise replacing them even more often, so be sure to check yours from time to time. If they’re becoming worn or have lost cushioning, it’s time for a new pair. Brand-new, well-fitting walking shoes might even put a bit more spring in your step and encourage you to walk a little farther.

Because feet come in various shapes and sizes, it’s impossible to recommend a specific style or brand that would suit everyone, but there are some tips that can help you find a pair that are right for you. First of all, shop late in the day. Our feet tend to expand a little throughout the day, so it’s best to try on shoes when they’ve swelled a bit. Also think about what kind of socks you’ll wear on your walks. The thickness of your socks will affect how the shoes fit, so take them shopping with you. If you wear orthotics, be sure to take those too.

Comfort and fit go hand in hand and are by far the most important factors to consider when choosing the right walking shoes. Choose a shoe that is lightweight and breathable. You want it to fit snuggly at the heel and through to the middle of your foot, but it shouldn’t crowd your toes. The toe box should have enough wiggle room for your toes to splay out a bit, but not too much. Make sure that there’s a finger’s width or about half an inch between the end of your longest toe and the front of the shoe. Don’t hesitate to try on several different brands and styles to find the one that is right for you.

The insole of a good walking shoe should cushion each step and it should feel like it’s adequately supporting the arch of your foot. Look for a uniform level of cushioning, rather than a higher heel cushion. The outer sole should provide adequate traction.

Check the shoe for flexibility and stability. Hold it by the heel and bend the toe upward. It should bend at the ball of the foot. Grasp it at the heel and toe, then twist. You should feel moderate resistance.

Finally, take a walk around the store before you decide to buy to ensure that the shoes you choose fit well and are completely comfortable. The old idea that shoes need to be broken in doesn’t apply to walking shoes.

Good quality athletic shoes can be expensive, but your feet are worth it. You are worth it! Consider these shoes an investment in your well-being. Then get out there and enjoy walking!

Your most valuable accessory

May 3, 2024April 30, 2024 / edebock / Leave a comment

What is your most valuable fashion accessory? I would suggest that it’s not an expensive piece of jewelry, a silk scarf, or an amazing pair of shoes. No, I would say that it’s your smile!

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Image: Reader’s Digest

A smile has a way of lighting up a room and making everyone feel welcome. It brightens your face and makes you appear more confident, friendly and approachable. In fact, the first thing we notice about a person is seldom the clothes they’re wearing. Several years ago, a survey for USA Today found that 47% of respondents chose a great smile as the feature that most attracted them to another person. Their eyes came second at 31%.

Apparently, smiling can have profound impact on your mental and physical health too . The simple act of smiling can improve your mood, reduce stress, boost your immune system, and help improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure. What’s not to like about that?

Smiling is also contagious. During the year that we lived in Japan, I didn’t speak the language. I wasn’t able to converse with many people, but I made a point of smiling at everyone I passed. The reactions were interesting. Known as a publicly reserved people and especially shy about interacting with foreigners, many looked startled and some quickly looked away, but many faces lit up and smiled back at me. I liked to think that I added a moment of warmth to their day as they had done to mine. After all, a smile is the same in any language!

So, next time you go out, don’t forget to wear your most valuable accessory, your smile!

My Fashion Revolution Week projects

April 26, 2024April 22, 2024 / edebock / 6 Comments

To upcycle is to recycle or reuse something in such a way that the resulting product is of higher quality or value than the original. Upcycling clothing involves taking old or unwanted garments and turning them into something new and unique. Technically, my Fashion Revolution Week projects might better be referred to as minor alterations as opposed to upcycling, but whatever we choose to call them, the result is two items of clothing that I hadn’t worn for a long time are now back in circulation.

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The first was this blouse that I bought about six years ago. It originally had bell sleeves, a trend that I didn’t expect to last very long. I loved the colour and the fit though, and since it was on sale for less than $20, I decided to buy it anyway. I knew that I could easily remove the bells at a later date. I did that a couple of years ago and started to wear it again, but that didn’t last. When I did my recent closet cull, I was going to add it to the donate pile, but I tried it on again and discovered that I still really liked the colour and the fit. So, why wasn’t I wearing it? What was it that caused me to leave it hanging in the closet? The sleeves still weren’t right. The length was awkward and they made my wrists look even skinnier than they really are. I could have tried shortening them a little more, but I wasn’t sure that that would help. Instead, I decided to try my hand at ruching, a sewing technique that I’d never tried before. I took a look at this tutorial first and it didn’t look too difficult.

I added a decorative button to each sleeve and I’m happy with the results.

The second item was this denim shirt from cabi’s Fall 2016 Collection. I wore it quite a bit in the past and have always liked everything about it except the ties. I never knew quite what to do with them.

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The collar and ties were all one piece of fabric, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to cut them off and turn the edges under to form a stand-up collar, I thought.

No more silly ties and again, I’m very happy with the results!

And now it’s time to go back to my closet and start switching over to my spring/summer wardrobe!

Fashion Revolution Week

April 19, 2024April 19, 2024 / edebock / 9 Comments

Fashion Revolution is a not-for-profit global movement that was founded by British fashion designers Orsola de Castro and Carry Somers following the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh on April 24, 2013 that killed 1,134 people and injured another 2,500. Fashion Revolution campaigns for a clean, safe, fair, transparent and accountable fashion industry; one that that conserves and restores the environment and values people over growth and profit. Over the past ten years, it has grown to become the world’s largest fashion activism movement, mobilizing citizens, brands and policymakers through research, education and advocacy. Every year, they organize Fashion Revolution Week in April, but this year’s campaign is marking a decade of active campaigning with ten days of action running from April 15 to 24.

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I don’t consider myself a fashion activist, but I do believe that everyone has a part to play in building a fashion industry that puts people and the planet first. Until our our clothing is made in safe, clean, and fair ways, we’re all part of the problem.

Those of us who live in North America have little choice but to buy clothes that are produced overseas and it’s virtually impossible to find out whether they are made in sweatshops where workers are exploited and forced to work in unsafe conditions or manufactured in socially and environmentally responsible factories. So, what can we do? How can we be part of the solution instead of the problem?

Overconsumption has become a huge problem. Apparently, the number of clothes that the average consumer purchased between 2000 and 2014 increased by 60 percent and those clothes tended to kept about only half as long as in the past. Individually, we can do our part by buying less and choosing quality over quantity. After all, how much do we really need hanging in our closets? At least one of the fashion bloggers that I follow has committed to The Rule of 5, planning to buying no more than five new fashion items this year. She’s decided to explore second-hand shopping which, as you know, is one of my favourite ways to add to my wardrobe.

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Another way that we can take action is to extend the life of our clothing by learning to mend, repair, and upcycle. In cities around the world Fashion Revolution activists are planning to come together in public spaces tomorrow to work on personal mending projects while drawing attention to the goals of the movement. That reminds me that I still have two pieces set aside from my recent closet cull waiting for some simple upcycling. Though I won’t be doing it in a public place, perhaps that should be my Fashion Revolution Week project.

What I packed for the conference

April 12, 2024April 11, 2024 / edebock / 4 Comments

Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending and participating in a three day Canadian Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (CNETS) conference in Montreal. Prior to going, I thought a lot about what to pack. Retired for more than a decade, I no longer have a professional wardrobe and I certainly wasn’t going to go shopping for clothes that I likely wouldn’t use again. Since most of my wardrobe is what I would categorize as classy casual, I shopped my closet and carefully chose outfits for each day. Most, if not all of the clothes have appeared on the blog before.

I left my photographer at home, so I had to resort to taking selfies using the full length mirror that was tucked into the corner of my lovely room in the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel in downtown Montreal. I clearly should have taken all the photos after dark when the lighting worked better for photography, but I’ve done my best to manipulate the remaining photos so that you can see what I wore.

For traveling, I like to be warm and comfy, so I chose my new striped sweater, jeans, and a very comfortable pair of white sneakers. My plane was delayed for four hours by a nasty snowstorm, so it was cold, wet, and very blustery when I finally arrived in Montreal. My bright red Calvin Klein jacket served me well and while you can’t see it hidden behind my coat, I carried my favourite travel purse which is very lightweight and large enough to carry any extras that I might need while traveling or exploring.

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Day 1 was a learning and working day for a small group of us from across the country who are part of a newly formed CNETS Advocacy Advisory Board. While we had already met online several times, this was our first face to face get together.

The colours in the photo above are particularly bad, so I recreated my outfit below to give you a better look. I wore a semi dressy pair of navy pinstriped pants, one of the few items in my wardrobe that are left over from my teaching days. Now that wide legs are on trend again, they’re back in style! A sleeveless cabi top and a cardigan, also from cabi, completed the outfit. I was especially glad that I’d chosen to wear the cardigan, a workhorse in my wardrobe, as our meeting room was quite chilly, especially first thing in the morning. I’m also glad that sneakers go with anything these days!

Day 2 was a medical and scientific meeting. With the exception of those of us on the advocacy board who were asked to attend, this was a day for medical professionals who care for neuroendocrine patients. It took place last Saturday, so I wondered if the participants would dress professionally or, since it was a day off for them, would they dress more casually? Not having an answer to this question in advance, I wondered how I should dress.

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Again, limited by what’s in my closet as well as my desire to be comfortable while sitting for many hours trying to absorb the information that was being presented, I chose carefully. I wore dark brown corduroy pants, the sleeveless animal print top that I recently featured here, and the same cardigan as the day before. As you can see, I did fit a second pair of shoes into my tiny suitcase. While most of the participants were dressed quite professionally, I didn’t feel out of place in this outfit.

Day 3 was a national patient conference available both in-person and online. For that day, I simply added a necklace to my travel outfit. It’s mostly hidden behind my phone in the photo!

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In addition to what I’ve shown you here, another important item in my suitcase was my swimsuit. I seldom travel without one. After long days soaking up information about everything from how treatments and medications are approved and why it takes so long for them to go from being developed to becoming accessible to patients to disparities in cancer care to new developments in research to NET cancer pathology and treatment, my brain was on overload and I much appreciated the opportunity to unwind in the hotel hot tub and sauna on two of the evenings while I was there.

I would definitely give myself a high mark for packing on this trip. Everything I needed fit easily into my teeny tiny carry-on and I felt completely at ease in everything I wore. Definitely a win!

More stripes for spring

April 5, 2024April 2, 2024 / edebock / 7 Comments

When I was young, we were told that wearing horizontal stripes would make us look fat, while vertical stripes would make us look taller and thinner. It turns out that that fashion advice was totally wrong. According the the Helmholtz illusion, horizontal stripes won’t make you look fatter. In fact, they may even make you look thinner!

Regardless of whether they make me look fatter or thinner, I have always liked horizontal stripes. While I specifically went into Reitmans looking for the sweater that I showed you last week, this top was on sale and I decided to buy it too.

I was intrigued by the stretchy ribbed knit fabric. Very soft and lightweight, it’s made of “EcoCozy” biodegradable fibres which are apparently made from certified sustainable wood pulp from sustainably-managed and renewable plantations. I think it will be especially good for this transition season. Our days are not truly warm yet, but no longer freezing cold. I probably could have gone down one size, but I wanted it to be body skimming as opposed to clingy.

The pop of red is a nice addition to my wardrobe and the very light cream looks much better on me than pure white would. The top can easily be dressed up or down depending on what I choose as a third piece. Here I’m wearing it under my faded denim shirt from Uniqlo, but it could also be worn with a jean jacket, a dressier sweater or a blazer.

It sure was nice to be able to take this week’s photos outdoors even if there were still patches of snow lying around!

Stripes for spring

March 29, 2024March 28, 2024 / edebock / 4 Comments

First of all, a very big thank you for all your kind responses to last Friday’s post on here, on Facebook, and on Pam Lutrell’s blog, Over 50 Feeling 40. I especially appreciate those who promised to pray for me! The medical oncology team discussed my case earlier this week and I now have an appointment on April 17 with a doctor that I haven’t met before to discuss their recommendations and make decisions about further treatment. I will keep you posted.

And now, on to fashion!

Stripes are a forever classic that never really go out of style, but they’re everywhere this season. Horizontal, vertical, pin stripe; on shirts, dresses, sweaters, pants, and even accessories, stripes are the print of the season. Bold, high-visibility stripes, often in eye-catching colours, are especially on trend.

Ads for this long-sleeve crew-neck sweater from Reitmans kept popping up on my Facebook feed, but I seldom shop for clothes online. I prefer to see things in person, feel the fabric, and try things on. I also like to support brick and mortar stores that provide employment and I detest the fact that more than 25% of all returns end up in the garbage! The ads caught my attention though and I was tempted, but I waited until we went into the city for my recent treatment and shopped in person instead. I’m glad I did as the sweater fits a bit large and I probably would have ordered the wrong size.

(Please ignore my hair in the photos! I’m way overdue for a cut, but my hairdresser has been sick.)

I love the relaxed fit, the length, and the soft, cozy knit. While the sweater is also available in a true white, Reitmans calls the light oatmeal colour of mine Heather Latte, an off-white that works well with my complexion. Here, I’m wearing the sweater with jeans, but it would pair well with leggings and I’ve also worn it with black pants for a dressier look.

I also came home with a second striped top, but I’ll save that one for another post, maybe next week.

Clothe me in peace, hope, and inner strength

March 22, 2024March 21, 2024 / edebock / 29 Comments

This will not be a fashion post in the traditional sense. I won’t be showing you an outfit today or giving any style advice. I’ve held off on writing an update about my health since undergoing the TheraSphere treatment on my liver on March 11 because I needed time to wrestle with what’s been happening. Time to figure out how to “wear” the latest news.

The treatment itself went very well. I was in and out of the hospital in approximately eight hours and walked away feeling pretty good. A CT scan following the treatment showed that the vast majority of the radioactive microspheres that were injected during the treatment had been deposited on target at the site of the largest tumour on my liver while a minimal amount had reached a second smaller tumour and surrounding tissue. This was exactly what was hoped for.

Had that been all that the scan showed, I would have weathered the post treatment fatigue and mild nausea with ease, but unfortunately, it also showed a nodule elsewhere in my abdomen that has grown significantly since a previous scan five months ago. That raises concerns that the cancer has spread. Knowing the importance of being proactive and advocating for myself, I contacted my specialist’s office as soon as I read the scan report and was able to have a phone consult with her earlier this week. She is going to refer my case to the medical oncology team asking them to review my file and make recommendations.

So how do I deal with all of this?

I feel a bit like I did at the beginning of this journey over 10 years ago. Once again, I’m facing a huge unknown. At that time, I prayed for strength to walk this pathway with grace and I continue to ask for that. In my morning prayer time this week, I’ve been meditating on a snippet of scripture from 2 Peter 2:19. “… a man is slave to whatever has mastered him.” Whatever happens, I do not want to become a slave to fear!

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You may remember that my one word for 2024 is hope. This beautiful graphic, which I found on Rare Disease Day, perfectly combines my word with the zebra ribbon representing rare diseases and more specifically, neuroendocrine cancer (NETS) which, though no longer considered rare, is definitely not well-known. Though the pathway may become rough, I am not giving up hope!

Clothe me in peace, hope, and inner strength.

Let that be my style!

Please help me decide

March 15, 2024March 14, 2024 / edebock / 22 Comments

When I wrote last week’s post, I had almost finished deciding what to do with the 14 items from my everyday closet that hadn’t been worn since I did my seasonal closet switch at the end of September. I’d returned several to my closet and started wearing them, started a donate pile, and set aside a couple of pieces to be upcycled. That left me with just two tops that I was undecided about. Once I realized that I had something very similar to one of them in the closet, that it fit me better, and that I actually preferred it, adding that one to the donate pile was a no brainer. That left me with just one last piece to deal with and I thought it might be fun to ask you to help me decide.

Keep or donate, that is the question!

This is the Timeless Blouse from cabi’s Fall 2020 collection. There are several things that I really like about it. The midnight blue colour is versatile and flattering to my complexion. I like the neckline, the fit is perfect and I love the silky fabric.

It’s only the puffy, pleated sleeves that are a bit outside my comfort zone and have made me somewhat reluctant to wear this blouse. They remind me of pictures of medieval dresses.