Book of the month – November 2023

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The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

Lisa See

81URNOpF3vL._SY522_I read mostly for enjoyment, but I love a book that transports me to another place or perhaps another time and a book that teaches me something. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane was such a book. Before reading it, I knew absolutely nothing about the Akha people, a minority hill tribe who live in small villages in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Yunnan province in China.

As the story opens in the late 1980s, the families of Spring Village are living a very traditional lifestyle without modern conveniences and with very little contact with the outside world. Traditional beliefs and rituals dominate their existence and their lives are aligned around the seasons and the growing of tea. When twins are born to a young village couple, the father is required to kill his babies and the couple is banished from the village.

That’s when I had to put the book aside to do a bit of research. Who were these Akha people? Did they really exist? Were they still living that way in the late 1900s? I learned that indeed they were. The Akha believed that only animals could give birth to more than one offspring, therefore until about 20 years ago, twins were considered an extremely ominous occurrence and were killed immediately, as were babies born out of wedlock.

Now, back to the story… Gradually, the outside world begins to encroach on Spring Village. Li-yan, daughter of the local midwife and one of the few educated girls on the mountain, slowly begins to reject the customs that shaped her early life. When she gives birth to a baby out of wedlock, she rejects tradition and travels with her newborn daughter to a nearby city. There she leaves the baby, wrapped in a blanket with a tea cake tucked in its folds, near an orphanage.

While Li-yan eventually leaves her village for further education, a job, and city life, her daughter, Haley, is raised in California by loving adoptive parents. Despite her privileged childhood, Haley wonders about her origins and across the ocean, Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. Over the years, each searches for meaning in the study of Pu’er, the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for centuries.

Perhaps the well-researched story tells us more about the history and the production of tea than we really care to know, but it’s also an enthralling family saga; a captivating story of mothers and daughters, families, fate and love. A secondary narrative depicts what it might be like to be one of the many Chinese girl children adopted by American families.

My favourite quote? “Those who suffer have earned contentment.”

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Fashion Friday will return next week. 

Wearing the unexpected shoe

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Logo by SamSince well-known stylist and wardrobe consultant, Allison Bornstein, posted this video on TikTok earlier this year, the idea of “choosing the wrong shoe”, as she calls it, has gained popularity in fashion circles. The idea isn’t actually new; Allison just gave it a name. Personally, I would call it “wearing the unexpected shoe”.

Do you remember when no one would have considered wearing sneakers with a dress? Then, women started doing the unexpected and in time, it became accepted. But what about combat boots or chunky loafers with a dress or kitten heels with sweat pants? As Bornstein points out in the video, choosing the wrong or unexpected shoe can be an intentional choice that personalizes a look and makes it more interesting. The Germans even have a word for it. Stilbruch (literal translation: style break) is an intentional breach of style or a combination of clashing styles.

Wearing the unexpected shoe isn’t about deliberately looking ugly or weird. It’s about adding an element of surprise instead of wearing what everyone else would wear and it’s an opportunity to use what you already have in your wardrobe in a new and different way.

To illustrate, I pulled together a simple outfit from my closet; one that I’ve never worn before. It’s not the most flattering because this much black close to my face doesn’t work well with my complexion, but it’s the shoes that I want you to focus on today. Hopefully you can’t see the goosebumps on my legs. It was 0ºC (32ºF) when we took these pictures! It’s easier to get good photos outdoors, so hubby bundled up and I tried not to shiver! 

Let’s begin with an expected shoe… a classic black pump with a kitten heel. I’ve had these shoes for many years, but haven’t worn them for a long time. Now that kitten heels are back in style, I think that’s about to change. 

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One of the next shoes is a bit more unexpected than the other. 

Yes, I do have the same shoes in two different colours! It was a buy one, get one half price sale many years ago. Though it was the red pair that caught my eye at the time, I’ve actually worn the black ones more often. Now that wearing the wrong or unexpected shoe is on-trend, perhaps I should reach for the red ones more often. They add an interesting pop of colour to an otherwise neutral outfit. 

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This time, we’re back to black, but a bootie instead of shoes. Personally, I’m not as fond of this look, but I think it would work better with a more stylish looking bootie. Perhaps something like this. 

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The final look is definitely an unexpected one, but I like it! Of course, whether I chose this look would depend on where I was going. If I was wearing this outfit to a funeral, for example, I would choose one of the first two shoes shown above. This pair definitely takes the outfit’s formal look down a notch or two. 

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What do you think? Do you ever wear an unexpected or “wrong” shoe? Which of these looks do you prefer? 

 

An on-trend inVESTment

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I’ve always loved the tailored look of a menswear inspired vest (or waistcoat), so I was delighted to see them back on-trend for fall/winter 2023. When I found this one in our small town thrift store for just $2.50, I was thrilled! 

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In addition to being a versatile layering piece, it ticked another box for me. I usually wear longer tops, but I’ve been wanting to try the cropped length that’s so popular this season. 

I knew immediately that I wanted to style the vest with the same cabi blouse that you saw in this post two weeks ago, my dark brown button fly corduroy pants also from cabi, and my tall brown boots. I’m sure it will look equally good with jeans and I look forward to trying it with several other items from my closet.

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I love the boy meets girl, masculine/feminine contrast between the tweed look front and the lace on the back. 

Another plus is that the vest will take up almost no space in a suitcase should I decide to take it traveling.

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In addition to the vest, the blouse, boots, and necklace shown today were all thrifted. 

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NET Cancer Day 2023 and an update

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For those of us who have neuroendocrine cancer, every day is NET Cancer Day, but November 10 is the one day each year that is set aside to increase awareness of our disease and to promote improved diagnostics, treatments, care, and research. Unlike most cancers, neuroendocrine cancer (NETS) is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Some patients, myself included, endure symptoms for 5 to 10 years before receiving an accurate diagnosis. All that time, the unseen disease is quietly growing and spreading which is why at least 50% of us, again myself included, have stage 4 cancer by the time we are diagnosed. At that point, it’s treatable, but not curable.

Why is this sneaky disease so easily missed? Why does it take so long to get a correct diagnosis? NETS starts in the cells of the neuroendocrine system which are found throughout the body. Neuroendocrine tumours can hide in many locations, but most commonly originate in the lungs, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract (specifically the large intestine, small intestine, or appendix), the adrenal glands or in rare cases, the brain, breast, or prostate. Without early detection, it spreads to other locations throughout the body including the lymph nodes, liver, peritoneal cavity, and bones.

Not only can the cancer be found in so many different parts of the body, but the symptoms vary and are often non-specific. They might include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, heightened anxiety, fatigue, weight loss, skin flushing, chest pain, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and/or back pain. All of these are also symptoms of more common conditions, so it’s completely understandable that doctors don’t immediately consider a little-known cancer like NETS. Many have never encountered a case and know little or nothing about it. As a result, neuroendocrine cancer is often mistaken for other conditions including gastritis, IBS, generalized anxiety disorder, or even menopause. That’s why we need an annual NET Cancer Day and why we need to advocate for increased awareness amongst doctors and patients every day of the year.  

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Last year, on NET Cancer Day, I was happy to be able to report that my disease was stable. Unfortunately, this year, that’s no longer the case. Over the past year, my tumours (or at least one of them), which had essentially been dormant for several years, have been waking up and producing excess hormones again. One of the lesions on my liver has also started to grow again. Thankfully, however, NETS is usually a slow-growing cancer and we still have a number of treatment options available. The neuroendocrine cancer team at the Cross Cancer Institute meets on Tuesdays (I absolutely love the fact that they take a team approach), so they’ll be discussing my case next week and deciding where we go from here.

In the meantime, other than an ongoing headache that is probably stress-related, I have no symptoms and I’m able to live a fairly normal life. Considering that fact that I’ve had stage 4 cancer for over ten years, I feel pretty blessed. I consider every day a gift and I continue to trust that I’m not dying of NETs, but living with it! 

There will be no Fashion Friday post today, but stay tuned for a new one next week. 

Uniqlo comes to Southgate

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Logo by SamI fell in love with Uniqlo on our first visit to Japan in 2005. The popular Japanese fashion retailer is known for innovative yet functional apparel as well as high-quality, reasonably priced, easy-to-wear basics for men, women, and children. When we lived in Japan in 2008-2009, it was a short bicycle ride from our apartment to the closest Uniqlo store and later, in 2013, when we spent a semester in Dalian, China we were delighted to find Uniqlo a short bus ride from home!

From one store in Hiroshima in 1984, the chain has spread across Asia and around the world. The first store in Canada opened in Toronto’s Eaton Centre in September 2016, but that’s still a very long way from my home in Alberta! In October of the following year, a Uniqlo store opened in Vancouver just a few kilometres from where my father was living at the time. Every visit to that city included a stop at Uniqlo! Then, in September 2019, Uniqlo finally came to Alberta! A week ago today, Edmonton’s second Uniqlo store opened in Southgate Mall and we were there!

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The chain has been very strategic in choosing new locations and if the number of people crowding the aisles last Friday morning was any indication, they’ve made another good choice.

Like the more than 2400 stores worldwide, Uniqlo’s newest store will carry business attire, leisurewear, intimate apparel, and some accessories. With winter’s sudden arrival in our part of the world, customers might be particularly interested in the brand’s HEATTECH line made of innovative fabric that absorbs body heat and stores it in air pockets deep within the fibres to keep the wearer warm. For additional winter comfort, the brand also offers cashmere sweaters, extra fine merino garments, fleece jackets, and a variety of ultra light down outerwear all suitable for our cold climate.

My favourite Uniqlo purchase has been the Ultra Light Down Vest which I’ve had for several years. The 2023 version of this Uniqlo staple is slightly shorter and boxier than the one that I have, but otherwise the same.

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Last week, I left the store with just one new item, the HEATTECH Lined Padded Scarf a cozy neck warmer that folds into it’s own little pocket for easy carrying. For someone who feels the cold as I do, I know that it’s going to be another favourite!

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PLEASE NOTE: This is not a sponsored post. I am not a brand ambassador for Uniqlo (although I probably wouldn’t say no if they asked!) I simply like the brand and want to share it with you. 

Book of the month – October 2023

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Iris & Ruby

Rosie Thomas

9780007173549-l19-year-old, Ruby, driven by her difficult relationship with her mother, runs away from her home in England and seeks refuge with the grandmother she hasn’t seen for many years. Her unexpected arrival on Dr. Iris Black’s doorstep in Cairo brings life and disorder into the elderly woman’s house.

After a lifetime of independent living, Iris recognizes in herself the early signs of dementia. Lovingly cared for by her servant, Mamdooh, and her cook, Aunty, she has become increasingly reclusive, but the arrival of her granddaughter changes that. An unlikely bond forms between the two as Ruby attempts to help her grandmother record her fading memories.

Iris & Ruby is a richly textured story of love, loss, and the power of family relationships.

Through Ruby’s experiences and Iris’ memories, the novel moves seamlessly between present day Cairo and the same city during World War II. Thomas’ writing is wonderfully descriptive drawing us into the glittering parties and the devastating wartime losses of the 1940s; the sights, sounds, and smells of the crowded marketplace of today; and the timeless and relentless desert that surrounds them both.

I was drawn to this novel by the fact that I would love to visit Egypt someday. While preparing to write this post, I discovered that Literary Tours in Egypt actually offers a Rosie Thomas’ Iris and Ruby 2-day tour of Cairo! What a cool idea!

Styling an old favourite

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Logo by SamThis week I’m featuring a garment that has been in my wardrobe since my teaching days. Far from new when I retired in 2007, it’s over 20 years old and now qualifies as vintage in the fashion world. Although I don’t wear it very often, I keep it because I love it and on those occasions when I do pull it out, as I did for church last Sunday, it feels like I’m wearing something new. 

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I’m not actually sure what to call it. Since it can be worn alone, I guess it qualifies as a dress, but I’ve usually worn it over a blouse. As a child, I might have called it a jumper, but according to the dictionary, a jumper is actually “a collarless sleeveless dress, typically worn over a blouse”. Jumper is also a confusing word in the world of fashion. This definition is North American, but elsewhere, especially in the UK, a jumper is what we would call a sweater. 

Whatever we call it, this garment is versatile. Not only can it be worn without a blouse underneath, but it can also be worn without the belt. Styled very differently, it first appeared on the blog in this post written over 11 years ago, long before I added a weekly fashion post. 

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Today’s photos were taken very hastily as I was freezing. It was only 3ºC (37.4ºF) outside, but I wanted to take advantage of the last of our beautiful leaves before they were buried in snow! Sure enough, there was snow on the ground when we got up the very next morning! If I hadn’t been so cold, I probably would have taken a moment to ensure that the front wasn’t puckered. 

The Classic Blouse is from cabi’s Fall 2019 collection and was bought second-hand as were the cute booties. 

And now, this morning, I’m off to the grand opening of the new Uniqlo store in Southgate Mall in South Edmonton! Maybe more about that next Friday. 

Not exactly a fashion post

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Life has been a bit crazy lately between our usual fall/winter activities starting up again and numerous medical appointments for both hubby and I. More about that in the future when we have a better idea what’s going on, but for now, suffice to say that it’s been a bit difficult to focus on something as comparatively trivial as fashion. I will, however, share what I wore yesterday for what was probably our final hike of the year.

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I don’t usually wear graphic t-shirts nor do I often wear black close to my face, but this particular tee has significant meaning to me and I really wasn’t worried about what I looked like out on the trail! 

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The logo, known as The Creator’s Path, was created by Indigenous artist, Don Monkman, for Indian Life Ministries, an organization that I do volunteer work for that seeks to reach Native people across Canada and the United States with the good news of the gospel. If you look closely, you’ll see the cross surrounded by Christ wearing the crown of thorns, the two thieves on either side of Him, His nail pierced hands, the people who rejected Him piercing His side, and those who accepted His sacrifice kneeling in prayer. All of this is held within a circle representing creation. 

Anyway, back to our hike. It was an absolutely beautiful day, one of the last few in the forecast before winter is expected to hit early next week. We spent a couple of hours exploring one of our favourite hiking areas, Willow Creek Coulee, located near the village of Donalda, Alberta. With beautiful sunshine and a temperature of 23ºC (73ºF), it was hard to believe that snow and sub-zero temperatures might be just around the corner! 

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In addition to the t-shirt described above, I wore an older pair of chinos, my trusty Merrell hiking shoes, and a hat to shade my eyes from the sun. There are few things that I love more than the peace and quiet of nature. For awhile, I even forgot all about the headache that I’ve had for the past two weeks! 

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On the way back to the vehicle, we almost decided to do a bit of international travel, but we didn’t have our passports with us.

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Just kidding! 😂 That’s actually a new sign that has appeared on the fence of a property near the trailhead since the last time we hiked the coulee. The land is held by a member of a movement known as  Freemen on the Land, a group who believe that they can declare themselves independent of the government and any laws to which they have not consented. It takes all kinds, I guess! 

Not promising, but I’ll try to have a more conventional fashion post for you next week! 

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What’s your style uniform?

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Logo by SamAnyone who has ever had to wear a prescribed uniform for school, work, a sport, or as a member of an organization knows that it has its benefits. Wearing a uniform is a great equalizer and it eliminates questions about whether or not what you’re wearing is appropriate for the setting or the activity. A uniform can also be a form of identity shorthand. We know that a person is a police officer because of the uniform that he or she is wearing.

But what is a style uniform and how does it benefit you? Essentially, it’s a combination of clothing that you know you can always rely on and feel comfortable wearing. It’s an outfit formula that you wear consistently, that you look and feel good in, that represents who you are, and that is practical for your lifestyle. It doesn’t have to look the same every day, although it can if you want it to. Having a style uniform takes the stress out of dressing and frees up your brain to focus on other things.

It was the great philosopher, Socrates, who gave us the key to discovering our personal style uniform when he said, “Know thyself!” Considering your habits, the level of comfort you prefer, and the types of activities you participate in will help you define your uniform. This is also where your personal style adjectives come into play. Choosing three to five adjectives to describe your personal style can be very helpful in building a style uniform that says what you want to say about yourself. For example, I want my outfit to say that I’m classy, confident, comfortable, casual, and authentic.

My style uniform consists of pants (usually jeans or cords), a pullover top, a third piece (cardigan, blazer, denim shirt, etc), earrings, and depending on the time of year and whether there is snow on the ground or not, sneakers or boots. Of course, there are occasions when I dress differently, but this is what you’d find me wearing most days.

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Here’s what I’m wearing today. None of these pieces is new and all have appeared on the blog before. This combination works for my lifestyle. The sleeveless top made it easy to have blood taken at the hospital lab this morning and with the cardigan over top, it gave my on-screen presence a semi-professional look for my online tutoring session this afternoon. In my opinion, it looks classy, confident, comfortable, casual, and authentic and when it comes to style, it’s truly our own opinion that counts!

So, what’s your style uniform? Do you have one?

Isabella Rossellini and I – this is what 71 looks like!

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I turned 71 yesterday, so I was intrigued to discover that Italian actress and model, Isabella Rossellini, who is also 71, is featured on the cover of this month’s issue of Italian Vogue.

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Even more delightful is the fact that the photo hasn’t been retouched! No photoshopping to eliminate the visible signs of aging.

Isabella is no stranger to ageism. At the age of 43, when she was dropped by Lancôme in favour of younger models, she was told that advertisements represent women’s dreams, not reality, and that women dream of looking young. More than 20 years later, in her mid 60s, she was invited back; perhaps a hopeful sign that there are positive changes taking place in the beauty industry.

Of course, for the magazine cover, Rossellini had the benefit of professional makeup artists, photographer, and lighting, but I also love the more natural look of this photo that she posted on Instagram recently.

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That’s a look that I can identify with; the look of a woman who is comfortable in her own skin, wrinkles and all. Born with scoliosis, Rossellini has had two major and very painful back surgeries. The idea of having surgery to alter her looks actually scares her. She isn’t interested in Botox injections either. She has a 28-acre organic farm on Long Island, New York and eats organic food, not to look younger, but to preserve her health. She says that doing Botox would completely contradict her chosen lifestyle.

Although she eschews cosmetic surgery and other attempts at hiding her age, Rossellini has been attentive to caring for her skin since she was a child. Her routine includes an eye cream, a face cream, and sunscreen. I, too, am diligent about skin care. In the morning, I wash my face with warm water and apply a day lotion with SPF 15 and UVA/UVB sun protection. At bedtime, I use a creamy facial cleanser with gentle exfoliants followed by a night cream. While I’ve been doing this since I was in my early 30s, I now use products that are specifically designed for maturing skin. I’m also very conscientious about using an SPF 50+ broad spectrum sunscreen whenever I spend much time outdoors.

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And there’s my without the benefit of professional assistance, just turned 71, wrinkles and scars, unretouched photo! Though I’m half blind without my glasses, I removed them so that they don’t hide anything.

Today, on my second day of being 71, I’m very thankful for role models like Isabella Rossellini; strong, elegant women who embrace their age and defy societal pressure to try to look younger than they actually are!

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