Shine On!

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.  -Edith Wharton

I love lemons. They smell good and I can’t resist the vibrancy of the color yellow. It is the happiest color ever! Not only do lemons make me happy just looking at them, but I put them in everything from water to my delicious meatballs. Yes, meatballs.  I’ll share the recipe with you. It’s so good. If the color didn’t make me happy enough the smell makes me believe every little thing really is ok. That’s what this blog is about and why I called it Lemon Luster. Lemons are restorative and associated with cleansing. Not just to my sink that sparkles after I run a wedge around it to disinfect or an old piece of furniture that needs a lemon polish to restore it’s luster. Lemons restore our souls and well-being, too.  In fact, essential lemon oil is known to provide antioxidants to combat things determined to make us sick and grouchy. The mere fact that lemons can bring back shine and re-energize the spirit is why I have a bowl full in my kitchen all the time. I love that feeling I get when I see that happy yellow and smell that beautiful refreshing scent. I want what lemons give. I haven’t lost my shine, I just need to polish the tarnish to regain the luster once again. I’m on a mission to reinvent myself for the next half of my life. And it’s going to be good!

I’m in my middle years with many, many left ahead of me. I’ve raised two amazing kids who still need to be raised. They are 15 and 16 and I’m in a different mindset from the toddler and elementary years. They are enjoying looking ahead to their lives and what makes them happy. I’m trying to figure out where my life is now and what truly makes me happy. I want to shine from the inside out and make the most of every day. Curate my evolving style, enjoy my passion for cooking, and learn to take the lemons that life gives me and add vodka. Or make lemonade. Either one.

This blog is how, as an almost 50 year old woman, I go about doing just that. I’ll share life lessons that shaped where I’m at now. How I found my job that I love and never thought I’d have. Why I started a blog. Aren’t there enough already? How I shop, dress, and products I’ve discovered that has people stop me to ask where did you get that and why does your skin glow? Because I’ve stopped others to ask the same questions and I have read many blogs and pieced together what works for me at my age. I wear what I want and I don’t care if everyone else is wearing jeans or shorts. If I want to wear a skirt I’ll wear the skirt! And just smile when someone says “well, you’re all dressed up”.

Are you a mom with older kids or a women 40+ trying figure out what in the heck you do now? Has life thrown you lemons? Me, too. I have learned to squeeze all the juice out of each one to become stronger, resilient and shine! I’ll Take what comes my way and decide for myself what to do with it. Good things, bad things, surprises, heartache, blessings, you get the picture.

Join me and I promise you these things…..you will laugh (I’m funny and ridiculous things happen to me), you’ll learn all kinds of delicious ways to throw lemons in recipes and cocktails, and I’ll share all the products and clothing that has truly changed my life. There are a few lip glosses that if discontinued will cause me to throw a running, barking fit. Never heard of a running, barking fit? Stay with me. I’ll tell you all about it.

I don’t have all the answers, but I have some. Sure hope you have what I’m missing and will share your experiences and lessons learned that helped you pave your way.

Join me on a journey to find our best, most lustrous selves. Let’s shine on!