My Wardrobe, Myself

Two Months to 50: Gray Hair Transition & Balance Goal Update

Debbie Roes

June 8, 2016

NOTE: This post was originally published on my previous blog, Recovering Shopaholic.

Two months from today, I will turn fifty. As I lead up to that milestone birthday, I’m periodically writing about some issues in my life and things I’d like to change. In today’s post, I’ll update you on the hair issues I wrote about last month. I’ll also bring you up to date on how I’m doing with my balance goal for 2016 and highlight some ongoing issues I’m experiencing in that regard.

I’m bound and determined to be in a better place in my life by the time I blow out those fifty candles (well, maybe just a “5” and a “0” on my cake will be a better idea). Although I have some trepidation about turning the big 5-0, I feel that it has also been a blessing for me, as it has lit a virtual fire under me and is pushing me to make some important and long overdue changes. It’s like a crash course in personal growth and for that I am very grateful.

Going Gray & Getting Out of “Hair Prison” Follow-Up

Debbie Roes

20 comments

May 18, 2016

NOTE: This post was originally published on my previous blog, Recovering Shopaholic.

Thank you to all those who responded to my last post, both in the comments section and via email. I was very touched by the tremendous amount of support, encouragement, and advice that I received. I loved reading your stories and perspectives on the issues of going gray, aging, dealing with hair woes, and more. Because I know that many subscribers don’t read the comments, I’ve decided to share some of the input I received in a follow-up post today. This post can also serve as a resource on this issue for those who need it, as it’s a lot easier to find and navigate than perusing the comments.

Going gray advice

For those who aren’t particularly interested in this subject, don’t worry. I will return to writing about shopping, wardrobe, and style-related topics shortly (I invite you to check out my archives of over 350 articles if you’d like to read about one of those topics today). But I know that for me and many others, there are a lot of emotions attached to hair. I’ve known for many years that I’ve resided in a sort of “hair prison,” but it was more comfortable for me to stick with the status quo than try to change. It’s only the rapid approach of the big 5-0 that has led me to think more deeply about what I want for the rest of my life, and I’ve decided that I want to release myself from my self-imposed bondage.

I’ll be sharing more thoughts on turning 50 as the milestone approaches, as I have been quite introspective in recent months. But for today, I hope you enjoy these words of wisdom from readers.
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On the Precipice of 50: Gray Hair, Vanity, and Breaking Free

Debbie Roes

90 comments

May 13, 2016

NOTE: This post was originally published on my previous blog, Recovering Shopaholic.

In less than three months, I will turn 50. As is often the case with milestone birthdays, I am experiencing some anxiety around moving into a new decade and have been giving a lot of thought to the transition and what it means to me. Although it could be said that it’s just a number and age doesn’t really mean anything, that’s not how I’ve been feeling. I decided to do a few “stream of consciousness” posts leading up to the big day (August 8) to share my thoughts and insights. This first post will focus on issues related to my appearance, specifically around my hair.

50th birthday cake

But You Don’t Look 50…

I’m often told that I don’t look 50 and I take that as a compliment. It’s nice to look younger, especially since I have not yet availed myself of Botox, fillers, or plastic surgery (save the rhinoplasty I had following a bicycle accident at age 20). But there is one thing I do to stay looking younger, I color my hair. I started to go gray in my mid-thirties, so I’ve been having my hair professionally colored since that time. This really wasn’t a problem for many years, but the interval at which it was necessary kept getting shorter and shorter.

KonMari in the Bathroom: Paring Down Cosmetics and Toiletries

Debbie Roes

27 comments

May 5, 2016

Last year, I used Marie Kondo’s “KonMari Method” (from her best-selling book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”) to downsize my book and compact disc collections, as well as my closet. Then last month, I applied this simple but effective process to my jewelry box. There’s really something magical about gathering all our like items together, handling them one by one, and asking ourselves whether or not each item “sparks joy.” The beauty of Kondo’s method is that it places the focus on what to keep rather than what to get rid of.

The “KonMari Method” can help you get rid of your clutter.

Photography Interlude – Shelter Island

Debbie Roes

20 comments

April 15, 2016

NOTE: This post was originally published on my previous blog, Recovering Shopaholic.

One of my favorite places to walk is on Shelter Island, which is right down the street from where I live. Over the almost 14 years that I have lived in San Diego, I’ve probably walked on Shelter Island thousands of times! Shelter Island is not actually an island, as it’s connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. The “island” is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and only a few hundred feet wide and is home to a number of marine-related businesses, hotels, and restaurants. A single street called Shelter Island Drive runs the entire length of the island.

Shelter Island Marina

When I started taking photographs about a year ago, Shelter Island was one of my first locations for photo shoots. I now have hundreds of photos from this picturesque destination, so I thought it would be a great subject for one of my photography interludes. For those who are new to the blog, I periodically post my photos to celebrate that I now have hobbies and interests outside of shopping, as well as to share glimpses with readers of the beautiful area in which I live.