EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Ciao! I have sat down to write a journal entry many times, yet I can't get it posted. And then the month is gone, and I'm starting all over again.

It's the perfect time to post, so it all worked in my favor. We are in a new season, and I can feel it; fall is here! I can smell it in the air. With the crispness that comes with the change of the season, cobwebs litter my yard with baby spiders looking for anything to fly into their web. Leaves are turning red and orange and are starting to fall throughout. Darkness is lingering longer in the morning, and the sun sets earlier. You know the rest. It's fall, after all.

I turned the heater on and switched out my spring-summer comforter for my fall-winter, thick comforter. I love this time of year; the cooler weather is much more forgiving regarding my sensitivity to swell in the heat. As I've gotten older, I tend to go up a size in clothing during the summer or warmer months—such a pity when one's clothes don't fit.

OK, I last left off with you on my way to Italy. Florence for a week and Paris for a few days. I was initially going to Venice for a cooking workshop that was canceled two weeks before I was to go, so I changed my ticket to Florence and spent a week in the ancient city. I visited museums and botanical gardens. I walked the narrow streets searching for the best pizza and sat in the piazza, watching the Italian people smoke and sip coffee. I heard lots of laughter and children playing with other children. Vespas zooming in and out of alleys. The warmth in people's eyes and the smiles on the faces of strangers made me long to be a part of it.

I shopped and ate and ate and shopped. The weather was perfect, and the crowds of tourists were manageable.

I found an excellent perfumery in Santa Croce called Aqua Flor, so very lovely with many unique scents and so many true to the name on the bottle. I bought a bottle of Rosa, which smells like a fresh bouquet of roses, and another called Ambra, which smells of incense and amber. Devine!

While visiting Florence, I decided I wanted to live there. Part-time, of course, watching the Italian people effortlessly enjoy life made me realize how broken our wonderful country has become. So, the search has begun for a little apartment in the city center of Florence. Finding this little apartment has taken up some of my free time and is one of many reasons you have yet to see a post.

I intended to observe the skincare rituals of the Florentine women while on my visit, but frankly, I got busy doing other things. I did notice that people there eat much healthier, drink lots of coffee and wine, and spend more time out of doors walking and visiting with friends—lots of laughter and community.

On returning to Seattle, I stopped in Paris for a few days. I love Paris and visit several times a year. I know the city well and have my favorite places I enjoy returning to. Much like the US, Paris's political issues make the city center feel less safe to me. I will always want to visit when possible, but my heart belongs to Italy now.

No sooner did I return home from Italy that I got another dog? It's a good story, but not enough time to write it down. I have a beautiful miniature poodle who is named Gigi. She is five years old and was a breeding dog. She carried five litters in five years and lived in a kennel. She was a working dog, and now she lives with Eva Charlotte and me in the lap of luxury. She gets lots of love, has a very healthy diet, lots of walks, sniffs, and tons of kisses.

It wasn't long after I brought Gigi home I had to leave again. I was off to Portugal. I spent a few days in Lisbon and then was off to the coast to Cocoon Holistic Farm and the retreat center. I spent a healing week there practicing yoga with Nancy Lea (my favorite spiritual teacher) and 22 other women and men from various parts of the world. This particular retreat was my favorite. Cocoon Retreat Center was beyond my expectations. The food was outstanding, and the serene landscape made the week even more incredible, not to mention the many hammocks surrounding the property for lying around on those hot summer days. Magical. The whole trip.

There was also a brief trip to Montana in the summer mix. A place that always quiets my mind and soul. There was a little yoga with Nancy Lea there as well. And, lots of good conversations and bacon for good measure.

Well, you're probably wondering about skincare. My skin was so congested after all the travel, heat, humidity, and sunscreen I had to get a hydra facial last month. It helped greatly. I'm not a massive fan of the hydra facial, but it does help. A hydra facial is OK four times a year, but monthly is overkill. An excellent old-school French facial will always be better for your skin than a hydra facial.

A micro laser peel is also a great addition, or VI peel, to rid your skin of post-summer hyperpigmentation and clogged and congested pores.

Sunscreen is still a must as we head into fall, and it's time to pull out the heavier facial cream for nighttime use. A humidifier (warm air) and a moisturizing lip balm are necessary.

Be thoughtful about how often you exfoliate your skin to not irritate the protective barrier.

I recently went back to daily probiotic therapy. I got a stomach bug in Portugal and thought it best to repopulate with gut-friendly bacteria. The change in my mood, alertness and post covid depression has been remarkable. I take SEED probiotics and highly recommend. Meditation and yoga are always a daily part of my life and so very helpful in centering and quieting my busy mind.

I have also been eating more seasonally ripe fruits and veg. I sometimes get stuck in a rut and need an infusion of inspiration to add new or unusual foods. But after my time at Cocoon in Portugal, I felt inspired to eat things I wouldn't ordinarily eat. I have many different fruits than my standard blueberries, and now I buy my eggs from other vendors at the market rather than the same vendor each time.

I have started drinking bone broth again. Not daily, but often. Soups are headed back into the rotation, and lots of beans and lentils also show up in my cooking, mixing things up and feeling more energized. I also just cut back on how much salt and sodium I was using. As mentioned above, I was feeling chronically puffy and sluggish.

I've also been using new makeup that I want to give a shout-out. Chanel Water Foundation is impressive in hot climates. I also love the Chanel SPF 50, the Chanel Illuminizer, Tower28 mascara, as well as SWEED mascara and Chanel Mascara remover. Love. Love.

My brow waxer (Jay @ Nordstrom) recently told me I need to wearing blush, so stay tuned (I've never liked blush).

I just made a fresh batch of ELIXIR and CRÉME ROYALÉ. I reformulated the CRÉME ROYALÉ to be a little richer. I love a rich face cream.

Thank you for loving Complexion and reading my long over-due journal entry.

Arrivederci!