A Week of Outfits: Sharon Beesley
My friend Sharon Beesley broke my heart years ago when she moved from New York City to Guilford, Connecticut. But! She and her family thrived — she built a therapy practice and her kids moved from middle school to high school and, now, to college. Sharon and her husband Rob (who mom-and-dad-ed me through my divorce) are brand new empty nesters. Here, Sharon shares five outfits she wore in a week, including thrifted dresses, gardening overalls, and her favorite swimsuit…
Dress: thrifted. Hair clips: French combs. Shoes: Comfortiva.
“I thrift almost all my clothes, including this dress. My go-to store for anything special is Vintanthro in New Haven. They remember who I am, they know my kids. They’ll be like, tell us about your upcoming event! It’s an old-school shopping experience, where they pull stuff and accessorize, and they’re just so excited for me.”
“Then there’s Goodwill. You might come away with nothing, and you have to do it regularly. I go at least once a week with my kids. These days I’m into vintage sweatshirts and short-sleeve button downs, so I’ll just head to those sections because otherwise it can get overwhelming. It also depends on where you live — I’m lucky because I live in Connecticut and the Goodwills are super good here.”
Tank: similar. Skirt: similar.
“These days, for my hair, I’m doing the whole shower-then-keep-it-wet-and-don’t-touch-it-and-put-in-Perfect-Hair-Day-by-Living-Proof-5-in-1-Styling-Treatment thing. It feels like a movement right now.”
“Being a therapist is SUCH a good job. There’s something about listening to someone’s story for a full hour; I don’t think we get to do that a lot in life. I try to understand exactly what each person is saying. If they say the word ‘weird’ or ‘you know what I mean,’ I’ll push to make sure I’m not making assumptions. I have to be careful with my kids because I don’t want them to feel like they’re always in a therapy session. Sometimes I’ll ask, do you want me to offer therapy advice or do you want me to be a mom right now? If they want me to be a mom, I’ll just say ‘that’s hard’ and validate them.”
Tee: thrifted. Overalls: thrifted, “handed down from my son, it’s the best having sons who are into thrifting,” similar. Sneakers: Converse.
“I have a bee tattoo. First, because my last name is ‘Beesley,” and also because I went through a transition period, where I went from being Mormon to being not-Mormon and from being a stay-at-home mom to attending grad school for therapy. I had a lot of feelings about how Mormon women couldn’t hold higher leadership roles, whereas bee hives are matriarchal. A few days before I started at Columbia, I had a few hours before I needed to pick up my kids from school. There are a million walk-in tattoo places in New York, so I picked one and got it. It was a thrill. The only problem with the tattoo is that it’s on every pillow from T.J. Maxx to Michaels.”
“As a kid, I was obsessed with gymnastics, and then I didn’t have an obsession for a long time, and now gardening has filled that space. My favorite things are watching gardening shows, reading gardening books, thinking about my garden, planting my garden, and watching my garden grow. My flowers cover the front yard, and I want to give our neighbors an experience — almost like an art installation, mimicking a field of wildflowers in the suburbs! It makes me happy to see people walk or drive more slowly as they pass by. I expect some flowers to get smashed or picked by toddlers — and I want them to. I should put out a sign that says, ‘Please touch.’”
Tank: Old Navy. Leggings: Old Navy. Sneakers: Nike. Dog: “Pluto, the love of my life.”
“I have a gap between my front teeth. Over the years, I’ve spent thousands of dollars trying to fix it — Invisalign, braces, porcelain veneers, temporary retainers, a permanent retainer — and finally, I was like, I’m not fighting this anymore. It only took me 40 years to embrace it, but now I love my gap.”
“Vintage workout clothes are hard to find, so I buy them new. Old Navy has done such a good job — the styling is so nice, the fits are great, and the colors are great.”
“I do Orangetheory. I switch off taking a 50-minute weight lifting class and a 60-minute body class. I’ve taken 1,000 classes, and my husband asked me the other day, ‘So, does it get easier? Is it fun?’ And I was like, no! Every time, I can’t wait for it to be over. But I feel so good afterward. When I’m grouchy, my kids will say, ‘Mom, when’s the last time you went to the gym?’”
Swimsuit: Anemos. Skirt: thrifted, similar.
“My budget for clothes is usually $5 to $10, but I splurged on this swimsuit. I love the back, and I couldn’t find another version anywhere. I wear it to swim, and then I’ll wear it as a top with a skirt, jeans, anything.”
“My three kids just left for college, and I don’t know how I’ll feel as an empty nester. I got married at 21 and had my first kid at 23, so I’ve never really been an adult without kids at home. I’m excited to see what that’s like. I feel like my kids and I are experiencing parallel lives, we’re all going forward and experiencing new things.”
Thank you so much, Sharon! You’re the very best.
P.S. More people share their weeks of outfits, including a cardiologist who loves color, a marketer who misses her dad, and a mom with a hijab and house slippers.
(Photos by Lyndsay Hannah for Cup of Jo.)
Comments
148 commentsMy baby girl is in the stage of getting some teeth in, and she’s got the cutest little gap in her teeth that makes her look like a lil’ American Girl doll. I love it.
thanks for sharing, it’s a very sweet image :)
Sharon’s style and vibe–undeniably cool. However, as a newly hatched empty nester myself, I would love to hear more about that journey! Maybe a post dedicated to empty nesting, aka the most abnormal feeling normal thing I have ever experienced?
Oh my god, I used to go back to What NYC Taught Me hoping she would revive her blog, for like years! I can’t believe she has college aged kids now. I was so inspired when she went to grad school. So good to see she’s doing great!
She is such a vibe. The eclectic, vintage bedecked home, the air-dry-and-go-hair, hating the gym but needing it. Yes to all of it.
How gorgeous! I remember Sharon and Rob being there for you — dear friends who are there for you are what make life precious — so this posting made my heart swell! Sharon, as you probably already know well, a ton of cool folk in history blossomed even more starting in their mid-40s. I’m thrilled for your and Rob’s empty-nester life ahead! On a rather important note: WHAT breed is Pluto?! Asking because when we adopted our dog sons two years ago, we had no way of knowing the true breed of our smol boi Butters (the rescue group had told us he’s a Korean Jindo mix but…have you seen a Korean Jindo?! Butters is not one :-), but Pluto somehow looks just like my guy?! I am SO intrigued right now. (I never do this, but leaving my dog dogs’ Instagram handle here so you could see what I mean. :-)
Pluto looks like a Pekingese :)
Pluto might also be part Tibetan Spaniel. We had a rescue dog that also looked like Pluto and that’s what we thought he was :)
Pluto looks like our dog, Sake! She was a rescue and listed as a Pekingese mix but she very well could have been a Tibetan spaniel as well (we never got a doggie DNA test to confirm). Pluto looks like he could be either and I’m curious to know what his background is!
This interview is so fab… but: i also want a house tour! could’nt you beg her? PS: super nice clothes , too!
We need a Sharon Home Tour!
I recently learned the term “open nester” instead of empty nester and I love the small reframe. Yes, you might be off doing great things but the nest is open, should you need or wish! Laundry, a comfy bed between transitions, a cozy meal with people who love you unconditionally, a safe place to bring friends and partners. The nest is open!
Love this so much, Jordan!
Ok, she is gorgeous and her clothes are wonderful, but I’m gonna need a house tour – from what I could see in little glimpses, DIVINE.
I have always had a BIG gap inbetween my front teeth. I went to an orthodontist many years ago to do something about it. He said he could close it up, but it would come back after 6 months. Now I embrace it, children sometimes comment on it when I see them for therapy (I’m an SLT) and I don’t think I could articulate clearly if it wasn’t there……..not good if you are trying to explain how sounds are made!!
It’s fabulous seeing an outfits post, which I love, of someone who is a snazzy dresser but isn’t paying big dollars for their clothes. I love seeing how so many of your featured guests dress and too often the price points are more than I can spend. This was right up my alley. Thank you.
“If they say the word ‘weird’ or ‘you know what I mean,’ I’ll push to make sure I’m not making assumptions.” This is so important! I’ve started asking friends to “tell me more” so I don’t assume I know what they are going through. Great post!
Love her radiant smile & glad she’s embraced it! My number one favorite perfectly imperfect thing is a tooth gap. I saw a picture of Lauren Hutton as a kid & wanted a tooth gap IMMEDIATELY. Lmk if she has a twin brother. So hot!
Me too! Though my memories are from the 90’s J.Crew catalogues. She looked so cool and the clothes were great… just so easy! I specifically remember wishing that I 1. had her tooth gap and 2. had more spending money for J.Crew!
I know the focus is supposed to be the outfits, but the house is just WOW…..ZA!! LOVE those paint colors, especially the dark blue. What an absolute dream of a house.
I remember Sharon from her blog days! (I can’t believe I didn’t find more comments saying the same.) So cool to see this update on her living her best life. Also, fwiw, my child’s dentist told us that he has a thick frenulum, and if his gap doesn’t close by itself, no amount of braces will close it, he would need some kind of procedure to cut the frenulum first (we’re definitely not worried about it so that will be a decision he can make someday).
I have exactly the same thing and despite having plates as a teen I still have my gap. I love it!
LOVE everything about this! Inspo!
Love Sharon’s style and story (and bountiful curls)! As others have mentioned, have been thinking and thinking of returning to school for the past decade, specifically to pursue an MSW. If there are any therapists out there who would be willing to weigh in, I’d be so grateful for some insight. – does attending a more prestigious school make a difference when you’re searching for meaningful work? – what kind of references have people submitted when they’ve been out of college for years (so nervous abt this aspect of applying)? -anything at all :)
I am a therapist, and before that I taught at a variety of higher education institutions– from community colleges to a prestigious university. And the truth is that wonderful teachers doing meaningful work can be found all around. Don’t go into deep debt because the school has a big name. For the most part, you’ll get out of school what you put in, and your clients do not care.
Hi Joy, I started my master’s program in CMHC at age 40 (counseling, not MSW, although they can lead to the same destination). It doesn’t matter at all, as far as what I found, in what school you attend. Not a bit. Internships and the first job care about your experience, what you know, what your program was like, and what sort of person you are as a counselor (ie do you present as empathetic, knowledgeable, skilled in therapeutic approaches/modalities, etc). I can’t speak to MSW, but I’m assuming it’s similar–for a program in clinical mental health counseling, I didn’t have any therapy/psychology background, so I engaged in volunteering for about a year before applying, which is what is generally recommended. The references I used were for the most part related to that volunteering.
What is the gray color in the kitchen called, please? :)
Meggles, thank you for taking the time to offer that encouraging, thoughtful reply!
Ginger & Meggles, thank you for taking time to reply with such encouraging and thoughtful guidance! I don’t take it for granted. (posted this thanks earlier, so apologies if it ends up being a duplicate comment.)
I’m a second career therapist about three years out of grad school for therapy, and I just wanted to say: I love it. If you think you want to do this, and you like talking to people and listening and being 1-1, do it. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made, despite all the challenges, like having to get a ton of hours pre-licensure. I agree, doesn’t matter where you go, unless you have a specialty that you know you want to study that is only offered at a few places. Good luck!
Also if anyone has that swimsuit, question about the boobs? After breastfeeding three kids, I need a suit that can lift them up otherwise they fall out of existence entirely lol. Can anyone speak to what the inside of the suit looks like? Thank youuuu
hi!! it’s very very very minimal support :)
In case it is helpful… I’ve got a 1970s swimsuit that is the same design, unlined in front. I wore it that way in my 20s; in my 40s, post-kid, I cut up an old bra and stitched it into the front of the suit, anchoring it at the sides. I found this post inspiring since, in my mid-40s, I’m starting to worry about whether I’m aging out of my clothes. Sharon is rocking a backless swimsuit, overalls, a sweet sundress, a slip skirt… which suggests we should wear what we like, with confidence.
I’ve been receiving a bunch of insta ads lately about strapless bras you can wear under a bathing suit. The brand is stylest. They also have swimsuits. I haven’t purchased anything but as someone who has changed body sizes multiple times (swimwear makes me feel so vulnerable!) it may be worth checking out? Anything that makes me feel better and gives me the confidence to try different swimsuit styles might be worth a look?
Omg Sharon! We have similar stories! I was married at 21, had my first kid at 23 and have three total! And I’m exmormon! I was delighted to read this today! <3333
What great framing on empty nesting. I got married and had kids at the same age as Sharon, and while I’m not (yet) dreading the day they move out, I am puzzled as to how I’ll be as an adult without kids at home. So many choices!
Major girl crush on Sharon!
Thank you for highlighting someone who doesn’t spend $300 on every piece of clothing!!! Thrifting and consignment is so much better for the environment. And more relatable tbh.
Hi! As an orthodontist, I want to normalize having a gap. I did my training on the East Coast, which is full of gorgeous Caribbean women who DO NOT want to close their gaps. I’ll make a smaller or close it depending on the patient’s wishes, but keeping a gap closed is the bane of my existence. Your best bet, even though this might seem “simple,” is to see a REAL orthodontist. The answer is to always see the orthodontist and not your dentist—it’ll cost the same or less AND we have so much more training, experience, and tools at our disposal. Don’t short-change yourself.
Tyty! My husband has a gap and it was the first thing I noticed on his dating profile. I love him so much and every time I see a tooth gap it makes me smile.
It’s SO NICE to see Sharon!! Beautiful post
http://nyctaughtme.blogspot.com/2014/09/nyc-house-tour-5-people-2-bedrooms-1.html?m=1 For everyone requesting a home tour! Lol. Enjoy. Sharon, you are hilarious.
Hahhhhh!! I can’t believe I remember that specific post, too – from 11 years ago!! So much nostalgia…
This post is amazing – hahahaha
wow I love this. have three kids that I had on the young side (not quite as young as Sharon but young in my professional field) and we are juuuuust getting out of survival mode. That is what our house has looked like for a while, and as we are starting to emerge from the chaos and create a home this gives me hope. Real life! things are crazy! but someday (maybe?) I too will wear beautiful vintage dresses and have a wildflower garden like I dream
I laughed so much! :-) Hilarious!!!!
hahahha i forgot about this. thank you for finding it!!! i didn’t realize my blog was even still up hahha
Amazing. <3
Sharon, oh it’s still up alright!! And I’m positive I’m not the only one having so much fun in this little time machine. It’s all just a hoot. And such a lovely fun distraction from current events.
From one thrifter to another, I’m fascinated that in Sharon’s area exercise clothing is challenging to find in resale! I haven’t bought exercise leggings and tops new in *years* because the shops are swimming in it. It’s actually a joke with my daughters, who thrift with me, that no one should buy leggings, vases, or wine glasses new, hahaha. I giggled at the Goodwills being super good in Connecticut. So true. It was so exciting when I moved from a rural small town to a metro area and realized that some neighborhoods have superior donation spots. I live in an above average one, but sometimes will drive to the super good ones :) A meadow yard in the suburbs is exactly what we’re working on, too! Some, er, most of the neighbors are bemused and bewildered (bee-mused and -wildered? Lol), but we love it. I’m super jealous of the pink house.
Yes it’s actually one of the main items I thrift too! Highly recommend Poshmark for gently used (name brand) yoga pants, sports bras, etc. That’s really the only thing I get on their site.
I want to shop her closet and visit her garden. What a cool person!
During the early days of cupofjo, back in 2009 or 2010, there were links to other blogs on the right hand side menu, and I think Sharon’s blog was one of them. It was fun to read her daily/weekly chronicles back then. I lost track of her once the links were removed. Great to see her thriving, and congratulations on her achievements: she looked great back then, and she looks gorgeous now!
Love the clothes and hair but I have to say my first reaction was, wow, what’s her workout routine? Her arms are amazing! As someone who just recently got into regular fitness classes in her 50s, I love seeing strong women like this. Great post!
Oooh! I’d be curious to know too!
thank you!! i focus on lifting heavy, lots of protein and 5g creatine everyday!!
I wish she was my friend! Seems genuine and caring!
I was so excited to read this as a sort of SAHM (have had businesses but mostly been at home) who is now taking prerequisites to start medical school. My kids are young (well, one is, the other one is not yet born lol, coming this spring), I am scared of missing out on their childhood, but also feel this deep call to pursue medicine. I welcome any thoughts here! It is scary and I second guess myself. But also, finances have been hard and I do not ever want that to happen for my family again, and I can secure our futures with a stable career, too.
Daniela- my Mom did exactly this for exactly the same reasons. She retires this month after a beautiful thirty year career that grew up with us. My siblings and I are so proud of her career- and so grateful for the reminder that a calling can come at anytime. You won’t miss out- you’ll reshape and I can tell you that it will be something beautiful!
I have so many thoughts! I am in the same boat except I wish I had made a change earlier. My husband got a bonus and my brother got a great promotion in the same week and I cried because I want that kind of recognition and achievement and you just don’t get it as a SAHM. Maybe that’s shallow and I am of course grateful for the time I’ve had with my kids but I think we need to chase those calls to do something more. Get it girl!!!
You life won’t be easier if you pursue medicine, but it will be richer. And that will make your kid’s lives richer. I’m 20 years into my nursing career, currently working in the public health sector, and I love that I get to do something I’m passionate about and help other people. I wouldn’t start medical school with a newborn if I were you, but when they are a year old go ahead and pursue this dream that will also provide for your family (and that’s just my opinion, people have done it and survived).
My mom went to nursing school when I was young and I have always said it’s the most formative thing she could ever have done for me. I have never felt as though I couldn’t do something because I watched her study and work so hard all while taking care of us. I finished grad school when my daughter was 2 and having that role-modeled for me was so important.
Can I ask how old are you? I feel deep in my bones that medicine is for me, but I’m already in my mid 30s and deep in another career
I can’t give advice on your exact situation since I was already partly through medical training when my first child was born, but I am 5 years into my career now with 2 small kids. The only perspective I can offer is that I love my job (pediatric anesthesiology), I can’t envision myself being happier doing something else, and talking to my kids about how important it is to me to help other children recover from serious illnesses is a big part of our conversations. I am also really proud of how they pretend to take care of people in their imaginative play. I do miss some bedtimes and weekends, and I may not be able to attend every event, but what I stress to them is that while I love helping children, I love being with them more. Good luck with your decision and going on this path if that’s what you choose!
Thank you so much for these comments, they are gold and all of them meant a lot to me to read. Josy, I am 34, so I understand what you mean. For me personally, I could no longer ignore what’s been calling me for a long time, and once I started on this path it was like a piece clicked into place as I started following my purpose.
Pretty, pretty! I want to see a house tour from her, too. :-)
We are just so tickled that one of our most stylish customer families is featured here! Sharon is a delight to work with because she has such great personal style! We also loved getting a peek into her home and learning more about her. Thanks Cup of Jo!
I love this! this is the kind of energy I want to channel :) she seems so free(d) and she did it herself!
Yes!!! Thank you for articulating how I feel about Sharon also so clearly. Now I know how to describe the aspiration for myself ❤️
I just started doing Orangetheory recently (40 classes under my belt!) and I love it. I’m obsessed. It’s really pushed me in the best way to work out harder than I have… probably ever? And I’m 50 years old.
How does it compare to Barry’s boot camp?
I love this lady! Thank you for sharing a peek into her outfits/life.
I loved reading this, in part because I’m also training to be a psychologist and have been growing my garden this year as well. The gap between her front teeth is beautiful and charming (very Vanessa Paradis). I also second a house tour, and kindly ask to be taken around the garden as well. <3
“Please touch” touched my heart. My 4-year-old is obsessed with flowers (to pick, to dry, to craft, to decorate – preferably herself). It is so lovely to see her enthusiasm! We have a neighbor’s garden full of wild flowers. Weekly we stop by to admire new shapes and colors. How lovely would it be if, each season, she could pick her favorite to add to her book of flowery treasures.
I had such mixed feelings about this one! I also grow a lot of natives and have tons of flowers. But I also have some Irises that do not come up annually. One year, a few yellow ones came up, and someone walked up my driveway and picked one! I was so angry, I ran out the door and yelled at her. I mean, I am slightly embarrassed at my reaction, but, also, you can’t just walk up someone’s property and pick their flowers (without permission)! :-)
I love this idea of Please Touch and also have taught my daughters to use One Finger to feel and experience things but not ruin.
Sharon!!! This is so weird, feel like hearing from an old friend after years haha. I remember reading her blog when her kids were small, I too had little kids, a messy toy filled flat and mice and somehow knowing someone else, on a different continent, was dealing with the same stuff was so comforting?! I too live out of the city now, love my (rodent free) house and my beautiful garden and love growing beautiful things and my dogs AND my grown up sons love thrifting with me. Im way less sporty and toned though ;) Anyway, total blast from the past and I loved reading this, thank you!
What a lovely feature! Sharon Beesley’s outfits for the week are so chic yet approachable—each look feels thoughtfully put together while still being wearable. Such a wonderful source of inspiration for everyday style.
I used to love Sharon’s blog so it’s fun to see her again! I love her style, and I would also love to see a home tour if she’s up for it.
Fellow thrifter, gardener, overall wearer, record enthusiast, and ex-Mormon here :) fun to see that we are all more alike than we may think.
OMG SHARON, are you ageing backwards? I used to read the blog while sitting at my first shit job at the hospital. BLINK, your kids are grown. How are those little kids in college? I’ve missed you. You are benjamin button. I’m shook.
As another former Mormon, I’m LIVING for her tattoo (and a CoJ mention of the post-Mormon experience)!
Ditto to everything! Now I’ve added a bee/behive to my list of possible first tattoos.
Maryn, Anne, etc As another former Mormon — the bee/beehive is a well known symbol of Mormonism/Utah so I would take a beat before the tattoo! But you do you! https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-symbolism-of-the-beehive-in-latter-day-saint-tradition
I keep rereading this piece. Sharon is magnificent. Returning to school with kids! Finding a new hobby! Jumping on a trampoline! You are living with delight and I am so inspired! Also yes +1 on the house tour. The rich yellow and teal walls omg!
My god if I could have her hair… (And I love hearing that others had a girl crush on her because I too have been obsessed with her for far too many years.)
oh shit new girl crush! Sharon’s as cool as Fleabag 🤩
When I opened this post and began reading my heart fluttered. A confident woman who thrifts and gardens and LOVES her job that she pursued post raising kids. Before becoming a full time mother/home creator I was a teacher. Now, I want to go to grad school to become a therapist. Just today, after dropping my two babies (4 and 7 year olds that is) off at school I returned home. There was so much food prep/laundry folding/picking up this and that’s, I thought how could I ever manage to go back to school as a mom? This post whispered to me, it is possible…it is possible. Thank you for holding inspiring women up to the light for us all to celebrate and be blessed by their glowing humanness.
it is possible…. I am proof… I bet there are more than a thousand women standing beside me saying “Me Too!!!” You can do this and may other hard things
Similar boat – my kids are a bit older, but both have ADHD; my husband’s work schedule is particularly heavy these days; we have two dogs; we have necessary renovations for our house… I want to go back to grad school SO BADLY, have wanted this for close to a decade, and it just never seems to fit into our family’s life. I have friends who have pulled it off, and then I realize it’s because they all have some combination of particularly high earning spouses, nannies, au pairs, housekeepers, and helpful grandparents/family members, whereas my fully able-bodied parents, who live ten minutes away, are basically absent from our kids’ lives. I’m hoping maybe, maybe when my kids are in high school they’ll be self-sufficient enough that it could work, but I’ve stopped holding out hope.
I think maybe there have been some in the past but I’d love more stories on COJ about women who have gone back to school/work as parents and how the heck they made it work!
I just started my second semester as an online grad student on the same day I sent my son off on his first day of kindergarten! I work part-time for myself and my husband has a stable job and all three of us try to do our part around the house. It is a lot right now but I know in two years when it is over, it will feel like nothing and everything. If you really want to go back to school why not try taking just one class? My program lets me take a few basic courses through University of Phoenix to save time and money and that was a great jump start to my grad school experience, especially doing an online program. Maybe that or a community college class? I hope you are able to make it happen if you want to!
You can do it but maybe wait till your children are a bit older. I trained to be a teacher when mine were 12 and 10. Yes, the days were very very long and busy and yes, there were times when I wondered if I was insane, but it worked out in the end. You do need to be organised and to INSIST that everybody does their bit around the house, no excuses. Best of luck.
Absolutely need a home tour!!
Agreed. Home + Garden pleeeease.
Thirding this: home and garden please!!
Came here to say this!
Yes, we all need to see her home please!
Yes!!!
I’d love more info on Sharon’s garden. I want to expand my garden to our front yard, but the deer keep eating so much of it. Are deer an issue and how does she deal with it. I love Sharon’s vibe and how it shines through her smile. Great style!
We live in the Minneapolis area (west about 20ish miles) and there are tons of deer. Our entire front yard is a garden, like hers, all wild. My husband gets splits from local gardeners (join all the facebook garden groups, you’ll find a ton of free splits and like minded people who are game to do some teaching). The deer will nibble on the occasional flower/plant/tree but largely leave it alone. They love hostas so those have been relegated to the gated back yard. We have piles of black eyed susans, cone flowers, etc. Just go for it! It’s all a big experiment.
Me too! I want to know what it looks like in winter!
I remember her being so funny and cool, and that she has a daughter who looks exactly like Reese Witherspoon? Am I right??
Where has everyone come across Sharon before? :-) I want to read/see more!
How the heck do French combs work? Those things are like a brain teaser—looks great though!
Bahaha they absolutely are a brain teaser. I use them and get it right the first time maybe 10% of the time. They work great once they’re in, but I have to accept that I’m gonna feel dumb for a minute.
Oh my gosh Joanna I totally get how you’d be heartbroken at the move, what a beautiful person! Sharon, can I be your friend too?!
Sharon used to have a blog and that felt like being Sharon’s best friend… I missed her and am so thrilled to see her again! I remember the Christmas photos.. matching PJs!! Already leaving home!? OMG!!
Didn’t know who she was but worked out next to her many times at OTF and I’m here to say she’s a badass. Only one degree of separation from Jo. My little fan girl heart.
Love seeing all the thrifted outfits! I made it my goal to buy no brand new clothes this year (besides undies and socks) and thrift everything. My teenage daughters got me into it last year and it just makes me feel so much better about my consumption. Bonus that it’s cool with the high school set and a fun way to bond with my girls. The thing I’ve found that I love is that it’s made me so much more daring in my fashion choices. I am so not brave when it comes to clothes and don’t really trust my clothing insticts. But when something only costs 5 or 10 bucks it’s worth a risk to buy something that my gut likes but I would second guess myself on where I paying full price. I’ve gotten SO many compliments on a few pieces I thought of as “daring” and it’s made getting dressed so much more fun!
I couldn’t agree more! I just joined my neighborhood clothing round robin. Every few weeks I have the option to accept the next “batch” which tends to be a suitcase or two full of clothes. It’s super fun going through and trying on clothes that have had other lives. I take what I want and donate what I want and voila- new outfits in the regular. Cost? 0$ win win!
Yes! It’s a great way to spend time with my teenagers without spending much money, and we all like having access to non-fad fashion AND reducing our carbon footprint. I hear you on feeling more free to make daring choices. It’s so much easier for me to say ‘go for it!’ to a bizzarre item my kids want because it’s <$10 and no resources wasted if we drop it back off later. Now when we do go to the mall, they can't believe how standardized everything is. When two girls accidentally wore the exact same dress to homecoming, my daughter said she was _so thankful_ she bought her dress from Value Village, lol. (I was too… $20 Johnny Wu and her sister wore a $13 JCrew silk dress.) Our self-imposed rule is to try to buy used first, which allows flexibility but has lead to nearly every clothing item we've bought in the last few years coming to us used. Even when I think there's no way we're going to find what we're looking for, we surprisingly will find it more often than not. I make exceptions for bras, shoes, underwear, socks, and outdoor gear. (Although we have some great rain and snow gear that were lucky finds!)
Sharon is absolutely gorgeous! May I suggest that running a Beauty Uniform with Sharon would be great?
I am getting closer to having an empty nest and I would love to hear how others are handling this new phase, especially around new routines and hobbies. How do you survive this and grow? I’d love to hear more from Sharon on this.
I remember reading Sharon’s blog and when her twins were babies. I think I was in college when I read it(!). It was really funny. I love seeing her pop up on your blog every once in a while. It’s like seeing an old friend (also, parasocial relationships are weird).
OMG Sharon!!! Is it crazy that this feels like that cool friend you had years ago but you lost touch with and have always wondered about?? I’ve been reading Cup of Jo since its inception(!!) and remember coming across Sharon’s blog as well. So funny, so relatable. I love it all. Absolutely cannot believe her kids are now college aged and she has “grown up” to be the coolest, realest human. Thank you for this, for some reason having this update on this parasocial relationship has made my day better haha, the internet feels so heavy for me nowadays but then you have moments like this and realize it can do so much good also. And yes, second all the comments about a house tour please! <3 :)
I love COJ so much. I have been going back and forth considering a mid-life career pivot (I have two young teenagers and have long wanted to return to school to get my counseling degree). This was a great sign for me today. I love this group of always interesting women with such cool and individual style. It’s a cozy little hive of inspiration always.
Do it!
Go for it! I’m 53 and finishing up grad school. My daughters (junior in high school and college student) are watching. They are learning it’s never too late to take a new path. My youngest recently told me she’s proud of me. I thought about it for a few years…so many reasons to not do it…cost, already in good career, shuttling around kids, managing house, how would I keep up, husband works out of town 3 days a week, etc. But it kept whispering to me. There came a day when I listened, decided, and sent in my application. Best of luck to you.
I knew this would be a good post when I saw Sharon’s name! Her blog was a highly-anticipated regular read right along with COJ. It’s good to see where’s she’s landed. She looks happy and beautiful! I agree with the others and would love to see a house and garden tour!
I loved this!!
Home tour next! Home tour next!
I’m thinking the same thing!
+1!
Personally, I want the barn tour : ). It looks amazing – the perfect shade of red. Also, You are lucky – they Goodwills here in the Puget Sound are so expensive, for thriftstores. It’s difficult to find anything under $10. We do have a ton of workout clothes though. But like you, I also buy those new. Just can’t deal with the thought of someone else’s workout sweat, regardless of having been washed. Also, I read an interview with a Goodwill exec where he said they charge as much as they can get away with, until people complain. !!!! Which explains why I often see items in GW that I’ve also seen brand new, on sale, for less than they are charging for a beat up old version in GW. Disgraceful, truely. I try to shop consignment shops or independant thrift stores, where at least I know the money is going to a small business owner (NOT Value Village…).
hahaha, I’m so glad others are on the same wavelength. love her ‘fits but want more intel on the home & the garden!!
I second this! :-) Love this and I’d love to see her home.
Ditto!
Re: Goodwill, my perspective changed when I learned their primary mission is to provide jobs to people with disabilities. I think they’re filling the void of missing social services in the U.S. Until that changes, I don’t mind being “overcharged.” Certainly, the money is being used better than if I spent it at Old Navy
@smoothliminal. This is a good point that I hadn’t realized. It’s not a perfect solution (like, many of those people would not be in the situation they are in if Reganomics hadn’t capped minimum wage irrespective of normal cost of living increases) and so, that I can support after all. Thank you for your comment.
Sharon – I’m so glad you embraced the tooth gap! It’s absolutely beautiful. You can even bling it up with some tooth bling!
I will never forgot a blog post that Sharon wrote about how you should check the crate and barrel or pottery barn catalog and see what names are being monogrammed on kid products to avoid an oversaturated name choice when trying to choose one and when I finally finally finally got pregnant, that’s exactly what I did! So lovely to have a lil reunion here, Sharon, you are a sunbeam!
I love that advice! I was given not only an extremely popular first name when I was born, but also a full-on celebrity name. (Sarah Ferguson – she was the It Royal back then!) While I appreciate that my parents chose this for me, I’ve spent my entire life admiring more unique monikers. It’s just nicer for a kid not to be _____ #4 in class – I sometimes was!
@ Sar, that is so funny, because we named our kid, Sarah, because now it is not as popular of a name, but is classic and can’t be turned into a nickname (ex. Kathy from Katherine, since her dad has a name that is always nicknamed whether he likes it or not) and we just love how solid and reliable and pretty, so interesting to hear your experience from just an earlier time of four Sarahs in a class!
Ha, cracking up over here as a Sara who hated that her name couldn’t be nicknamed! I very purposely gave my son a name with two potential nicknames – and he wants nothing to do with them, insisting on using his full name. I’m convinced that one day a crush will call him “Drew” and it will all be downhill from there!
Last night I thought how much I missed the week of outfits posts. This one is perfect!
Outfits, HomeTours, and Beauty Uniforms!
I’ve missed seeing her on here! I have such a girl crush on her. We’re probably the same age, but I am at the opposite spectrum of rearing kids – mine are 6 and 2, and can’t imagine having a hobby or time to exercise. But I also hit the thrift stores with them once a week, live in my garden, and love a backless swim suit.
I think this is my favorite week of outfits ever. Love her style! And my hair has turned curly after having kids… wishing it had her vibes though. Any tips out there for beloved thrifted pieces that have worn through in such a way that they should not be worn in public? I am a dearly loved dress that I found 12 years ago, but it is *so* thin. Attempted to patch up several times and I think it’s no longer acceptable to be worn in public.
This is why I want to get better at sewing. If you’re capable with a sewing machine, you could probably duplicate a dress.
I have a dress like this! It’s a mostly nightgown now and brings me such joy. Sometimes I wear a black sweater over it and wear it outside the house since the skirt is still ok. In my dreams I make a copy of it but we’ll see if that ever happens
It depends what you love about it, but if it’s the shape, you could probably find a seamstress who could pick it apart and use it as a pattern for a new dress!
I’m a big fan of the “house dress”–dresses that are comfy and just for home. But also, you could try a slip! I have a few fairly sheer things that I feel more comfortable wearing a slip under. Target has cheap ones, or you could get fancier!
Any good seamstress would be likely able to add a lining in an appropriate color/texture. It would change the weight of the dress and the way it lays, but give you some more wear.
Thanks all. I am rubbish at sewing but perhaps I can find a seamstress, or just enjoy wearing it around my house :)
We have the BEST thrift shop in my small town. It’s associated with our hospital so all the proceeds go towards community health initiatives. I’m wearing a fabulous $3 button down from there today!
I remember reading her blog back years ago, when I had newborn twin boys and she had young twins and a slighty older sibling. Can’t believe those kids are in college now (or that my twins are 12!). She looks great in these photos – glad to read that they are all doing well.
I also remember finding and devouring her blog when I had infant twins and a toddler. So here’s a quick note to Sharon: Through your writing, it felt like you were a good friend who was two steps ahead of what I was going through when none of my irl friends could relate. I love how you helped me feel seen and understood long before you became a therapist. And now you’re inspiring me to thrift more often with my teens and dream about creating a lovable garden when I’m an empty nester in a couple years. Thank you for being who you are!