Starting Over at 47
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The $20 Memory I Didn’t Expect to Find
A simple trip to the thrift store turned into something much more, a $20 sewing box that brought back memories of childhood, care, and the quiet ways love shows up in everyday moments.
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The Hidden COVID Mortgage Bailout: What They Buried While Veterans Paid the Price
COVID-19 “mortgage relief” wasn’t relief at all — it was a shield for servicers and a blindfold for the public. Behind the scenes, the CARES Act, the VA Waterfall, and the COVID Refund quietly protected the mortgage industry while veterans were pushed into debt, delinquency, and financial traps they never…
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From Wolf to Wigglebutt: The Glorious Evolution of Dogs
Let’s talk about man’s best friend. Or, as I like to call them: the four-legged freeloaders who steal our hearts, our snacks, and 90% of the bed. Yep, dogs. But have you ever paused while kissing their adorable little forehead and thought, How did we get here? How did a…
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My Closet Is Gaslighting Me
There was a time, not all that long ago, when my closet and I had a solid understanding. I bought the clothes. It held the clothes. And together, we made a reasonable attempt at fashion and function. But lately? I open those closet doors and it’s like I’ve stumbled into…
Aunty Christine blog, body changes after 40, closet cleanout, closet confessions, comfort over trends, elastic waistbands forever, fashion freedom, fashion rebellion, funny blog post, Gen X humor, midlife confidence, midlife fashion, no more skinny jeans, perimenopause style, personal style evolution, real talk for women, redefining sexy, Starting Over at 47, wardrobe detox, women’s midlife makeover -
Ghost Signs of Baltimore: The City’s Faded Echoes Still Speaking
There’s something hauntingly beautiful about the old advertisements you’ll find painted on the brick walls of buildings across Baltimore. They’re not fresh murals or trendy street art, they’re the faded echoes of a bygone era. These vintage hand-painted ads, often referred to as ghost signs, once shouted from the rooftops…
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When Boundaries Feel Like Suggestions (And You’re Tired of Repeating Yourself)
You ever lay down a boundary just to watch someone treat it like a speed bump? Yeah, me too. Let’s get one thing straight: boundaries are not invitations for negotiation. They are not “cute little requests” or things you throw out just to see if someone will respect them. They…
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Boundaries, Jealousy, and Insecurity: Know the Difference
Let’s get something straight: setting boundaries does not make you insecure. And feeling jealous doesn’t automatically mean you’re crazy. And having insecurities? Welcome to being human. The thing is, these three often get lumped into the same messy bucket, but they’re not the same, and knowing the difference can save…
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Her.
Some people just say “Mom,” like it’s a regular word. But for me, it was always her. She was the first face I looked for in a crowd, the last voice I heard before falling asleep. She was the one I wanted to tell when something went wrong, and the…
Aunty Christine blog, forever her, grief and healing, grief on holidays, healing after loss, heartfelt reflections, honoring her memory, losing a mother, love and loss, maternal love, midlife emotions, mother daughter bond, Mother’s Day without mom, navigating loss, personal growth, remembering her, remembering mom, Starting Over at 47, two year anniversary of loss, women over 40 -
Integrity or Bust (Because I’m Too Grown for Anything Less)
Let me just say it plain: I want integrity in my life, and I’m not willing to settle for anything less. At this point in the game, 47 years old, freshly navigating a divorce, starting over in just about every area of my life, I don’t have the energy or…
Aunty Christine blog, authentic relationships, boundaries and standards, character over convenience, choosing real, clarity is power, emotional healing, emotional maturity, Gen X perspective, honesty and values, integrity lifestyle, integrity matters, intentional living, life lessons, living with integrity, midlife mindset, midlife wisdom, moral compass, no more settling, personal growth, personal power, protecting your peace, radical honesty, real talk, self worth, self-respect, Starting Over at 47, truth over trends, unapologetic living, values that guide me -
Tiny Wings, Big Peace: How Birdwatching Became My Therapy
I didn’t expect to fall head over heels for a bird feeder. Honestly, I bought it on a whim, just another late-night scroll-and-click moment on Amazon. But what I thought would just be a simple backyard decoration turned out to be something so much more. It became my daily dose…
Aunty Christine blog, backyard birds, bird feeder blog, bird feeder camera, bird feeder therapy, bird watching joy, birds of Maryland, comfort in routine, daily rituals, emotional healing, feathered friends, finding calm, Gen X wellness, healing after divorce, healing through nature, mental health support, midlife healing, mindfulness in nature, nature as therapy, outdoor joy, peaceful moments, perky-pet bird feeder, personal growth, quirky healing methods, reconnecting with nature, self-care ideas, simple pleasures, solo journey healing, Starting Over at 47, unexpected happiness -
What Mother’s Day Really Means to Me Now
Let’s talk about Mother’s Day, shall we? Every second Sunday in May, the world gets flooded with commercials featuring flowers, brunch menus, and perfect families with matching smiles. And don’t get me wrong, I love a good mimosa and a heartfelt card. But when you’ve lived a few decades, lost…
Anna Jarvis, Aunty Christine blog, bittersweet holidays, complicated holidays, dog mom life, emotional healing, family traditions, generational love, grief and loss, healing after loss, heartfelt reflections, Honoring My Mom, legacy of love, life after loss, matriarch energy, Midlife Reflections, mom memories, mother-daughter love, Mother’s Day, Mother’s Day history, Mother’s Day meaning, motherhood, motherhood journey, personal growth, real talk for women, remembering mom, sentimental moments, Starting Over at 47, stepmom feelings, women over 40 -
Starting Over at 47: Digital Decluttering — Why I’m Unsubscribing, Unfollowing, and Untangling My Brain
You know what I realized the other day? My phone has become a junk drawer for my brain. Seriously. I opened my email and had 6,413 unread messages. Most of them were from places I haven’t shopped at for years. I opened Instagram and saw a post from someone I…
Aunty Christine blog, clearing mental space, digital boundaries, digital decluttering, digital detox, digital minimalism, email overload, everyday empowerment, Gen X women, intentional living, Life Reset, mental clutter, midlife clarity, Midlife Transformation, mindfulness in midlife, minimalist mindset, online boundaries, overwhelmed by tech, peaceful mornings, perimenopause and peace, reclaiming time, screen time balance, self-care for women, simplifying life, slowing down, smartphone sanity, social media break, Starting Over at 47, tech overwhelm, unsubscribe culture -
Starting Over at 47 – When Loved Ones Have Secret Lives
One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to come to terms with is realizing that someone I love, someone who is right there, breathing the same air, sharing the same town, the same world, has a whole secret life that I was never going to be a part of.…
complicated relationships, coping with hidden truths, emotional healing, facing hard realities, family betrayal, healing while staying, learning to trust yourself, life transitions, living authentically, living with betrayal, Midlife Transformation, protecting your peace, rebuilding trust, relationships and truth, secret lives, self-worth after betrayal, setting boundaries, Starting Over at 47, surviving emotional betrayal, trust and resilience -
Starting Over at 47 – Building Trust Again (When You’ve Been Burned Before)
Let’s talk about trust. Not the kind you read about in romance novels, where two people lock eyes and suddenly the world melts away and they just know they can rely on each other. No. I’m talking about real-world, gut-check, shaky-hands kind of trust. The kind you have to rebuild…
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Starting Over at 47 – Life Without a Steering Wheel (And Why I’m Not Mad About It)
So… I sold my car two days ago. Just like that, keys handed over, title signed, and poof, one more piece of my old life officially in the rearview. (No pun intended. Okay, maybe a little.) I thought it might feel like a big deal. A loss. A “wow, this…
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Starting Over at 47 – Making Space for Joy (Even When Everything Feels Uncertain)
There’s something really powerful about the quiet decision to let joy back into your life, especially when everything else feels messy, uncertain, or downright upside down. I didn’t always know how to do that. For a long time, I was in survival mode. Grief had taken up all the oxygen…
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A Deep Dive into the Gen X Woman’s Sexual Awakening, Confusion, and Reclamation
Okay, Gen X sisters. Let’s have a heart-to-heart. Let’s talk about how we actually learned about sex. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t during some sweet, coming-of-age moment with a parent lovingly explaining the birds and the bees while handing us a pamphlet and a hug. Nope. For most of us? It…
Aunty Christine blog, body confidence, embracing desire, female desire, Gen X identity, Gen X women, generational differences, healing shame, midlife relationships, midlife sexuality, perimenopause and sex, real talk for women, reclaiming sexuality, sensuality after 40, sex and aging, sexual empowerment, sexual freedom, sexual healing, Starting Over at 47, taboo topics, women over 40, women’s liberation -
What Easter Means to Me Now
Happy Easter Sunday, sweet friends. It’s early morning, and we’re only just beginning to toss around ideas for how the day will unfold. No grand plans. No strict agenda. Just coffee in hand and the familiar feeling of spring in the air. Yesterday we spent most of the day outside—yard…
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The Weird Grief of Watching Your Childhood Neighborhood Change
We drove through my old neighborhood recently , and let me tell you, I was not emotionally prepared. There I was, sipping my iced coffee like it was just another Tuesday, when suddenly we turned down the street I grew up on and felt like I’d accidentally went onto a…
baltimore stories, childhood memories, city life changes, federal hill, finding yourself, grief and nostalgia, letting go of the past, midlife reflection, Midlife Transformation, neighborhood changes, personal growth, reclaiming identity, sentimental journey, south baltimore, starting fresh, Starting Over at 47 -
Waiting on Grandma Time (Even Though It’s Not Anytime Soon)
By Aunty Christine – your favorite not-yet-grandma with a whole lot of dreams and not a single diaper to change just yet Let me tell you a little secret… Sometimes, late at night, after the dogs are snoring and Oscar’s finally put his phone down for five whole minutes, I…
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The Art of Letting Go (When You Were Never Taught How)
Nobody teaches you how to let go. Not really. We learn how to hold on—tight. To grudges. To people. To memories. To jeans that haven’t fit since the Obama administration. Somewhere along the line, especially if you grew up in a family that survived more than it thrived, the message…
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Who Am I Without the Chaos?
It hit me the other morning. I was sipping my coffee, Oscar had already brought it to me in bed like he always does, and I realized… the house was quiet. Not just quiet quiet, but peaceful. No one arguing downstairs. No one stomping around. No doors slamming or text…
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Reliability Is the New Sexy
Let’s just go ahead and say it loud for the people in the back: reliability is the new sexy. I know, I know, there was a time when I would’ve rolled my eyes at that kind of talk. Back in the day, I chased butterflies, confusion, and chaos disguised as…
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Starting Over at 47 – Perimenopause, New Beginnings, and Finding My Footing
Hello, my beauties! Today, I want to talk about something that has been a significant part of my journey lately: perimenopause. Perimenopause is the phase leading up to menopause, where our bodies begin to transition and hormone levels fluctuate. It’s like puberty’s older, sassier sister who shows up uninvited and…
decreased libido, emotional well-being, health and wellness, hormonal fluctuations, hot flashes, irregular periods, lifestyle adjustments, menopause transition, midlife changes, midlife journey, mood swings, night sweats, perimenopause, self-care, sleep disturbances, Starting Over at 47, support network, vaginal dryness, women’s health -
Starting Over at 47 – All the Things They Don’t Tell You About Starting Over in Midlife
There’s a lot of talk these days about fresh starts, new chapters, reinvention, living your truth. But starting over in midlife? That’s a whole different kind of journey. It’s not glamorous. It’s not a perfectly filtered before-and-after. It’s raw, quiet, and often happens in moments no one else sees. No…
emotional healing, finding peace, Fresh Start, Grief and Growth, healing journey, letting go, Life After Divorce, midlife loneliness, midlife reinvention, Midlife Transformation, new beginnings, personal growth, rebuilding trust, reclaiming independence, redefining identity, rediscovering yourself, Second Chances, self discovery, starting fresh, Starting Over at 47 -
Starting Over at 47 – The Beach Is Calling
Somewhere out there, there’s a breeze with my name on it. I can feel it calling me lately, soft and salty, full of second chances and new beginnings. I’ve always loved the beach, but now it feels like something more. Not just a place I’d like to visit. A place…
beach house goals, beach life dreams, coastal living, dreaming of the beach, emotional healing, finding peace, freedom after divorce, Fresh Start, healing journey, leaving the past behind, letting go, life transitions, midlife clarity, midlife reinvention, moving on, new beginnings, personal growth, rediscovering happiness, starting a new chapter, Starting Over at 47 -
Starting Over at 47 – Collateral Damage
If you’ve ever found yourself hurting over something that wasn’t your choice… I see you. If you’ve had your peace disrupted by someone else’s unresolved chaos, you’re not alone. Starting over in midlife comes with its own set of growing pains. Some are expected, like figuring out your next career…
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Starting Over at 47 – What Loss Taught Me About Love and Loyalty
If you had asked me a few years ago what family meant to me, I would have said everything. Family was the center of my world—especially my mom. She was the heart of it all. Her love grounded me, her strength guided me, and her presence made everything feel okay.…
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Starting Over at 47 – Letting Go of the Timeline: There’s No Deadline for Reinvention
If you had asked me five years ago where I’d be today, I wouldn’t have guessed this. Divorced (again), living upstairs in a house I used to share with someone I thought I’d grow old with, rebuilding my life from the ground up… and yet, somehow, I’m more myself now…
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Starting Over at 47 – Making Peace With My Body
Let’s talk about something real for a minute—our bodies. Or more specifically, my body. It’s been through a lot with me. Three marriages, two kids, surgeries, heartbreak, grief, love, stress, joy, moves, dancing, growing babies, growing gardens—you name it. And for most of that time, I talked to it like…
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Starting Over at 47 – Redefining What Home Means to Me
So here I am—47 years old, going through a divorce, and moving back into the upstairs part of my own house. It’s funny, isn’t it? You think you know what “home” is supposed to feel like… until it doesn’t anymore. And then one day, you wake up, and you’re no…
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Starting Over at 47, Releasing Guilt, Shame, and the ‘Should Haves’
Starting over sounds brave on paper. But what they don’t tell you is how often it comes tangled up in guilt, shame, and a never-ending loop of “I should have known better.” I’ve thought it more times than I can count. I should have left sooner. I should have fought…
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Starting Over at 47, Reclaiming My Space, Room by Room
There’s something deeply emotional, even spiritual, about reclaiming the space you live in after someone else has left it behind. For me, it wasn’t just about moving upstairs. It was about moving forward. After former occupants moved out (I’ve had 7 people living under my roof at one time!), what…
Aunty Christine Chronicles, Creating Peaceful Spaces, Emotional Decluttering, Fresh Energy, Grief and Growth, Healing Through Home, Home as Healing, Honoring My Mom, letting go, Midlife Transformation, Personal Sanctuary, Reclaiming My Space, Rediscovering Home, Sorting Through Memories, Starting Over at 47