_{^{Reinvention doesn’t always mean a total overhaul…it can just be about less fuss and more living!}}

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Life Lately

Yesterday on Instagram, I talked about how this new version of my website is a reinvention of sorts. I wouldn’t call it a second act because I’ve been pouring my heart and soul into this blog for almost 13 years. It’s more that I’m taking everything I’ve learned over those years and building on it… an iteration of me that’s bigger and better.

This new platform is a challenge. It’s more complicated, a real learning curve, and it takes more effort each day to fill the shop and offer daily outfit ideas. I have to be more organized and efficient than ever before, but it’s what I want. My desire is for this blog to be a place that inspires you to become more of who you truly are.

Reinventing yourself later in life isn’t a crisis. It’s what happens when you finally listen to the part of you that’s been waiting its turn. I’ve spent the past several years trying to be what everyone else expected me to be, and now I’ve decided to just be who I am… and Crazy Blonde Life is becoming a true reflection of that.

Some days I’m a little wacky, some days I’m serious and introspective. I’m an introvert and a homebody at heart. I love to travel, but in a very specific way… it needs to feed my soul, and I don’t mind going alone. I’ll always love fashion, and vintage is becoming more important to me as time goes by.

I’m not cooking as much as I once did. Honestly, I don’t want to clean up the mess of staging it all for photos, that’s just not how I want to spend my time anymore. When I find a recipe worth sharing, I will, but food isn’t the focus at this point in my life. I still want to eat local, delicious, healthy food… I just want it to be easy. The older I get, the more protective I am of my time. Right now I’m enjoying being out in my garden, tending to my flowers, tomato plants and basil. I love nothing more than a plate of ripe tomatoes with basil and burrata… so easy and delicious! I also want to spend as much time as possible with my grandchildren…they are growing up so fast and I want to be there for it all.

I’m enjoying our home more than ever too, puttering around, tweaking things, choosing new fabric for pillows and yes, even painting a room occasionally. And I’m enjoying writing… for the blog and for my Substack. It’s something I look forward to, and some days I think I could sit out in the gazebo and write my thoughts all day. We’ll see what happens with that.

I’m going to follow my heart each day and share what feels relevant. As for what I’m actually doing right now… it’s a few brand collaborations, packing for the beach, and trying to decide whether to paint the sitting area of our bedroom myself or hire someone. I’m cleaning out two closets stuffed full of clothes and watering endlessly because we need rain so badly. My haven is the courtyard, dogs in tow. And I am cooking, just in my messy, don’t-have-to-show-anyone kind of way, and it’s been good. Summer makes it easy… fresh food doesn’t need much. A sprinkle of salt, a slow roast in the oven for beets, a drizzle of olive oil.

Now that I’ve rambled on, let me tell you about this fun summer dress…

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The Dress…

These pictures almost look AI-generated, but they’re not! They were taken at a lake near our home and the light was so pretty. It was a really hot evening, and this summer maxi dress from Mirth was perfect for the weather. When I bought it, I was looking for something beachy that would work for a casual dinner or just running errands and I think it’s perfect. It’s flattering without being too fitted, which also makes this summer maxi dress ideal for the heat we’ve been having. I love it with the chocolate brown hat (similar here) and the fun rope sandals from Flòwze, and my mini basket bag with feathers from Sensi Studio is so cute… and a little impractical but sometimes that’s okay! The pearl necklace from Julie Miles is one I reach for often, and it’s really good with this look.

Shopping For Summer Maxi Dresses

Be sure to check out the Shop Section of Crazy Blonde where I add new favorites daily!

This is the kind of outfit that makes summer easy…a summer maxi dress that you can throw it on, grab a hat, and you’re ready for wherever the day takes you. That’s exactly what I’m after these days. Less fuss, more living. And really, isn’t that its own kind of reinvention… deciding what you’ll make room for and letting the rest go? What are you ready to reinvent?

As always thanks so much for reading today!

~XOXO Suzanne