Weekend Bits & Bobs: An Easy Summer Look & More
Happy Saturday, mes amies! My sister is visiting this week, so I’ve been planning some fun excursions for us. Sometimes routine can become a rut, and I’ve realized I need to get out more. Los Angeles has much to offer in the way of art and culture, so I’m signing up for a few museum mailing lists, and bookmarking some music venue calendars. I promise to share my recommendations as I find them.
I’m also working on some exciting projects to be rolled out over the next few months, and can’t wait to share those as well! But first, some summer outfit inspiration…
Easy tonal summer look with eyelet
Here’s one for you Autumns and Springs.
BRACELET | CLUTCH | SANDALS
(Click image to view all items)
This summer outfit in warm browns is perfect for casual get-togethers. The eyelet top and raffia accessories add interesting textures and keep the look light.
I’m working on an updated weekend getaway capsule in a warm palette, so keep an eye out for that one.
What to watch next…
I started watching “Department Q” on Netflix, and it’s really good! In Edinburgh, a misanthropic detective with PTSD gets put in charge of cold case department, with almost no resources, and little expectation of results. But of course, things take an interesting turn…
Great cast, interesting (if not always likeable) characters and a story with lots of twists and turns. If you enjoy crime dramas that aren’t gory or gratuitous, take a look at this one.
On a personal note
After years of living with declining hearing, I’ve finally joined Team Hearing Aids. And wow, it’s amazing how much I’d been missing! It’s so nice not having to strain to understand conversations, or having to ask people to repeat themselves.
I received the hearing evaluation and purchased my devices through Costco. The audiologist was great, and I’m so impressed with the technology available now. The (very small) aids rest behind my ears, with an almost invisible wire and tiny speaker that sits just inside the ear canal. After a few hours, I didn’t notice it at all.
They connect to my smartphone, so can act as headphones for calls and watching videos. They can be adjusted from my phone with an app, and are rechargeable, so none of those tiny fiddly batteries. (Brand I purchased is Jabra.) If you’ve experienced hearing loss and are on the fence about getting hearing aids, I’m here to encourage you to consider it, and get a hearing test!
Do you wear hearing aids? How do you like them?
Bon weekend!
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My mother and her three sisters all suffered from various levels of deafness (requiring surgery). However, they wouldn’t wear hearing aids when younger, so one could sit outside and easily hear their conversations. When my mother finally had one fitted, she found the noises too much and refused to wear it, which unfortunately, when in your 80s, nursing staff used to think she was suffering from dementia – but she didn’t care. Good on you for putting practicality before vanity. As an aside, my sister in law’s mother had the first cochlear implant in Australia (but she was profoundly deaf). She was interviewed and said it changed her life – for the better.
I have a cochlear implant. I slowly lost all my hearing so the implant
Has been a life saver. My device fits behind my hear and has a small cord with a magnet that attaches to the implanted piece.
Couldn’t live without it.
Hi Susan! Great looking outfit you’ve put together! I’ve worn hearing aids ever since I was about 49 or 50 (I’m now 78). At this point I’m a candidate for a cochlear implant but I’m not ready to make that leap yet. I have phonak Audeo hearing aids–the microphone is in the earpiece and I’ve graduated to a clear plastic earpiece now. My hearing aids connect to my phone–I can get phone calls through the hearing aids and I can stream music through them. That said, it’s still exhausting for me to hear unless I’m one on one in a quiet environment. Good for you for making this leap! I think it’s better for our brains to keep the word recognition going and to be able to socialize. I got my hearing aids through Kaiser’s hearing center but I understand that Costco is very good as well. We can thank the music industry for advancing hearing aids!
Oh! And we’ve been watching Dept Q as well–the same director who did The Queen’s Gambit? It’s very dark but the actors are great (thank goodness for closed caption!). I hope you have a wonderful time with your sister. XO
Haven’t seen the Department Q series yet, but it’s based on a series of books written by the Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen. Highly recommended.
And yes to hearing aids. My husband has worn them since his early 50’s. The technology has advanced so much.
Good for you! I have had hearing aids for 4 years. They are similar to yours, and I wear them constantly. I am mystified why so many people are reluctant to use them. They are such a life changing item! We don’t hesitate to use glasses, so why the hearing aid stigma?
I had my hearing checked last year- told audiologist that I could not hear conversation at parties and restaurants. She said, “nobody can”.
I got a hearing aid a year ago and I love it ! Even though one ear still has normal range hearing, it makes a huge difference – I’m not saying «what?» all the time . Congratulations on yours – wear them in good health !
Have been wrangling with The hearing Aid dilemma for months so your post is timeley.My question is does it interphere with your hair? I have hair like yours, thin and fine and have aLWAYS BEEN CONCERNED THT WITH GLasses already AND adding THE HEARING aid MY HAIR WILL STICK OUT. Is that an issue for you? Thanks for the post!
Hi Cher, the aids themselves are small, and rest on a part of the back of the ear where there’s no hair. So I haven’t noticed anything different with how my hair sits.
Thank you! I feel like your post is a sign telling me to “Just do it!!”
Hi Cher: I’ve been wearing hearing aids for a long time. When I get glasses now I look for ‘temple tips’ (the frame part that goes along the side of your face to your ears) that are thin. This strategy has worked well for me. Those chunky glasses that many folks wear right now are too bulky for me to wear but I’ve found some really cute glasses that work!
Thanks for the tip!
I started wearing hearing aids in 2021 at age 62. My initial response was to be embarrassed about “ being old” until I started wearing them. What a difference! There is a direct correlation between
Hearing loss and dementia- if that doesn’t motivate everyone, I don’t know what will!
Thank you so much for your encouragement concerning hearing aids! I am reading this to my husband!!
I really enjoy checking out your clothing picks…especially for travel. Thanks, Susan.
So happy you mentioned Hearing aids. My husband recently got them from Costco as well. I am not there yet, but will not hesitate as researchers are finding that hearing loss can lead to dementia.
We have been surprised at the number of people we know who refuse to do any thing about their hearing loss.
Look forward to your museum and music reports. I read several of the Department Q novels and they were good.
Thank you Susan for sharing your experience! My husband also has the Jabra model from Costco. He likes the various settings based on his surroundings (outside, noisy restaurant to name a few). He also has an adapter that plugs into the tv, so he can control the volume set specifically for him and I can choose mine on the actual tv. Which, depending upon what is on tv, I may mute!
One piece of advice for those who keep waiting to make the leap until their hearing is really bad. When you are living in a silent world, and get hearing aids for the first time, the noise can be overwhelming. I’ve been told flip flops, rustling papers, etc can be a bit much. My husband now puts in his hearing aids first thing every morning and doesn’t take them out until bedtime. Lovely that he can hear everyone all of the time.
I thought I was going deaf, so I went for a test. The doctor told me I had TMY. Temporo-mandibular something? or did I just not hear him? No, he laughed and said, “too many years.” Hahaha. Turns out I was ok, but when I do need them, I will be first in line. The link between untreated hearing loss and dementia is strong!
PS re hearing aids. At least 10 years ago, I went to lunch with a tech-savvy friend, who pulled out her smart phone a few times during lunch and seemed to be checking something. This wasn’t like her, so I asked. She was adjusting her hearing aids via the phone app. I was impressed!
I was so pleased to see you, a fashion blogger, promoting hearing tests and hearing aids. That’s wonderful. Vanity keeps so many people, men and women alike, suffering and missing out on so much.
Yes to hearing aids! The new Bluetooth rechargeable ones are as cool as ear buds. I love mine from Costco and you can’t beat the price and service.
My husband purchased what sound like the same hearing aids from Costco last year and they’ve been a complete game changer. It’s unusual to be 100% satisfied with a product, but I’d say he has been with these, especially with the ongoing support from Costco. (Drop them off for cleaning and tune-up while shopping!) Glad they are offering you what you needed.
Looking forward to more warm palette suggestions!
Wow Susan! Look at the response you’ve gotten with the subject of hearing aids! Well done! It’s nice to know so many of your followers and their husbands are using them. Next, I wish we could convince restaurants to augment their noise tamping efforts 😉 Oh well. Haha. As if.
I’m looking forward to more warm color outfits as well! I think I just realized that I might aim for outfits with *similar values* as well as similar color families. Sometimes too much contrast in my outfits takes away from my white face and white hair. At least I *think* that might be a problem!
Hi Sally, I’ve found that when your coloring is lower in contrast, it often works better to keep outfits less contrasting. In general, Autumns are best to avoid sharply contrasting colors. Think colors that are close to each other in value, such as Moss and Rust, Camel and Oyster, Kingfisher and Olive. (Annie does a great job combining Autumn colors that are close in value.)
Thanks Susan, this makes a lot of sense to me and my wardrobe. Love that eyelet top. Looking forward to seeing your upcoming warm capsule wardrobe! xx
I feel the same about my hearing aids! I was convinced to get them at age 50 when I learned that being able to hear is critical to one’s ability to socialize and stay engaged with the world! So worth it!!
Hi Susan!
I love this outfit. I’m curious if you think the top would work for a Blue Autumn? I already have similar pants.
Thank you for all your info on travel and style. I’ve learned so much and thankful I had my colors done by you!!
Hi Laura, online it looks like the Tan color from the Autumn palette. While it may not be one of every Blue Autumn’s “wow” colors, it would certainly work.
Susan,
Thank you for opening up the hearing aid discussion. I’m about to purchase my own and, while I’m looking forward to hearing better and making use of the fancy bells and whistles, I’m a little daunted by the prospect of learning to use the tech – my smart phone skills are prehistoric and blue tooth will be new for me. Do you or any of your readers have any tips to share?
Also, those rust colored jeans looked like a perfect addition to my closet. Apparently they looked perfect to a lot of people because only size 24 is available now. Quel dommage!
I bet you’ll find your audiology team is as helpful as mine. My audiologist was happy to spend time explaining my hearing aids’ features and to spend additional time focused on the features I was most interested in. I have Oticon brand aids and find them very easy to use. Don’t be afraid to try them!
Good call on the hearing aids! I’m your age & don’t need them (yet) but my slightly older husband finally got them a year or two ago. He also has the Costco ones; the price & service is great, and you can barely tell he’s wearing them. I probably love them more than he does, because now I only have to repeat myself once rather than three or four times!
Susan I wish you could convince my husband to wear his! Women are so much smarter about these things than men. He never wears them and consequently misses out on so much!
Susan, I am glad you took the hearing aid plunge. Costco does a good job with them. I was sold when the tech told me that hearing aids also protect your brain! Happy better hearing to you!
I got hearing aids a couple of years ago, also from Costco (doctor recommended using them), and am equally pleased. Exams are free at Costco, so if anyone reading this is on the fence, go ahead and get tested.
Susan,
Thank you so much for bringing hearing aids into the discussion here! I’m now going to jump off the fence and go get a hearing test at Costco. Thank you everyone for telling me Costco was good and for saying how you loved them. Thank you again Susan! I love your blog!
Yes, I wear hearing aids since I was in my 40’s , now 72.
I am very grateful for them, I hope you will be too.
When I got my hearing aids, I found they were available in several colors. Mine are “champagne”!which is a good match for my hair color. Love them!
I was drawn to Dept.Q by the cast; I especially enjoy Mark Bonnar and Matthew Goode. I must admit this very dark, eerie series had me sleeping restlessly. If you suffer from claustrophobia I would strongly advise you avoid this show! Usually after something like this I return to Call the Midwife for a few episodes so I can readjust my mind. I recommend I, Jack Wright on Amazon. Hopefully we will see a season 2 with both these shows! My mom and grandmother both wore hearing aids all their lives; hearing aids have come a very long way since the 1950’s when I can remember the impossibly large apparatus my petite mom tried to place in her ear!
Good post. Thank you for sharing your hearing loss journey.
Also, great picture of you on That’s Not My Age’s blog post about her live event.
Yes, I am now a year in wearing a left heart aid…Bernafon … with app on my phone to adjust volume and check on battery level . I do not like it ringing in my ear if there is a call while driving .Unnerving. I lost 80% of my hearing in my left ear due to Ménière’s disease , so I definitely try to remember to use it in social situations. Being alone, I tend to be a tad lazy about putting it in, however my audiologist says I need to be more regular with my usage. It does make a difference, and even though I’ve gone with an even shorter hair cut, the aid behind my ear is not visible. Quite an improvement for me. Meniere’s could disappear as weirdly as it came in summer of 2020, and wreaked havoc initially, but if it stays on I will have to accept the adjustments I have had to make to my life. There are certainly worse health concerns …this isn’t so bad.
I finished Departing Q, well I thought it was well done, I’m a little taken aback that you did not find it to be gory or have gratuitous violence. It was so violent at parts that I found it hard to watch and had to fast forward.
I love your comments about hearing aids. I got mine at Costco, Philips brand, but the same description as yours, three weeks ago, and then took off for a two week trip to Europe. When we went through security at O’Hare airport, I rang every bell in sight. I was asked if I had any metal on me and I said no. I was wanded and patted and discussed with. My hair covers my ears and it never occurred to me that my new hearing aids were ringing all the bells. On the way home from Europe, at least I know what to say, and I can show them the hearing aids over the backs of my ears. Interesting experience!
Good on you for getting the hearing aids! I don’t experience any hearing loss myself although two of my friends urged me to go and have it checked. I am afraid I was just elsewhere with my thoughts when they talked to me. Ron doesn’t notices anything either. So for now I am good. But as soon as I think there is something wrong with my hearing, I would be at the audiologist in a shot.
I am very curious what projects you are going to present us. Perhaps facetiming for a little preview? .
Greetje
First off; wishing you a fun filled week of memories with your sister and secondly love the summer tonal outfit! As to hearing aids; briefly have been wearing them for 36 years now since being diagnosed with Mènière’s Disease and now clincally deaf. (Also in my case, genetics play a role as a female hereditary weakness on my Mother’s side of the family so it seems.) To conclude; I also use a ‘hard of hearing’ landline telephone and a television device that feed directly into the speakers of the hearing aids plus will add, use a ‘free’ application that one can download on most cell phone devices that “transcribe voice to script” which I find very beneficial in certain environments or when one’s diction is difficult to understand. (The latter came in very handy during C*vid when everyone was masked … ☺.) -Brenda-
I started wearing hearing aids about 2 years ago and like you ignored the hearing loss for quite a while before finally taking the leap. Afterwards, I was amazed how well they worked and wondered why I had waited so long!
As far as Dept Q, we started watching that last week and have already finished. It was a great show with real people as opposed to models. The development of the characters was done amazingly well and although you didn’t like some of the characters at first, you might have a different opinion at the end!
Yes to Jabra. And yes to hearing aids. The more I read about dementia/Alzheimer’s, the more I know hearing aids can help keep us “in the game.” I tried a different brand before I hit on the best one for my personal lifestyle, but it was worth the time/money/effort. Love your blog!
I don’t want to give away the plot of Dept Q, but I don’t like the scenes in the contained space. I think it will give Shetland, a show that’s a bit long in the tooth, a run for the money.
I recently had a not good experience with my Mother’s re-chargeable hearing aides. They worked fine until the warranty ran out and then they lost their charge faster which meant a mid-day recharge. Although battery powered devices involve all those pesky batteries the battery lasts longer than a charge, and you don’t have to have your charger with you to replace them.
It seems that spending thousands of dollars every 4-5 years is the plight of those with hearing aides. I’m hopeful that by the time I get them they’ll be a commodity more like eyeglasses where you’re able to buy them at more competitive prices — although given the current Administrations’ tariff policies that might not be the way things go 🙁
I’m 74 and started wearing hearing aids a year ago. It’s nice not having my kids make fun of me anymore! I have Widex. They are great, also can be controlled from my phone. Enjoy!
I’ve used hearing aids since my mid-30s. I’m so glad you got a pair and that you’re advocating for them. Good hearing is so important for interacting with the world and keeping your mind sharp.
I’m fortunate to have excellent hearing, but my husband joined “Team Hearing Aids” earlier this year and it’s made a huge difference for both of us! While his are a different brand than yours, they sound very similar and I was impressed with how easily he adjusted to them.