blogging, WoW Jewelry, writing

Winning a prize, creating videos, and a jewelry update

Hi. I won a prize. 😳

In writing no less. 😀🎉🥰

I was stunned when I received the email about winning second prize in this contest about #bodypositivity. I wrote about it here and then almost forgot to send them my essay, but KE reminded me and so I did it. So glad I did!

Some of you, my followers, submitted your own stories and have since then published on the Navigating the Change website (and across social media).

There are several essays already posted, including A girl named Moose by VJ, I. Am. Beautiful by Khaya Ronkainen, and now me. Stay tuned for first prize… that should be posted the week of March 28, 2022. Thank you KE Garland for spearheading this important topic in such a fun and expressive way!

Here’s the first part of my essay:

My forties were a time of young children, lack of sleep, youth sports, and constant renovations. It felt like I was on a perpetual sprint toward an infinitely out of reach finish line.

Then, I entered perimenopause with its hormonal fluctuations, heightened anxiety, irrational mood swings, and rage. 

But that wasn’t all. 

Every month or so, I was treated to a fortnight of periods resembling murder scenes straight out of the Walking Dead. I literally and figuratively almost bled to death every couple of weeks.

At the risk of sounding like a drama queen, I’ll stop now. The point, however, is that I was less concerned about my so-called physical beauty during my forties than I ever was before because of all these distractions. 

Continue reading here

***

There are multiple and numerous things going on in life right now, and I feel like I’m in a holding pattern. We are awaiting some news about a critically ill family member; it’s been difficult to navigate life’s every day activities with that hanging over us, but we’re doing it anyway because that’s the best way to maintain sanity, right? You have to focus on the here and now and live your best life.

I found time to do a tarot card shuffle and even made a video out of it this morning. I’m a crazy person, I fully admit it, but the cards were calling me so I did it.

The card that came out was Temperance XIV and I wrote a little snippet about it on Medium.

The bracelet I’m featuring in that video is this one, a blue glass Tree of Life charm bracelet on a stretch cord:

$25 CAD plus shipping

I have two almost identical ones, and others that are similar in colour and style. I will update the jewelry tab and instagram shortly. Leave me a message via comments if you’d like to purchase this bracelet or any in my collection, I’m in the process of changing my platforms to find something more suitable and easier to navigate than Etsy.

Thank you for reading my post! If you’re in my general area of North America, go outside and take in that spring sun, it’s absolutely gorgeous (but still a little nippy)!

22 thoughts on “Winning a prize, creating videos, and a jewelry update”

  4. Congratulations! Muchas felicidades!
    I just read the article and loved it! Will try! Here it is quite warm most of the year so it will be easy to replicate your move 😉
    You really write great non-fiction. I am commenting this because of the most recent post, which I read first. Maybe you could put together several of your posts on body image/ body positivity and publish them as a kindle book….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Congrats Claudette, well deserved! You are a very talented writer and it’s easy to be able to visualize whatever you’re writing about. Great job!!

    Like

    Reply

  7. Congratulations, Claudette! Powerful writing, as usual.

    I was excited to now be able to see your tarot YT channel on my TV instead of my phone now that I finally have Internet. You are an inspiration with all you juggle.

    Sending healing wishes for your family member.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. 🥳🙌 Congrats on 2nd Place, I was reading that blog for awhile to be abrest of things because my wife has pretty much been in early menopause young because of the meds she’s on..hot flashes at 39. Great essay though.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. I loved your essay on Navigating the Change, Claudette. Beautiful and inspiring.

    I think I saw in a previous post that you had suspended some of your writing sales because of your critically ill family member. I can’t find the link to your short-story memoir and I’m wondering if it’s because of that??

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !🥳 👏 🥂

    It was Spring here yesterday… gorgeous! Today the high is supposed to be 87°F (31°C) it keeps swinging back and forth between Winter and Summer🙄🤦🏼‍♀️

    I love my Tree Of Life Bracelet. I wear it all the time 🥰
    Keeping you in my thoughts!!! 💌💌

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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