Meet Active, Inspiring, Stylish CHD Reader Arleen Rice

Welcome to my newest series CHD Reader Interviews, where I’m so excited to chat with and introduce inspiring readers from our community. I asked Arleen to be my first “victim” as she is the youngest most inspiring 81-year-old I have ever had the pleasure of being “virtual” friends with. Let’s meet active, inspiring, stylish CHD Reader Arleen Rice.

Tell us a bit about yourself including your passion for education, interior design, and wine. 

My passion for becoming an educator all started when my mom talked me out of becoming a flight attendant. She encouraged me to go to college for just one year and then if I still wanted to be a flight attendant, I could go to Minneapolis and begin that training. Well, I guess she knew in her heart that I should be an educator and after 42 years of teaching. . .she was right. 

Having designed and decorated four homes, my daughter suggested I go to school to become an interior designer the year that I retired from teaching. She had already gotten her degree in Interior Design and felt that I needed “something to do” after retiring. As a result, I have done numerous remodeling, new construction, and staging projects since I retired here in the Northwest. I’ve also worked with my daughter on design projects that her design firms (in Denver, CO and Mercer Island, WA) have contracted on. She has owned those two design firms for the past 22 years. 

You are truly a world traveler! Tell us about visiting 28 countries and 47 of the US states. Where do you plan to go next? 

Growing up in the Midwest, I always had a desire to “see the world” thanks to my 6th grade teacher who always shared all her travel adventures with her students. Being my husband enjoys traveling as well, we’ve been fortunate to have done a lot of traveling up until COVID changed such opportunities. Now much of our travels involve golfing and sharing time with our family.

You and your daughter share the joy of traveling and have a tradition of mother-daughter getaways. Tell us where you have gone and the aliases you use. Where are you headed on your next adventure? 

Traveling with my daughter, Dawn, started when she was first learning how to drive at age 17 when we went on a road trip from Portland to North Dakota. During that three-week trip, I was actually her first driving instructor. . .but she became the master of map reading along the way. However, our first true mother-daughter trip was to attend the live two shows of Dancing with the Stars in Los Angeles. At the conclusion of that trip, we both wrote down where we wanted to travel to next. Lo and behold, we both wrote Paris and that started our international travels. We’ve since traveled to New York City, Boston, Nashville, San Diego, Maui, Kauai, San Francisco, Alaska, Beijing, Shanghai, various cities in Colorado, and spent Thanksgiving this year in Cabo (we took our husbands with us). We love these special times together and give ourselves the names of “Thelma and Louise” while traveling. I highly recommend other mothers to do such a trip, but only one daughter at a time if they have more than one daughter. Memories are made that are beyond one’s imagination and are always deeply and forever cherished.

Let’s talk food! Share with us some of your favorite recipes and the theme parties you like to host. 

I have made my banana bread recipe for about sixty years, and it is definitely a no-fail recipe. It is always requested by family and friends, but I most enjoy sharing it with neighbors and friends who aren’t able to enjoy baking any longer due to illnesses or aging issues. Until COVID changed social activities, my husband and I have hosted the annual Cinco de Mayo party at our home the past fifteen years. I have collected a vast number of serving pieces and decorations to go along with this theme and enjoy decorating and planning for this annual party. As you might imagine. . .my favorite food is nachos.

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Arleen’s Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 3 C FLOUR
• 2 C SUGAR
• 1 tsp. BAKING SODA
• 2 tsp. PUMPKIN PIE SPICE or just cinnamon
• 3 EGGS
• ¾ C. MARGARINE 1 ½ sticks
• 2 C MASHED BANANAS 3 large or 4 small
• 1 8 OZ. CAN CRUSHED PINEAPPLE UNDRAINED
• 1 tsp. ALMOND EXTRACT or vanilla extra if preferred
• 1 CUP CHOPPED WALNUTS and/or golden RAISINS optional

Instructions

• Cream softened margarine and sugar together. Add eggs, mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, and almond extract. Then add flour, baking soda, and spices. Beat on low speed until well mixed. Bake in one large or 5 small loaf pans that have been greased and floured first. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Optional: Top batter with sprinkled on brown sugar to give a crunchier top ☺

How do you stay active and what are some of your favorite hobbies that you enjoy?

I have always been an active person since I was a kid. In addition to being an elementary teacher, I also have a degree in Physical Education. My high school PE teacher was my inspiration to be active when she would demonstrate movements on the trampoline, and she was in her late 50’s and soon to be retired. My personal challenge even at age 81 now is to sit still and watch a movie or read. I’m getting better at it, but my body seems to need to move during my waking hours. I am very fortunate to have such good health and am on ZERO medications. Although I don’t ski anymore, I do enjoy golfing and often will walk the entire round of 18 holes. I very much enjoy walking at a fast rate and living here in the Walla Walla Valley offers many fabulous outdoor places to walk and enjoy our four various weather seasons as well.

A teaching colleague and I started Outdoor School while I was teaching in the Lake Oswego School District in Oregon. This involved taking about 150 students each year to either Central Oregon or the Oregon Coast for a week of outdoor experiences. This experience was so memorable and required being active and engaging in a variety of activities that required one to be physically fit. I also enjoy snow skiing, hiking, and golfing. However, I never learned how to run, which seems very odd. Not sure why my body doesn’t move in that manner very athletically. . .but to compensate, I have always enjoyed my 2-3 miles a day of walking unless the weather isn’t safe to do so here in the Northwest. In addition to all this, I was a percussionist in band and symphony from Middle School through college which explains why I have such an active personality.

Speaking of being active, what are some of your favorite “athletic clothes” that you have found to fit well, hold up, and are actually comfortable! 

Depending on the weather and limited shopping here in the Northwest, I pretty much wear comfortable clothing of all brands except when it comes to athletic shoes. Skechers tennis shoes and sandals are my only choice, and I’m embarrassed to admit that I own nearly three dozen pairs of sandals of all colors. They are even my choice of golf shoes which a number of my golfing friends now wear, too.

Name five items in your closet that you have held onto year after year, and that you can’t ever see yourself parting with, and why?

Needless to say, I can’t part with my Skecher sandals, my denim jackets of which I own way too many, and my jeans which I never part with. I’m always in style by not parting with my jeans as I unpacked about five pairs of wide leg jeans that were “in style” about eight years ago and now they are back in style. I buy good quality clothes, so I pack up clothes and date those bins and “revisit” those bins of clothing about five years later. This was a suggestion that a former friend shared who always looked fabulous and didn’t “break the bank” to look stylish.

How would you describe your style? 

My style is whatever the occasion happens to be. While in the classroom, I always strive to look professional and comfortable at the same time. High heels were never an option as a teacher; however, I do like to dress in a manner that fits my personality and have never been concerned that “I’m too old” to wear any particular piece of clothing other than a bikini. Now, that’s another story. . .

How did you find my blog and how long have you been following along?

I found your blog by accident about six years ago and I’m so glad that I did. I love your format, sense of humor, and feel like you are someone that enjoys life in a variety of creative ways both in your interior design skill set as well as your personal grooming and entertaining talents.

Do you prefer to engage on social media, or is the blog your preferred way to connect with our community of women over 50? 

I prefer the blog way to connect with our community of women over 50.

What would you like to see more of from the blog / what are currently the posts you look forward to most?

I like your blog just as it is, as you do such a great job of varying your topics of interests and talents.

If you could give your younger self any words of advice, what would they be? 

I often wish I had shared more time learning the fabulous gardening and cooking skills that my mom had. I was too busy being an active teenager and missed out on this opportunity to learn more from my wonderful mother.

Share your words to live by: 

Remember that every child deserves to be loved and cared for by all of us.

I hope you enjoyed Arleen Rice’s story. It’s a powerful reminder that it is never too late to reinvent yourself. Vitality, passion, and style are truly ageless. She embodies the notion that living well means embracing every opportunity, regardless of your age or medical history. Her active lifestyle, positive outlook, and unmistakable fashion sense are not just inspiring they are a template for a fulfilling life. What aspect of Arleen’s life inspires you the most?

You can read my interviews with other inspiring women in my Ageless Style series here.