Meet Carol: Sunshine, Shells, and a Life Beautifully Curated

Welcome to CHD Reader Interviews, where I’m so excited to chat with and introduce inspiring readers in our CHD community

Today I’m so delighted to introduce you to Carol, a longtime reader who embodies everything I love about this community. From her sun-drenched home in Palm Harbor, Florida, Carol has built a life that is deeply intentional, wonderfully creative, and full of the kind of warmth that radiates off the page. She’s a devoted grandmother of five, a vintage treasure hunter with her own booth at a Clearwater shop, a watercolor dabbler, an avid sheller, and a woman who has walked through some real health challenges with grace and positivity. Let’s meet Carol: Sunshine, Shells, and a Life Beautifully Curated. I think you’re going to love getting to know her.

Welcome, Carol! We’re so excited to introduce you to our community. Tell us a little about yourself and where you call home — give us a glimpse into your world! 

Hi, Cindy! I love your blog and have read it for many years. It’s so sweet of you to want to know a bit more about my corner of the world.

I live in Palm Harbor, FL, north of Clearwater on the southwest coast of Florida. As the crow flies, our villa is about 2 miles from some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. We’ve lived here in this city since my girls were young. It’s my happy place and a great place to call home.

You are a proud mom and grandmother — tell us a bit about your love for your family and how becoming a grandparent has changed you in ways you never imagined.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m utterly devoted to both of my forty-something daughters and my five grandbabes. I wanted children since I was a young girl –I’m the oldest of four sisters. I’m one of those gals who loved being pregnant, giving birth and raising my kids. I knew I’d love being a grandmother too, but I was not prepared for the utter passion I’d feel for them. I was blessed with an amazing grandmother who really taught me so much—things I’ve carried into my own “grandmotherhood.”

I have four grandsons and one granddaughter, and they all live near me. I’ve been blessed to bond with each of them from the time they were newborns. The youngest is two now and I watch him on Fridays. It’s been such a gift to spend quality time with all five of them from birth on. I didn’t know I’d be this “gaga” over them! I love to sing them the lullabies my “Baba” sang to me. As the kiddos are getting older, I get such a kick out of encouraging their creativity. I have a very large “Art Bag” that I fill with interesting bits and bobs that each of them uses to create little masterpieces!  We have craft days and I hope each grandchild remembers those sessions long after I’m gone. 

What hobbies or interests have you discovered as you have gotten older that have surprised you?

I’ve always loved so many artsy endeavors but not until I retired did I find enough time to pursue them. I promised myself I’d find a vintage store and rent my own booth and I did just that. It’s been over 10 years now and I love it! I have the smallest space in a popular shop–House to Home in Clearwater, located at 920 North McMullen Booth Road. I spend time weekly finding unique treasures to resell. Thrifting and estate sale-ing have become another favorite hobby. My booth and my home are punctuated with antiques and vintage home decor. I find it adds soul to a space that you simply cannot find in a big-box store. Who knows–I may end up selling some of my finds online. 

I’ve just started dabbling in watercolor painting and believe me, that whimsical, effortless look is harder to achieve than it looks like it would be! I truly love it though, and art classes are now on my ever-growing to-do list!

I also adore shelling. Every August my extended family vacations on Siesta Key in Sarasota, FL. My sisters and I will be bobbing in the aqua waters and searching for our new “best” shell in about two months! I’ve recently been incorporating shells onto vintage frames and boxes that I come across when I thrift. 

Name five items in your closet that you have held onto year after year that you simply can’t part with and tell us why each one still holds a place in your heart.

My closet has something in common with my home. I like basics highlighted with unique accessories–many found via thrifting and secondhand stores.  I find it my way to personalize my minimalist style in a cost-effective and one-of-a-kind way. 

I’m very fair-skinned and have blonde hair so I feel best served by dark colors. If you peek in my closet, you’d see lots of black, navy, gray and green–almost all exclusively in solids. I love patterns on others but not on me, one exception being leopard print shoes and purses. 

One of my go-to items is a well-made black sheath dress that I can dress up or down and have worn many times over literally decades, most recently at my niece’s wedding in May. 

Lightweight cardigans are another closet favorite. In our Florida weather where we go from hot, humid outdoor weather to inside air-conditioned cars, stores and restaurants, a light sweater is a must. I also have a beautiful 1970s mohair sweater of my mom’s that I’ve worn since my college days, and I’ll never get rid of it.

I love knee-length skirts and find they are my go-to staple for both informal and dressy occasions. I find them cool and comfy in our Florida heat, and I prefer them instead of shorts on my pale legs. (I’ve stopped tanning altogether after three major skin cancers on my face. I had three surgeries in the last few years and had reconstruction to improve the result of a bilobed flap repair down the center of my nose). 

My other closet staple is denim. I have many pairs that run the gamut from distressed to dressy and one of my favorite looks is a great pair of jeans with a black sweater and an interesting vintage silver necklace. 

How would you describe your personal style, and has it evolved as you’ve gotten older? Do you feel more confident in how you dress and present yourself now than you did in your younger years?

When I was younger, I dressed trendier, but I truly feel we women come into our own as we age. By then, we know what looks good on us and what suits us best. I’m a big proponent of comfort. I like fabrics that move as my body moves. I don’t like tight sleeves or skinny jeans. I love sleeves I can push up and shoes that feel good on my feet. 

I wear sterling silver and white gold metals exclusively and I love bold bracelets and wide cuffs. I’m particularly drawn to turquoise and pearls and I love a big, chunky ring and often pop one on as I head out the door. I find I’m definitely more confident and secure in my fashion choices as I age. It would have been nice to be young and wrinkle free as well as wise and confident but those last two qualities are earned as we age! Ha!

So many women over 50 find that their relationship with fashion becomes more joyful and intentional — less about trends and more about expressing who they truly are. Has that resonated with your own experience?

I mentioned that I’ve struggled a bit to find my swagger again after skin cancer surgery, but I find I’m more philosophical as I’ve healed and now, I concentrate on the healthiness of my skin. I wear sunscreen daily and I know I’m blessed to have healed as well as I have. I’m grateful for sure. My sweet hubby was so supportive during my healing journey. 

My biggest anti-aging tip is SMILE. It instantly lights up your face.

What does “aging intentionally” mean to you personally, and how are you living that out day to day?

To me, that means dressing in looks I’ve grown to know are ME! I always say I want to wear my clothes, I don’t want them to wear me. Having the confidence to dress only for yourself is one of the best parts of aging intentionally. 

Is there a woman — someone in your life, a public figure, or even a fictional character — who has shaped how you think about growing older with grace and confidence?

I don’t know that I’ve been shaped by anyone specifically but some women I admire would have to include Helen Mirren, Mary Steenburgen, and Calista Flockhart–I always love their red carpet looks. I adored Diane Keaton for her feminine quirkiness. Her great style will be missed! 

If I could be gifted one celebrity’s wardrobe I’d choose Cindy Crawford. Her look is always classy, timeless and polished. 

I have a tremendously supportive group of women who surround me and provide strength as we all navigate growing older. In addition to my mom, my precious sisters and my beautiful daughters, I’ve been blessed by other great women in my circle—dear friends I’ve leaned on through the joys and sorrows of life. A handful of them have been “constants” since my University of Florida days! We are celebrating 50 years of friendship this year. Wow—just writing that makes me smile.

What is one thing you know now about yourself — your style, your worth, your priorities — that you wish you had known at 30?

In my 20s, I definitely spent too much time fretting about my flaws. I wish I would have embraced each age as I was passing through it. Each decade definitely brings more wrinkles, and the body parts all slide a bit further down. It’s almost comical to look back now on what I thought was “bad” about my body at 30! Live and learn, right?!

How did you find my blog, and how long have you been following along? Was there a particular post or moment that made you think, “yes, this is my community”?

I found your blog through Instagram many years ago. I love the mix of topics you cover-–aging, organic home decor, unique jewelry, your gardens, and entertaining. Your posts feed so many of my interests and I love your writing style. I truly appreciate that I can apply the tips you share from your beautiful home and garden with my budget into my own little villa. I always take away info I can incorporate into my world.

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

Although I subscribe to your blog, I would probably say IG is my preferred connection point.

What would you like to see more of from the blog — and which posts do you look forward to most?

I most love reading about your home, gardens, outdoor spaces, and your fashion–especially unique accessories. I definitely look forward to your home decor posts the most.

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

My advice to my younger self would be to worry less and to appreciate each and every day–you’ll never be any younger than you are RIGHT NOW!

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And finally — share your words to live by.

Spend time with God each day, look for the best in everyone and every situation and be grateful. There is always SOMETHING to be grateful for. Try to immerse yourself in the MAGIC of where you are RIGHT NOW. And don’t forget to SMILE. 

Carol, thank you for letting us into your world; your lovely home, your art bag, your booth full of beautiful finds, and your big, generous heart. Your reminder to ”’wear your clothes, not let them wear you ” is one I’m tucking away, and I have a feeling our readers will too. If you’d like to follow along with Carol’s vintage adventures and creative life, find her on Instagram at @heartfeltwhimsies. Carol, keep smiling! You’ve clearly earned it.

I will be back on Thursday with my Frank and Eileen faves that I live in!