Spunky Old Broads & Your Own Twist Link Up #53
Calling all Spunky Old Broads! February is our month to celebrate the kind of female badassery that can only come with many decades of life experience. Back in 2002, Dr. Gayle Carson, the spunkiest of us all, declared February 1 (and subsequently the whole month of February), Spunky Old Broads Day/Spunky Old Broads Month, a time to celebrate women still living loud in midlife. The driving purpose behind this holiday is to dispel the myth that life automatically starts winding down for women once they turn 50.
We live in a world that tends to favor the younger which often leads to the undermining of the amazing accomplishments and extraordinary talents of older women. The philosophy behind Spunky Old Broads Day was to take 3 negative words, spunky, old, and broad, and turn them into one very positive and super fun catch phrase when strung together. This special holiday encourages women 50 and over “to fully embrace the beauty of aging [and] revel in their authentic selves by living regret-free lives to the fullest.” (Source) But this holiday is not ageist. It is for all women, of any age, who are or aspire to be Spunky, Open, and Brave! So who wants to be an SOB with me?
About Your Own Twist
Your Own Twist is a monthly link party hosted by Monica of Monica Hayworth (formerly Jersey Girl, Texan Heart) and me on the third Thursday of every month with the goal of inspiring some of our friends to get creative with personal style.
The idea behind this collaboration is to take one common piece or theme and style it our own way with our own twist…Monica and I have both taken a lot of fashion inspiration from one another over the past few years even though we have totally different styles. It is always fun to see how we can interpret similar items in unique ways or what kind of twist we will each bring to the chosen theme.
We will let you know the themes well in advance in the event that you would like to use the theme for your own post and add it to the link party. However, any fashion posts are welcome regardless of whether you used the theme or not.
Check out the graphic below which has the first six style prompts for 2023. I think we are going to have lots of fashion fun next year and we invite you all to play along!
So far of all the style challenges I have ever completed, this one is by far my favorite one! I just love the philosophy behind celebrating Spunky Old Broads and I absolutely identify as one myself. But I will admit that I initially struggled with this one even though I am the one who chose the theme.
Then very serendipitously, Ralph asked me to going swimming with him at the YMCA which led me to discover that I didn’t have a swim suit that fit me so I was forced to go buy one. At the same time, my snow boots finally reached the end of their life and since winter is never ending here, I was forced to also buy a replacement pair (although I really wanted to wait until the fall). In fact, I shopped for these two items on the same day and then decided I wanted to photograph both at some point when it occurred to me, “There aren’t too many things that are spunkier than posing in your swim suit in the snow!” And so this is how I am celebrating my Spunky Old Broad status…by freezing off my tushy in the name of female empowerment!
By the way, I am very pleased with this adorable two piece swim suit but I really do need to find a one piece suit for swimming at the YMCA. I feel very inappropriate in a two piece in that environment. And these boots are amazing! They are so warm and cozy for my cold toes and so comfortable that I have been wearing them every day despite the winding down of winter.
Are you a Spunky Old Broad (or just Spunky, Open, and Brave)? How do you celebrate your own awesomeness? Would you wear your swim suit in the snow?
Featured Favorites from Popcorn and Movies
Anne of Anne M. Bray
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Swim Top, and Scarf-Torrid / Swim Bottom and Mittens-Target / Coat-DKNY / Boots-Sorel / Socks-Sock Dreams / Hat-Wona Trading / Earrings-Good Life Gift Shop / Necklace-Moontide Arts / Belly Ring-Spencer’s
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
30 Comments
Sim's Life
You are much braver than me, you won’t even get me in a 2 piece on the beach, let alone in the snow. I like your style and you look amazing!
No fashion shots from me, but have linked up with a review of an awesome book with a seriously strong female lead who is relatable. Thank you for hosting! Sim x
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Sim! When I was in my 30s, I judged women who were my current age now for wearing two piece swim suits and now I only own two piece swim suits! I find them way more practical and easier to get in and out of. But I do need to find a one piece soon as well because two piece swim suits, no matter how conservative they may be, are still frowned upon in many public places. I am looking forward to checking out your book review!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
You are so brave being out in the snow in your swim suit. That’s a hard no for me lol!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jennifer! Thankfully, it wasn’t terribly frigid that day, we took the photos really quickly, and my coat is really super warm so that helped!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
Why you feel the need to buy a swimsuit is beyond me, this two suit looks very good! I will join you as a sob, as long as I don’t have to spend time in a bikini in the snow! Lol. However it makes fabulous photos!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Nancy! I feel really great in this suit, I just feel a little too revealing in public environments. I would sit at a friend’s pool like this without concern, but public is a totally different thing! When I wear it in the snow, I know there is nobody around to actually see me in real life! Hahahaha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Anne M Bray
Thanks for featuring the popcorn print! You inspired it! 😀
Brrrrrrrr. You are one COB (Crazy Old Broad)!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ah-HahahahahahahaHAHAHA…COB! I freaking love that! It wasn’t too frigid that day and we are fast as lightning taking photos so I didn’t suffer all that much! I am so honored to learn that I inspired your whimsical popcorn print! It is fabulous, you SOB!
xoxo
Shelbee
jodie filogomo
Definitely spunky and I just love that Title…Spunky Old Broads. You go girl, and I’ll join you when it’s warmer, haha.
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
jodie filogomo
BTW, I’m totally sharing this in my email.
XOXO
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh, that is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing it. Let’s spread the word so all the Spunky Old Broads can join together in celebration of our badassery!
xoxo
Shelbee
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ha, thanks so much, Jodie! This was a lot of fun to do! And isn’t it such a fabulous holiday to celebrate?!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
OMG! I LOVE IT! And I’m giggling. You look fabulous in your swim suit. But just looking at you wearing it in the snow is making me cold. Brrrrrr. Well done, my friend, well done!
From one spunky old broad to another.
xoxo
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so very much, my spunky friend! This was really fun and I am glad I did it!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking so very sweet. Darn you didn’t go swimming in the water.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Patrick! There is no way I would go in that water ever! The rapids get pretty wicked through that area and I really don’t like open water at all. It scares the hell out of me!
xoxo
Shelbee
Melody Jacob
This two-piece suit looks great. My tolerance for cold is low. Great shots!
New post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2023/02/tips-to-keep-warm-on-fishing-trip.html
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Melody! I have little tolerance for cold as well! But we did this super fast so I didn’t freeze too badly!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jacqui Berry
Oh Shelbee how brave you are! You must have been freezing! I definitely would not have tried this. When skiing last week I had plenty of layers on! Jacqui x
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks, Jacqui! Actually, the temperature was not too frigid this day, my coat is really warm, and we take photos super fast! So I was only cold for about 10 minutes then I was bundled back in my coat inside my warm car!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
My mom absolutely hated the word, broad! Nothing would p*ss her off more than if someone referred to another woman as a broad! I’m going to have to adopt your take on it, though! So, yep, I’m an SOB!!!! But, I’m not brave enough to go out in the snow in my bathing suit! Brava to you!!! And, thanks for the link party! Come on over (if you’re not packing) for one at my place!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Marsha! I never really liked the word broad either until I learned of this holiday! And I love taking negative things and turning them positive. It’s why we got married the day after my father’s death date because I was tired of being sad around that time every year. Now I am happy when it comes around because it is also my anniversary! Cheers to all the Spunky Old Broads out there…let’s turn all the negative into positive!
xoxo
Shelbee
Your True Self
Hi, Shelbee – I’m not that crazy. Lol! But I love that you are. 😉 Thanks for sharing this crazy adventure of yours – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Angie! This was a little crazy but super fun to do!
xoxo
Shelbee
Claire
Thanks so much for hosting. You are so brave, I like my layers 🙂
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Claire! Oh, I like my layers, too! But this was fun to do and I only had to be cold for about 10 minutes!
xoxo
Shelbee
Rena
Such a fabulous term, spunky old broad. And you nailed it with this goose-bump raising outfit.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hehehe. Thanks so much, Rena!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jamie
Those boots look toasty warm and most likely kept you warm while in your swim suit in the snow. I honestly can’t say I have ever heard of Spunky Old Broad day but I like the cold and sure would love to get some photos of me in my bikini bottom out in the snow. I’m daring enough to do that if I could find a secluded spot where folks wouldn’t see me and I had someone to operate the camera. Would you be brave enough to do a one piece with the bottoms only? That would be Spunky for sure… ha ha just kiding.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hahaha, thanks so much, Jamie! You definitely need a camera person for a photoshoot like this to make it all go as quickly as possible! I get way too cold so I probably would never do a topless photoshoot in the snow!
xoxo
Shelbee