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Once Upon a Midlife

Once Upon a Midlife

A fractured fairy tale

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Kimberly Wirtz
Kimberly Wirtz

"I never said it would be easy. I only said it would be worth it." - Mae West

Middle-Age Storyteller

  • kim@onceuponamidlife.com

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Recent Posts

  • Health and wellnessThe World as I Know It

    No Longer Waisted

    July 16, 2024
  • Travel

    They’ll Know You’re a Tourist

    June 1, 2024
  • Travel

    The French Connection

    May 28, 2024
  • HolidaysKids and FamilyThe World as I Know It

    Relatives Roulette: Skipping your holiday meal doesn’t mean they don’t love you…probably

    November 17, 2023
  • The World as I Know ItTravel

    Don’t throw TSA’s tubs (and other advice)

    November 5, 2023

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onceuponamidlife

A woman of a certain age sharing the roller coaster ride that is midlife.

A love letter to my husband. #promise A love letter to my husband. #promise
When you chauffeur around your 30-year-old and 25- When you chauffeur around your 30-year-old and 25-year-old like they were 10 years old and 5 years old. The mustaches are the reality check about the passage of time -- and their personal taste. #onceuponamidlife #midlife #midlifewomen
My daughter Paige's summer wedding. A beautiful br My daughter Paige's summer wedding. A beautiful bride, a lovely (but brutally hot) day, a handsome groom, and a fun event. Five of our 7 kids are now married! #onceuponamidlife
Check it out! All kinds of books for you to explor Check it out! All kinds of books for you to explore your creativity -- blank journals, composition notebooks, coloring books and more -- all waiting for YOUR creativity. Back-to-school items. Gift ideas! #onceuponapagepublishing  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Once-Upon-a-Page-Publishing/author/B0D9CNT8NV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
RIP to the best emotional support furry soulmate a RIP to the best emotional support furry soulmate any empty nester with depression and anxiety could ever dream for. Stella had to be unexpectedly euthanized last weekend because we discovered she had osteosarcoma in her legs -- something our vet missed only a few months ago. It can be fast growing. They thought she was just arthritic and didn't see anything of concern in her bloodwork. I have dreaded this for years. It was mutual love at first site for Stella and me. Everyone loved Stella...even people who weren't dog people. But she was mine and I was hers. I will be forever grateful for my 145-lb lap dog. We have Saints for a relatively short time. But, even aside from their size, they make a huge impact. She helped me through illness, surgery, family deaths, tragedy, and personal struggles of various kinds. All I had to do was feed her extremely well and snuggle her every chance I got. The smile on her face in this photo is the look she gave me when I picked her up at the groomer's. "Hey mom!!!" And now she's gone.
On my last few days of being completely off my fee On my last few days of being completely off my feet after ankle surgery. It's been just long enough for the hubby to feel deep frustration and irritation at how much work it takes to run this house and work full time. As he dragged yet another basket of dirty clothes to the laundry room, he realized he needs to rewash all the bedding because he didn't use the laundry sanitizer and everything still smells like St. Bernard. The house hasn't been vacuumed in nearly two weeks (did I mention we have two St. Bernards) and he left a back door open one evening so the rat living in the wood pile outside took up residence behind the dryer. He's managed to keep up with the dishes but not the rest of the cleaning. It's a shit show.
Low-content books by Once Upon a Page Publishing. Low-content books by Once Upon a Page Publishing.
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my waist the m Of all the things I've lost, I miss my waist the most. It makes shopping for formal wear as rewarding as baking cookies in a cold oven. It doesn't help when every force in the universe is against you.  Read this week's installment of Once Upon a Midlife.  "No Longer Waisted" 
#onceuponamidlife #menopause #middleage  https://onceuponamidlife.com/no-longer-waisted-the-hunt-for-the-meh-dress/
Starting to video record story time for Jellybean Starting to video record story time for Jellybean to watch in between visits. ❤️❤️ #onceuponamidlife #jellybean #gigi
Some people cancel their trips because they got si Some people cancel their trips because they got sick or injured. I go on vacation expecting to get sick and injured!  In this multi-part series, I tackle overpacking, looking like a <gasp> tourist, breaking my tailbone and more! Check out the misadventures of my girls' trip to France and Denmark. France or Bust!  https://onceuponamidlife.com/midlife-travel-the-french-connection/  #onceuponamidlife
#midlife
#middleagedwoman
Girls' Trip! Some people postpone vacations if the Girls' Trip! Some people postpone vacations if they get sick or injured. I go on vacation and GET sick or injured. The French Connection: Chapter 1
 https://onceuponamidlife.com/midlife-travel-the-french-connection/  @onceuponamidlife
Just playin' in Cannes, France. Just playin' in Cannes, France.
Vamping it up on a Friday night at The Cannes Film Vamping it up on a Friday night at The Cannes Film Festival. #onceuponamidlife #whereisjacksparrow
Spent two days in Monte Carlo as they prep for the Spent two days in Monte Carlo as they prep for the Gran Prix. Drove the circuit (ok, we rode it in a bus), saw the whole city, and had a picnic along the Med for dinner. Noticeably missing are the sirens of Paris and the smell of urine and rats. Stay classy, Monte Carlo.
Our hotel was in the Pigalle neighborhood...home t Our hotel was in the Pigalle neighborhood...home to France's red light district, including the infamous Moulin Rouge (where we saw a champagne burlesque show) and La Chat Noir (where we had a  decadent French dinner.)
Manage your expectations. Someone's greatness is a Manage your expectations. Someone's greatness is a matter of perspective.
A day in Seattle with Cassidy before she went home A day in Seattle with Cassidy before she went home. Happy she was here. Sad she's gone.
Instagram post 17849302437144270 Instagram post 17849302437144270
Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa. What a treat! #once Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa. What a treat! #onceuponamidlife
NEW POST FOR "ONCE UPON A MIDLIFE": It's the time NEW POST FOR "ONCE UPON A MIDLIFE":
It's the time of year when families do the Holiday Hustle -- that two-step of negotiations that determines who is hosting which holiday meal, who will attend and who will bring what.
While most of us hope all our children will sit at the same table for just one holiday, reality may leave you with empty place settings. But don't worry...those who aren't at your table still love you. 
Probably.
Read on, follow @onceuponamidlife and SHARE!: https://onceuponamidlife.com/time-for-the-holiday-shuffle/
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