I don’t know about you, but I tend to check out the ‘About Me’ page of a site that looks interesting to me. I want to know something about the person doing the writing.
Before I start gabbing about myself, though, it’s more important that you know what Inspire My Style is about, and how it can give you the tools to live your best life as a woman over 60 (or 50, or 70, or 47…)
I write for women like you, about the things that impact me and my life as I age, because I know they affect you, too:
- Healthy Living
- Maintaining a Strong, Fit body
- Aging Naturally
- Personal Confidence
- Fashion and Style
- Clean Eating and Nutrition
- Family Life
- A Beautiful Home
You’ll find the main category pages really helpful because they include all of the posts in that category, arranged by topic. So be sure to check these out:
Another area that I’m passionate about is education for women in midlife. And it’s not just dull, boring stuff that will put you to sleep in 5 minutes. No, I create online courses, email courses, eBooks and eGuides that are meant to motivate, inspire, educate, and give women over 60 the tools they need to accomplish anything they set their minds to!
My educational resources are found here, at CandiRandolph.com
More About Me
Next, a little bit about my history, because it helps a reader to understand the perspective I’m writing from.
I was born in 1955 (you do the math), a Baby Boomer, in Detroit, MI, and raised by wonderful Christian parents. I have been so blessed to be with such remarkable role models who helped shape my life. We were a typical Midwestern family.
My children, 2 amazing boys, were from my first marriage. They are both married and have blessed me with 4 beautiful grandchildren. Grand kids are the best! Love them, adore them and give them back to their parents. I am their ‘Nana’ and absolutely love it!
A 25 year career in banking was a large part of my life through my 1st marriage and raising my kids. I was a single parent for 5 years, sharing custody with their dad.
After the banking career, I began working with a friend in the design business, an area of my life that I had not realized was such a passion until that time. I graduated from the Sheffield School of Interior Design in New York and was on my way!
A Wonderful Season of My Life
Then I met Randy, my soul mate, best friend and love of my life. We met at church, introduced to each other by my brother. After only 2 weeks of dating we knew that God had brought us together and we would remain together for the rest of our lives. We waited 6 months to get married for the sake of our kids and families. I gained another son in the process, too!
We had some wonderful adventures together…ups and downs for sure…not a perfect life as some would describe. But we had a memorable journey:
- owning a building company
- blending a family
- building log homes
- owning a log home company
- traveling and spending time in Florida
- owning a 2nd home in Florida
- losing it all in the economic down turn
- starting over together in the Sunshine state at the age of 50
- creating a simple life together as we were both working and starting our own businesses
- experiencing the stress of a spouse who is living with chronic pain
- finding our way when my husband could no longer work because of his ongoing physical issues
- then…saying goodbye to my man on New Years Day, 2016
It was a very difficult time in my life, but I continued on and put all my efforts in my Home Staging and Interior Decorating business. 24/7 basically, which is not the healthiest thing to do, but that and my faith in the Lord got me through the first couple of years.
Last year I made two life changing decisions. First, to start this blog, which I’ll tell you a bit about below. Second, I decided to phase out my Florida business and I moved back to Michigan to be closer to my family
Inspire My Style…a Midlife Blog
When it came time to decide on the focus of my blog, I had a decision to make. The obvious path was to stay with my expertise in home staging and design. I know it, I’m really good at it, and I can write about it. And I started to do that, and then I stopped.
Why? Well, the passion for writing was lacking. It felt like work to me, and on the one hand, yes, a blog is a business and is a LOT of work.
But on the other hand, I knew that I should be fired up and passionate about my focus and topics. So I did some soul searching and realized that my life...my midlife journey...the ups and downs, the changes in my body, the family dynamics, the efforts I was putting into maintaining my health and fitness…THAT was my passion!
So, Inspire My Style was created.
This is my approach to life and how I create posts on this blog: I’ve always believed in moderation in all things, and that is how I live my life.
- My overall appearance and weight have remained essentially the same since in my 20’s. Well, except for the gray hair, wrinkles, and crepey skin 🙂
- Searching for ways to help keep me looking younger while not spending thousands of dollars is always on the table.
- I don’t love to shop, am not interested in spending a lot of money on clothes, but I do have a definite sense of style.
- I love a good cup of strong coffee and a chilled glass of white wine, preferably chardonnay. I enjoy some of both on a daily basis.
- I work too much, but owning a business tends to take over your life in the busy seasons. Thinking about what to do after I retire…
- My creativity, home staging and interior decorating experience is something that I love to share, and you’ll see that here in a variety of ways
- I’m sharing my experiences aging naturally and living a healthy lifestyle
- Relationships, faith, family, friends, healthy living…these are essential elements for any woman in her 60’s.
How I Share My Passion for Midlife
Creating content for readers and subscribers is certainly front and center for me. I love to research topics, share my experiences with life, with products and programs that have helped me, and earn some income to help support this site.
Recently I felt in my heart that it was time to create tangible products for readers, or anyone really, to purchase and use every day. Things that would help them remember to be grateful, to be inspired, to smile...and with that, INSPIRATIONS was conceived.
Inspire My Style Guest Posts
Inspire My Style has been in existence for more than four years now, and I’m pleased to say that my work has been published on these fine sites:
- Making Midlife Matter: An Online Magazine for Midlife Women Over 40
- Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond: Lifestyle, Health & Wellness for Women Over 50
- Grand: The Lifestyle Magazine for Awesome Grandparents
- Lifestyle Fifty: A Lifestyle and Travel Blog for Women Over 50
- Baby Boomster: Travel and Lifestyle for Women Over 50
- Follow Phyllis: A Realistic Approach to Being Your Best at Any Age
I’d like to help others be inspired to live as stylish women, gracefully embracing the aging process.
Let’s experience life together!
p.s. Let’s be friends! Subscribe to receive fresh post notifications + special incentives and cool stuff that is just for folks on ‘The List!’
You’ll find a sign up box right below, in the Sidebar, the Footer, at the top of the page, you pick. Any of those forms will do the trick!
Love the inspiration for women. I’m 66 about to be 67 retired and working on my second home to be our first.
Hi Carla,
Thanks so much for the feedback; I’m always thrilled when a reader tells me that my words actually met the goal of inspiring and motivating them! I wish you the best with your goals of downsizing and possibly relocating. It’s an exciting time for you!
Hi there Candi!
I must tell you how much I am enjoying your blog! On January 4th, I celebrated my 60th birthday. New decade all around for me! Te idea of starting my own blog has been going through my mind for some time now. So, throughout this past week I had been searching for blogs written by women “my age.” It seems most are written women with young children, starting in new homes or crafters. I simply sought something that resonated with where I am in my life right now. Empty nester, not yet retired, enjoying my first grandchild and looking forward to what comes next! I also sought something that addresses the changes I am experiencing as I mature. Ha! That’s a loaded word! Anyway, I love your content and have been catching up. Today, I learned you also live in Michigan, as do I! Small world! I live in the metro Detroit area.
I subscribed two days ago and look forward to reading your new posts as well as the older!
Stay dry and safe wherever you are in our Great Lake State!
Hi Tammy,
Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me a little bit about yourself. I really appreciate it. Yes, we certainly experience many changes in our bodies as well as our lives as we age, and I try to address those issues. I know they are certainly a part of my life every single day. I’m in Livingston County so we probably don’t live too far apart. Yes, lots of rain today, stay dry, too!
Hi Candi,
I recently turned sixty (actually 60 1/2) and have had the worst losses and other ‘issues’ over the past three years. Always looking for motivation and inspiration to get me going and some similarity of my former life, I came across your site. So glad that I did!!! I love your thoughts about aging from day to day living, getting enough and the right type of physical exercise to overall wellness. . You are a great motivator for me! Thank you so much!
Hi Sarah, it’s great to meet you! I’m so glad we’ve connected, and I sincerely hope that you’ll find some inspiration to live each day to its fullest and embrace this stage of life. I have to work at it every single day, but the rewards are worth it. xo
Hi Candi – I’ve been looking through both of your sites and I must say, I am very inspired and impressed!
You know you said a few things that have me wondering… I was born in Detroit in 1955 and spent my Saturdays at Northland Mall. Did you by chance attend Henry Ford High School? I remember a Candi in my class, although she preferred Candace as I recall.
I always love it when I find a hometown girl, especially one doing well!
Hi Brenda, thanks for your kind words about my sites, I really appreciate it. And yes, you are correct with your questions about me and where I attended high school. How about that?! It’s great to reconnect with someone from my (oh so far away and many years ago) past!
Hello. my name is Erin and I am happy to discover your blog. I have a question: On your Pin for casual wardrobe for the summer over 50 – you have a photo of a navy blue sleeveless dress. Can you tell me the brand name of this dress and where you purchased this?
Hi Erin, I’m glad you’re enjoying Inspire My Style! I believe you’re referring to the dress shown in the Summer Capsule Wardrobe.
It is from Nordstrom and is called the Maggy London Draped Sleeveless Dress. The dress may not be available at this time, but if you follow the link you’ll see some similar recommendations. Thanks for checking in on this. It’s a great style!