Yo Yo Me 1963

Though I’m not a fan, it’s here to stay so thanks to AI it’s not at all ironic the soundtrack chosen just “miraculously” popped up for this UPDATE “The Sparkle of Being You.”

Toothless (at least some of the time these days) & FEARLESSLY UNDAUNTED I am pressing forward on this most current TRAIL of AGING & SELF DISCOVERY. I am happily settled in to my LET THEM & LET ME era and indeed feeling profound new connections with myself. My desire and WILL to IMPROVE every aspect of my life INCREASES DAILY.

I’ve been INCONSISTENT in POSTING - and that’s not ironic either as the INTENTION, & OBJECTIVE of this account was set to UNRAVEL the MYSTERY of my INABILITY to consistently SUSTAIN productive LIFE HABITS.

In my defense, I’m not sure posting daily is a productive life habit AND self exploration requires MINDFULNESS - being PRESENT & MINDFUL does not lend itself EASILY to photo taking and copy writing in the PROGRESS of BECOMING.

However, another INTENTION of this account is ACCOUNTABILITY, so rest assured, while I haven’t been POSTING much what I have been DOING consistently is continuing to
EXPLORE & SELF EVALUATE while I also:

*search, ponder, and pray daily
*seek metaphysical balance daily thru chakra awareness and grounding exercises
*exercise and stretch daily
*eat and hydrate well daily
*refresh and develop musical talents daily
* travel, visit w family, socialize and serve in my church and community sphere at every opportunity
*research and explore more effective means to record and share my progress
*continue to fulfill obligations while disengaging honorably from commitments which now far too often hinder and constrain my ability to focus on THIS and other more urgent ENDEAVORS.

If you’re still tuned in and interested in what’s happening here, thank you and NAMASTE 🙏🏻

I am constantly concerned, prayerful for, and watching you as well and will continue to do so as we LIVE, LEARN, & GROW in this VAST UNIVERSE together.

Just spent four awesome days in Utah!

Check out for the full skinny but this post is a special SO to the GIRLS!!!

Thank you for EVERYTHING but especially for SHOPPING HARD & BAKING HARD with me on this trip xoxo to A for taking pics 🙏🏻, and thank you for BRUNCHING HARD with me and shuttling me to the airport!!!

What a way to end International Women’s Week!!!

It’s been a really great but busy week! I find it’s hard to really live life, enjoy it, be present, and also find time to post about it all consistently 🤦‍♀️😂

Headed out on a little trip! I’m in the airport waiting to board a plane headed to Utah for the weekend but I had to say see you later and promise to catch up soon! 👋

News 📰 FLASH 🔥: I stopped at KCMO on my way to the airport and picked up my new permanent denture/implants today!

There’s hope now and pretty soon I’ll be able to start my VLOG! I think that will help with posting consistency! We will see!

✈️

Hey!

Dental check on my new perm dentures went really well Tuesday! The pictures were weird - ergo not posting. Dr drew blue lines on the wax model to mark needed changes. Not perfect yet but I go tomorrow at noon for another check! It’s super frustrating to run around with a mouth, face, and smile that I don’t like, but there are things that I have to do out in the public world so I’m pushing through. The major caveat with this process - they won’t make the permanent dentures until I am 100% happy with the wax model!

Tuesday meeting with PCM went well. She agreed with my discontinuing the phentermine and sent in my Rx for the ZEP Bound. Have to wait a day or two for insurance pre-authorization, but should pick that up tomorrow as well and be on with that adventure.

Wednesday was a TOTAL RESET & CALIBRATE Day! This last unexpected oral surgery plus sleep deprivation from the phentermine really knocked me off course with the routine I had started!

I pushed through it and modified my routine. I feel my energy returning after a few nights of better sleep and I’m still doing really well with my dietary changes! Lots of water, protein, with gut and collagen peptide supplements!

Beyond exercise and nutrition balance I’ve also had three great on line therapy sessions this week - I usually have just one online group and an in person bi weekly with my general therapist but I boosted that a bit this week exploring some online options. I’ll tell you more about my mental hygiene process as we go!

I started my day yesterday with a solid hour of solid rebalancing meditation as well - I usually do 20 minutes but just felt like I needed more and wandered in to a few great video guides.

If you’re interested in any other details about my routine drop a question in the comments! Don’t be shy! I’m also open to suggestions!

Had a nice but short exercise and meditation today and outside adventures start early with some fasting bloodwork then taking a friend to a Dr appointment! Today is MAJOR MUSIC 🎶 day too! I have a piano lesson and orchestra rehearsal tonight!

Being silly Double posting just to tell you I just threw in that last random cat picture for fun and show off my New purse - which is a hand me down from my step mom!

I’m gonna be late for the dentist… gotta jet 🛩️!

I’m NOT trying to be a One Woman Retail Outlet here - though .kari_clark and sure make that look fun! 🤩

I’m just a 62 year old woman on a wellness journey posting my progress!

Friends: these slacks are LOOSER now than the last time I wore them so….

Hooray 🎉 for me!

I mentioned yesterday I’m having a fitting KCMO for my permanent dentures this morning and later this afternoon I’m seeing my PCM to get my first prescription of so I’m putting my best foot forward!

If you’re interested, the slacks are size 18 J Crew - hand me downs from my baby sister! The beautiful blouse is CLEARANCE size xxl, the shoes, sweater, socks, and cream color Dickie are either or ! It’s a real surprise I’m not repping a local thrift shop too but oh well!

Skincare and makeup are so check that out to put it all together and you know I’m a TOTAL Hot 🥵 Mess Eclectic Shopper for sure!

Well some might say I’ve been a SLACKER! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Three days since my last post (did you miss me? lol 😂) and gotta be honest with you…
I was super busy with a lot of service work BUT also in a bit of a LIFE FUNK and MISSED my workout 2 days! 🤦‍♀️

Gold Star ⭐️ for HONESTY?

I was super busy and that got me off track a bit but I also got news that the death of a dear family member was imminent and TBH Eric Dane’s death hit me harder than I would have imagined.

I loved my uncle but due to age and a terminal diagnosis his death (like McSteamy’s) was anticipated… even awaited. So why would either of these deaths hit me so profoundly? I think it’s because I suffer from chronic pain and fatigue. Fibromyalgia is the only diagnosis but sometimes I worry it’s something more and another TRAGEDY is just looming in the shadows. I don’t dwell on or ruminate about that but on Saturday I spent way too much time researching my symptoms as they relate to other chronic illnesses. Obviously on some level I subconsciously worry about that more than I allow myself to consciously consider it and these deaths caused that fear to surface? That’s my theory.

So maybe I’m not a slacker but my body, mind, and soul needed a grief respite? I think I’ll go with that!

The GREAT news for today is that while I was still a bit in a FUNK and maybe not as productive as I should have been I DID DO MY WORKOUT!

Tomorrow is a HUGE DAY! I get to try on my new PERMANENT Dentures in the morning and meet with my PCM about starting in the afternoon! Coming up Wednesday is my next REIKI Journal Therapy Session AND I spent most of the morning today researching another THERAPEUTIC OUTLET I’ll definitely be adding to my HEALTHY HEALING repertoire soon! More on that to come!

Thanks for tuning in and I hope you’ll Stay TUNED! I’ll have some interesting product reviews for you soon and NO I won’t be trying to sell you anything… the first few will not be POSITIVE reviews (spoiler alert) so they just might actually SAVE you from an unnecessary purchase or two! How bout that? 😊

Namaste 🙏🏻

RIP McSteamy Eric Dane!

You are so courageous!

Just watched his tribute episode of Famous Last Words on Netflix! Check it out!

It’s Friday right? 🎆

Yes, it is because my WHOLE UPPER BODY ACHES. 2 hour orchestra rehearsal last night felt GREAT because I SKIPPED last week due to this last oral surgery! It also felt good to go because I PRACTICED and kept up better lol! 🎻 🎶 💗

I’ve had two great meet ups with my adorable Dentist - Dr Eddy KCMO. He cut my stitches out and made new impressions for my PERM DENTURES, then he fit and made measurements on the new gum base!

NEXT TUESDAY I’ll test my NEW SMILE 😃, suggest adjustments, change the tooth shade if needed, and SOON I’ll walk out of the office a New Woman! I’m excited and grateful 🙏🏻

On the fitness side of health I’ve been a bit off track on my WORKOUT GOALS. I’ve done a workout each day to maintain some momentum but not hitting it 100% like I’d like every day. BUT I always DO SOMETHING. 🩰

Bed Stretching - better than NO STRETCHING.

Chair Yoga - better than No Yoga.

Just one week out from the 2nd of two intense surgical procedures and I think I’m healing well because I’m BALANCING my REST & Exercise.

I have lost 9 pounds now in just 40 days and I really don’t want to lose it all at that pace. I know from experience that a tone body feels much better than a super flabby one!

Not being able to eat much due to toothlessness plus putting a FULL STOP on ice cream & junk food has helped but I have a CONFESSION regarding my TOTAL weight loss regimen.

I’ve been taking phentramine for about 3 weeks now BUT I’m discontinuing that switching to . My insurance will pay for it 🙏🏻 but required trying phentramine first. While it has curbed my appetite obviously the MAJOR side effect for me is EXTREME DISRUPTED SLEEP - which I can’t tolerate.

I already struggle with sleep due to post menopause, fibromyalgia, restless leg, and chronic fatigue. I’m SO EXHAUSTED right now due to lack of sleep that I’m quitting the phentramine hoping I don’t gain any weight back but ok with that because I PRIORITIZE Balance.

I’ll share more soon but I’ve hit the end of my space for today lol! Hit me up somewhere to chat more! Until then, 🙏🏻 Namaste!

Day 2 back on track crushing my fitness goals! ⭐️ but also trying something new today - brief check ins.

Social Media is a really great way to journal if you’re not shy! 🙈 Doing it here with today’s Digital Apps & Tools sure beats Creative Memories from the 1990’s! Tell me you get that reference please! 🙏🏻💗😂

I’m not a consistent journal keeper and haven’t been since the 90s actually - there’s a Trauma Based story there but -

I’m understanding more and more each day why I like journaling this way. For accountability yes but it’s more.

Long ago in a galaxy far far away I worked in print advertising. In my 20 year career span I launched 3 in-house corporate publications and owned a glossy lifestyle pub from 2005-2009.

I jumped off that train when my oldest son developed schizophrenia and it was right before the DIGITAL world took off!

I’m truly a dinosaur out here but never met a challenge I didn’t want to conquer!

So thanks for watching my Digital Journal!

Here’s a look at my morning so far!

Namaste 🙏🏻

You never know… I might do a double post today! It’s not gonna happen every day cause like who’s got the time but a good friend said the sweetest thing to me last week: she actually said “I wish you’d post more!” I love ❤️ that!

Hello Monday!!! Welcome to the ongoing adventures of my mind 💭 body🧍‍♀️and teeth! 🦷

My last post might have been bit TMI for some. I’m doing a “reverse reveal” starting with where I am and working back! Future posts will remain overall about Physical & Mental Fitness progress featuring occasional Dental Updates but this week will be a bit dental heavy!

On 12/30/25 I had ALL my teeth removed! It seems impulsive and radical but I had been considering it for 10 years. Unfortunately, neglect, procrastinating some general dental work, and a recent popcorn accident made it ultimately and immediately necessary. After deciding to proceed I focused only on staying positive while preparing and developing my expectations realistically.

I chose in KCMO on NW Barry Road for my care. I was really impressed with Dr Eddy and the staff overall. I loved that they weren’t judgmental. I was guilty of some dental neglect but mostly bad genes and circumstances beyond my control had lead me to this point. They just focused on the solution and were open, honest, and transparent about all my treatment options. They didn’t use super high pressure sales tactics.

I was confident but a little embarrassed and didn’t tell many people what was happening. I talked to my therapist about it and beyond help from Aspen Dental I took to in my research and found the amazing 💗🙏🏻 Her courage gave me courage! Check out her Chanel and you’ll see why!

My extraction surgery and rod placement went as planned. I’ll have regular dentures on top and implant supported dentures on bottom. I need a sinus/nasal surgery so couldn’t have implants in my upper jaw yet. Because of lower jaw bone loss I can only do implant supported dentures there and those rods and now the screws are placed.

I’ve been happy with all aspects of my care, the procedures, and the healing, and I’m still satisfied with the future prospects of my decision. The only draw back for me so far was being VERY UNHAPPY with my temporary dentures!

Stay tuned for more on that as we go!

Hey everybody and I truly appreciate all 75 of you! 😜👍 I saw a few of you IRL this week and appreciate your constructive and positive feedback. It’s odd to me how many people watching social media intently rarely ever engage on the format! I hope more will engage more as we go but it’s nice now just knowing you’re watching and want to see more 💗🙏🏻

Just chimed in to say I’m taking a break from “content creation” today and possibly tomorrow too!! I need about 3 full days to recover from an unexpected oral surgery yesterday! I had screws attached to my implant posts and another procedure called an aveoplasty - the literal shaving and smoothing of bone on both sides of my lower pallet! Yea… they cut my gum, ground down my bone and sewed me back up - it wasn’t fun! The numbness was dreadful and I’m still not feeling great today but this procedure was necessary to move forward - no pain no gain right?

I haven’t talked about it much yet but yesterday was my 6 week checkup post full mouth extractions prepping for implant supported dentures!!

I started this account a bit prematurely as research indicated people were pretty happy with their temporary dentures after about 2 weeks and I figured I’d be doing video and more update photos by now! Unfortunately I was VERY unhappy with the look and fit of my temps and taking pictures of myself has not been on my list! I’ve really wanted to just stay home and hide but forced myself to remain positive and hopeful and get out and about!

My dentist Dr Eddy at on NW Barry Road in KCMO is awesome and he’s helping me by speeding up the process on making my permanent, custom dentures! While I still have to wait 6 months before attaching my lower implants, in about two weeks my custom perms will be ready!

Meanwhile I found a few old pics, cropped, and blew up my teeth in them to amuse you and give you some idea as to why I’ve done something so radical as to have them all pulled! Most people say they didn’t look that bad but trust me it had to be done! That whole story will unravel soon but you’ll just have to keep following if you’re interested! Bye for now and please send healing thoughts and prayers! 🦷 🙏🏻