NEW!! Today we are launching our VMP Covergirl series - every week on Monday we’ll be featuring one of the incredible dynamic women that we’ve been privileged to photograph here at Villa Montarti.

Our first VMP Covergirl is KIM ADLEY!

I first met Kim as part of our 50over50 Project. (More on that project here: https://www.villamontarti.com/50-over-50) She was just about to turn 60 and wanted to do this for herself to celebrate who she is and all she has accomplished.

She is a reinvention story. After ending her 29 year marriage, she leaned in to her role as the Queen of Hearts, reading stories and bringing joy to children throughout the region, started writing children’s books and launched her company, Passport to Pittsburgh, which helps people experience regional gems beyond the typical tours.

“It was cookie cutter perfect on the outside. But deep inside, the cookie was crumbling and I was lacking a inexplicable personal fulfillment.”

Her light was being dimmed and she was told she was too much this, and not enough that. But no more.

“In my 50's, I embraced the person I had suppressed for so long. I let her come out and be herself. It was scary... like being thrown in a dark murky ocean and trying to swim to a far off island ... but I did it.”

“I had no credit when I began the reinvention journey since everything had been in joint names during my marraige. So I worked to established credit, educated myself, bought a house, a car and started a second business. I went back to school and took a course in entrepreneurship. That course empowered me to launch my second business called Passport to Pittsburgh, a custom tour company.”

www.passporttopittsburgh.com

“My 50's taught me how to be more confident, self reliant and bold in my decision making. I didn't have to ask for anyone's permission but my own. It has been exciting and liberating.”

Her best advice:

“(1)Embrace 50 and the changes it brings! And I mean the changes to your body, the lines on your face, the pain in your joints and the fog in your brain. It's ok..just roll with it and stay positive.

(2)Take care of yourself! I know that at 50 we need to take better care of ourselves. We cannot care for other if we don't care and value ourselves, so go to the doctor, get all the needed screenings, exercise and try to eat healthier. Weight just gets harder to lose after 50 so be proactive.

(3) Practice Resilience! That means that as we age, the bumps in the road get bigger so take the necessary steps to rebound from crisis and strife. I speak to womens' groups about my 5 pillars of Resilience. My presentation is called "Resilience Rules!" a play on my Queen career and the challenges of my reinventions over the years.

and lastly,

(4) Love yourself at 50 and Beyond. Proactively practice SELF ACCEPTANCE of who you are and how your look! Go and take time to pamper yourself, get your hair done, use moisturizer DAILY and dress in a way that makes YOU feel beautiful SEXY and comfortable. And then strut that stuff!!”

We couldn’t say it any better Kim!

About photos: “Beautiful photos are inspiring, evoke emotion , are ART and help us capture fleeting special moments in time and place….It has always been difficult for me to "like " photos of myself. but.... it's time that I do. I want to capture this "best " time of my life.”

As she looks at them everyday she can be reminded that she is the Queen of her own life, and her light will not be dimmed.

Congratulations Kim!