I won’t even tell you what I did about an hour ago. I will tell you. I repacked and purged half the clothing I originally packed. And at one point I just started to throw stuff into the suitcase. I’m done with the pack.
But–I don’t want anyone to forget about me so I’m posting links to some of my past posts.
A Summer reading list if you will:
Shit Old Ladies Do (My favorite post and resonates so well after the “Hoop Earrings” Post!!
Just as I promised my daughter, Oona, that I would not go on any more rants about a certain political figure in the White House or the party that is overturning our healthcare, I found out that I am now officially “Too Old” to wear my beloved Hoop Earrings—among other things.
Huh? WHO is too old to wear hoop earrings? Not me!!!! I’m only 62–I’m in my youth!
My friend and reader of the blog, Juliet, gifted me with a link to a great article: “To The Women Over 40 and the 20-Somethings Who Write About Them” (Thank you, Phoebe Holmes, for writing this article!). I am so thankful that Juliet added the link because I did research and found the article Ms. Holmes was referring to.
First of all, you KNOW anything that leads to an article or slide show with the pigeon-toed pose is going to be a study in “dumb”. This mindless and infantile pose is better left for those lacking intelligence and originality.
Hoop earrings were on the list. I’m trying to curb my language so I won’t write the word that I used to describe this bozo who wrote “24 Things Women Should Stop Wearing Over the Age of 30”. I will give you a hint. The word started with the letter “C”. Yeah. It was the bad word!
Oh yes she did. She had the nerve to say that hoop earrings should only be worn for women UNDER the age of 30. Someone needs her head examined. It ain’t me!
My favorite earrings were Number 16. Which is a riot because 16 is my lucky number.
How dare anyone disrespect my wearing of the hoops!
And guess what? I’m never, ever, ever, ever, giving up my hoop earrings and here’s why:
Hoop earrings go very well with my wigs and scarfs!
Hoop earrings go with everything. They give off a Boho vibe. They are as hot as a summer day and as chill as a summer evening.
This was the temperature when I got into my car after work yesterday. I didn’t care because I looked as cool as a cucumber in my HOOP earrings!
Hoop earrings are simple. They are glistening thin circles of simplicity.
I got spray tanned after work today. My hoops look fabulous with my natural fake tan!
They can be rather lady-like when they are tiny hoops and when bigger and bolder, they can be quite badass!
Here I am channeling my inner Kardashian. (Click the link to read about my transformation). My hoops are Khloe K. Badass!
I love the way hoop earrings look when hair is pulled back or when hair is down. Hoops against long hair look striking.
My hoops are perfect for when I don’t want to overthink my earrings. Hoops in. Done.
And hoop earrings just look fabulous.
That’s right 62 and fabulous in my hoops!
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on them either. For travel, I always stock up on inexpensive “gold” hoops because if I lose one while swimming, I won’t fret. If I leave a pair behind, no stress because they didn’t cost a fortune.
This is just a smattering of my collection of hoop earrings. I have a bunch already in my travel case. Who cares if I lose any? They were cheap!!! (But look like a million bucks!)
And if someone can tell that I’m wearing cheap hoops, then they are too close to my personal space and need to exit before I make them exit.
You really need to look through the list if you can handle the moronic ads. Apparently, this “fashun” *cough* expert feels that women over the age of 30 should not wear leopard. My guess is that she saw me in my leopard skirt and realized she was no match for how I slayed the look.
Yeah 20-somethings!! I wear LEOPARD too. Don’t be jealous because I, an old lady, can rock the look better than you can!
And I wear graphic tees. THOSE were on the list too!
But it kills me. It really does. Age is just a number. Nobody, at any age, should be dictated on what or what not to wear.
And that is the trouble with fashion these days. Everyone thinks they are an expert. They aren’t.
YOU are your own expert and don’t ever forget it. If you wanna wear hoops, get your ears double pierced and wear two hoops in each ear.
Wear leopard.
Wear that graphic tee! And wear it proudly.
One day, the infant who pegged that internet slide show will be mortified when she finds herself well over the age of thirty and looks back on how ignorant she was when she was younger.
I need to finish packing now. I’m making sure I bring my extra-big hoops.
With all the hoopla that has been going on in Chateau Bonaparte the past week, I haven’t been showing my outfits. I’ve forgotten to post them. Here’s two from today and yesterday. And I’m wearing hoops!
This is today’s outfit. I’m wearing a simple dress and no face makeup because I got sprayed after work. Bonaparte doesn’t like my fake tan. It’s a bit blotchy but it’s because I can’t take a shower yet. The girl from last time did do a much better job though.
Yesterdays OOTD. More hoops. And I DID wear shoes. But they were downstairs and I got lazy!
Tell me, though. Is there anything that you have worn that someone told you that you shouldn’t have? What was your reaction?
I am one Twisted Sister when I get angry! We all should be angry at articles that try to dictate what we should no wear. “We’re Not Gonna Take It!”
As a blogger, I strive to be transparent and honest. I also like to write about why I do what I do.
If you are a regular reader, then you know about my struggle with hair loss. The root (pun intended!) of it began many, many years ago to curb my anxiety by twirling my bio hair, picking out hairs with split ends and further splitting the ends, picking at my hair and finally pulling it.
You have NO idea of the amount of time I have spent pulling out strands with split ends. And then splitting those ends further. Hours. HOURS I tell you! No wonder my crossed eyes never straightened out!
This is called Trichotillomania. And it caused damage that is not reversible. The hair I’ve lost is gone for good and it is due to just me and only me.
My hair was always being pulled, tugged, torn, you name it. I did it!
But moving on from that, and moving on from the products that disguised the loss and hairpieces, I want to talk about wigs. Again.
I also want to talk about why I don’t wear what I call “White Lady Wigs”. These are wigs that are overly shiny. The texture is way too thin, many have a “perma-tease” bump. And they just do not look realistic on my head.
This is supposed to be a joke wig of a “granny” wig. I find this insulting and offensive. First of all, the stereotype of the older woman pisses me off. The great majority of us CARE about how our hair looks…get it together and stop stereotyping.
In photos, on wig sites, these white lady wigs will always look fabulous. And the wig companies charge a lot of money for these wigs that cannot compare with the types of wigs that I wear on a daily basis.
This is the beautiful Raquel Welch. She has a line of wigs. The price runs the gamut of about $100 up towards $1,000. We all know Ms. Welch is gorgeous. No doubt about it. She would be even more gorgeous if she wasn’t photoshopped. No 76-year old woman is that wrinkle-free. Anyway, I purchased this wig about two years ago. It looked horrific on me. I donated it.
Believe me. It isn’t that I’m knocking or being disrespectful to these companies or the women who wear them. It’s just that white lady wigs do not work for me. I’m a believer in wearing what makes you comfortable and what gives you confidence and what makes you feel good.
This is another white lady wig I purchased a few years back. It is by Noriko and I can’t remember the name. It does NOTHING for me. It does not resemble my bio hair. It is thin and lacks the density my bio hair once had. It also has a very unnatural sheen.
And that is why I wear wigs by brands that make wigs for African-American women. And there is a reason for this.
My biological hair is very coarse and wiry. It is dull. And by “dull” I mean not shiny. So why then would I wear hair that looks like it came off a Barbie or any other doll?
This photo was taken in February of 2016 and I was still able to wear my bio hair with a bit of Toppik to cover the “bald spots”. See how coarse it is? It doesn’t shine and it is dense. I miss it–but–it is the hair I was born with and why would I want to wear a wig that doesn’t resemble this head of hair?
I want my fake hair to look as natural as possible. Makes sense—doesn’t it?
My hair is closer to Yaki texture—which resembles my coarse, wiry, kinky in spots hair that has been blown out.
My winter beauty. Outre’s “Perm Yaki 18” I have three of these!
But—what I also absolutely love about the wigs I wear are the fact that they are affordable and that is very kind to many of us women who just don’t have the funds to spend hundreds or thousands on wigs. Wait—let me also add, the more affordable the wig, the more looks you can achieve.
Now THIS is what I mean when I want a dense wig. This is Freetress’s Soft Volume wig. I cut bangs into it. Now. Look at this wig vs. the white lady wig a few pics above. Tell me which looks more natural!
Honestly, women need to stop fussing with their hair and stop allowing the weather to dictate how to style their coifs to protect from humidity and the elements and just plop a wig on. It’s always a great hair day!
One of my favorites is Justine by “It’s a Wig”. I love the brand’s name. It’s like “Who’s On First”. i.e. “Cathe, your hair looks great” “It’s A Wig”. ” Oh, what kind” “It’s A Wig” “Oh, what’s brand” “It’s a WIG”….and it goes on and on.
If you are a woman suffering from thinning or hair loss due to several reasons, may I suggest pouring a glass of wine or an iced coffee, sit at your computer, turn on YouTube and start watching reviews.
Yes. Reviews are paramount. On any site, you will see the model wearing a wig that has been styled, manipulated and possibly photoshopped. If you want to see the real deal you absolutely need to watch thorough reviews by real women. And I literally binge on wig reviews.
I got lots of faves but at the top of my list are:
NaturalJoy. Her reviews are hands down, spot on when it comes to describing everything about any wig you are interested in. She’s a “Bob” expert. I’m not kidding. I literally almost didn’t buy a certain bobbed wig because I couldn’t find a review of hers on it. I ended up making the purchase—which was a good one, but boy, it took courage. With reviews from NaturalJoy, I always feel more comfortable with a purchase. She is very detail-oriented and knows her stuff! She gets into the construction and all the nuances of each wig. You can’t not want every wig she reviews!
NaturalJoy is my Number One Go-to Reviewer!! I can’t wait for the rest of the Bob Series!!! Here’s her review of Rita!
My most recent wig, Rita, was purchased solely on her review and let me tell you, Rita is fabulous. Did I mention that NaturalJoy is doing a “Bob Wig” Series? This is more important to me than the episodes I watched of “Gossip Girl”.
Left side is Rita on me right out of the box. I didn’t even manipulate the part yet and the stock card is still on the wig. Right is my bio hair from a few years ago. Rita looks better than my bio hair! If it hadn’t been for NaturalJoy’s review, I wouldn’t have known about this little cutie! I even went a shade lighter!
Next of my faves—TheHeartsandcake90. I also rely on her reviews as well. Again, very detail-oriented and reviews on quite the variety of wigs. She is very descriptive and explains everything like—well, like a teacher. That’s because she is a teacher! My next wig purchase will be the Bobbi Boss Claudia that she reviewed. As soon as I get back from France, I’ll be rockin’ Claudia! Thank you Heartsandcake90! She’s also very very good in addressing any issues that a wig may have. She’s also a fan of NaturalJoy!
Thank you TheHeartsandcake90! I am now the proud owner of THREE Storm units. Thanks to your review and Storm is an absolute favorite.
One of my Storms. Outta the box and lace just cut. She’s packed for the trip to France!
Storm is a great, great everyday wig!!!
DeeDee Woods comes in on my “Top Three” as well. OMG. She is the big sister that you always wanted. You know, like when you were in high school and you were the oldest and you had nobody to look up to. Yeah. That’s DeeDee Woods. Her reviews are also great. She loves a natural look and she will keep you well-informed and well-educated on the wigs you may be interested in.
Here’s the very pretty DeeDee with the Shasha wig. And yes. I ended up making the purchase!
“Hair” I am in my Shasha! Bonaparte likes this one a lot. It is very natural!
A few others whose reviews I enjoy are:
BodiedbyKeira. I love her because she makes me smile and her sense of humor gives me the giggles. She’s fun to watch and very informative.
If you want fun and a good time while watching a wig review, by all means watch BodiedBykeira. You can’t stop smiling. And her reviews are GREAT!!
SamoreLoveTV. There’s a special place in my heart for SamoreLove. Her accent reminds me of my old homestead of New Yawk City. When she says certain words like “off” and pronounces it “ouwf”. I get homesick and my accent thickens. Yeah. It duz! But her reviews are good. Her newest is one I can resonate with because she focuses on a bob wig for those of us with “showt” necks! And she’s got a sense of humor!
Hey! SamoreLove!! WHY did you just post this today? It’s too late for me to order this bob for my trip! I need this bob. Oh..boy do I need this bob. My neck is also short!!! Isn’t she adorable?
I don’t know if these young women are aware, but their reviews erase the boundaries of age and race. Women empowering women is what it is all about.
My Bobbi Boss Copper. Pay no attention to the fact that I didn’t put the edges down. I literally plopped this on my head for the blog photo.
Model Model “Sage” wig. Another wig I purchased from a review.
Freetress DP “Smoky” wig. I was hesitant to make the purchase because I didn’t see reviews but I’m glad that I did gain the confidence to do so. I love this short bob. I think it is a great head of beach hair. And yes. I will go in the water with this on. It cost only $17.95!
I think Caucasian women can learn a lot about confidence from African American women. Where we are self-conscience about things like wearing wigs, Black women own that confidence. These are empowering women who know what works and what does not. We all need to be more like them!
And that is why I wear wigs marketed and created for African American women. A wig that is more in tune with my natural hair gives me the confidence to go out and be confident and empowering. I don’t care if the hair I wear is fake. I don’t care if there is a line of demarcation on my Swiss lace—it’s better than walking around like Friar Tuck!
Um..you think I look weird in a wig? What would you think if I walked around like Friar Tuck. Because that’s what my head looks like now. Only the hair part is way longer!
My wigs are packed. And Bonaparte has also gained confidence in his knowledge of wigs. He believes he is now my “wig” consultant. He likes my wigs wavy. I still prefer a straight bob or a longer look!
Where do I get the wigs? From HairsoFly, Divatress,SistaWigs,Glamourtress. These are just a few of the many sites that sell wonderfully affordable and more natural looking wigs! Take a look at the sites. If you have thinning hair or any hair loss, take a chance and have fun knowing you will have a great hair day! NOTE: You know me. I am not sponsored. I am adding the links to these sites because I purchase from them!
Some wiggy fun for you. The B-52’s. “WIG”. PS I love the bouffant wig in the video!
It’s true. Miss France-y pants here has had a meltdown over such a ridiculous task. Packing. As you know, I wrote a post about the start of my packing chore. Everything was all nicey-nicely organized—to a point.
That’s right! C’est Moi, Ms. France-y Pants had a meltdown!
Then things got weird. At work, I’ve got a bunch of new responsibilities, which I love having. However, when in the learning process things can become frustrating—especially if you are like me and are a perfectionist at work tasks. I do not like to make mistakes. Errors are time-consuming and they are not efficient. In my own little world, there is no room for error. *NOTE—this is at work only. IRL, I am One. Giant. Error!
More like what a week!!Why do I get so anxious about everything right before a vacation?
And given the fact that it has been a busy week, I just started throwing clothing in a pile until I had no idea what I was throwing in that pile.
The piles just getting higher and higher
The funny thing is, I know I will overpack. Again.
And then I think of those whose blogs I read and how great and organized they are at packing and I feel so inept.
But then I think of where I’m going—and it is strictly casual. And that makes me happy. But then I think of the casual clothes that I have and which ones should I bring and what about my cosmetics and skin care and other shit stuff that absolutely needs to come with me or I won’t be able to survive.
So, I had a bit of a meltdown.
I kind of just went blank.
I should have done more packing last night. Instead, I decided to play with my hair—and by that, I mean the hair that I recently purchased!
This is what I did last night. I played with my hair. Bonaparte has asked me to pack the hair in the bottom left-hand picture. He said it is a nice look for going out to dinner!
I should have taken care of all this stuff early this morning. Instead, I went over to my Poinsettias that have been around since November and started worrying about them and wondered if they will miss me. I told them that I love them and want them to hang around for next Christmas. This is not normal behavior.
Hello my little red and green babies! I want you to stick around for next Christmas! I need to pack now…..sort of!
Procrastinating further, I decided to run some errands this morning rather than concentrating on finishing the packing.
I went to the mall to make an appointment to get spray tanned. (click the link for last year’s version!) I can’t go to the Cote d’Azur looking so pasty white. What if a golden-tanned fisherman mistakes me for a baby white whale? He’ll harpoon me!! I need to blend in with the locals. Wednesday evening after work I will be transformed from parchment paper skin into a glorious fake tan!
I can’t wait to get back here! Bonjour Nice!
And will ya look at what movie Air France will be showing!!! Demain Tout Commence! The film directed by Bonaparte’s cousin! Part of my procrastinating was perusing the Air France in-flight entertainment choices!
After I made the tan appointment, I figured that since I was already at the mall, I would stop off at Old Navy. Oh, happy sale day! Dresses for ten bucks! And forty percent off shorts.
Wow! I just about flipped my wig over this great deal. Ten bucks for this dress–and the scarf was $4.49. A cute outfit for less than fifteen dollars!
I was feeling very procrastination productive and next stop was Barnes and Noble. Clinton Kelly, who just happens to be one of my make believe best friends, wrote a book that came out in paperback. It’ll make for great pool and beach reading. Not to stop there, I also made the purchase of the straw “Bonjour” market tote. It’s so cheesy and kitschy. I had to have it. Besides, it’ll be fun to roam around Marché Forville with my fun tote!
Nothing says “Tourist” more than a straw bag with the word “Bonjour” displayed across the front. After almost ten years of hanging out on the French Riviera, I feel the pretentious entitlement of saying that I can get away with this!
Oh Clinton. Thank you for hating everyone except me! I can’t wait to get to the pool, sit under my parasol and start reading this epic piece of American literature!!
I arrived back home a bit after noon—closer to 1 PM. And Bonaparte gently reminded me that he put Chippy into doggie daycare today so that I could finish packing in peace. Talk about a hint!
Yes. A “certain someone” reminded me that I really, REALLY, needed to start focusing on packing the suitcases. The delusion of only bringing a carry on was just that–a delusion!
I didn’t know what to tackle first!
So, I went up to the little guest room that houses my wigs and makeup and more clothing and I went to work.
Here’s how it rolled.
While I realize it’ll be hot as balls in the South of France, I’ve decided to pack these jeans. They will serve as my weight scale. They are a size 6 and fit nicely. I can put them on every morning and if they still fit, then I know that no weight was gained!
This went back into the closet. I’m bringing the Primark dress instead.
Bonaparte brought my filthy pink suitcase up from the garage. Oh. I LOVE my dirty pink suitcase because the filthier it gets, the less someone will want to take it!
Wow! A treasure chest of toiletries was in that dirty suitcase!! I did not realize how much stuff I already had!
Here’s the Other ten dollar dress I purchased at Old Navy. It’s not my “color” but I really don’t care–it’ll travel wrinkle-free and I can wear it over my bathing suit…
Speaking of bathing suits. Booyah! Don’t ever tell me I’m too old at 62 to wear a bikini. Yeah. I have flabby bits and I’m not “buff” who cares! That’s what I love about the French beaches. Women of all ages can wear what they want and nobody gets judgy!
My other Target Special. As long as the thighed burns are shaved, it’s all good and I can jump into the sea! I beach for comfort and a two piece gives me the comfort I need! THIS IS 62 PEOPLE!! THIS IS 62–WE CAN WEAR BATHING SUITS LIKE THIS IF WE WANT! Damn. My wig is getting wonky from all the clothing changes!
I took out the white shorts I originally packed and replaced them with this pair from Old Navy. Notice anything? In the first picture, I have my tee on backward. I fixed it as you can see in the photo on the right!
The boyfriend denim shorts from Old Navy were 40% off. These are coming with me. I swear to you, I’ll end up in the bathing suits, shorts, and the Primark dress the entire time I’m in France.
I can wear these white jeans out for a casual dinner. I’ll wear it with the blue checked Gingham shirt.
THE Gingham shirt. I sewed the missing button on and it is now packed!
And among other items that were packed was my daily hair, reading material, and my journal!
I’m hoping four books are enough. I read A LOT on vacation. It’s the way I relax at the pool and unwind before sleeping!Barnes and Noble better never close. There is nothing like a bookstore to calm the wild beast of a soul!
My new phone is properly accessorized with a case, a shatter-resistant screen, and the plug thingy.
I don’t know why I’m bringing half of this stuff. But at this point, I’m too tired to go over the clothing again. What I do know is one of the reasons I love visiting the Cote d’Azur is because it is incredibly casual. I’m not even bringing heels. I’m living in sandals, converse sneakers, and more sandals. I’m bringing one dress to go out to dinner only because Bonaparte likes dressing when we dine out.
All my stuff for a bit over two weeks is now housed. And I REFUSE to revisit this!
There is nobody to impress and I don’t have to be fashionable—just simple and beach bummy.
I have my hair. And my makeup. And my sense of humor.
Time for a beauty mask!
And a dinner al fresco with some bangin’ hair!
I’m ready!
And the piles are gone. I just need to vacuum..
And the daybed is back to normal and ready for Chippy to sit and gaze out the window!
Are you like me? Do you melt down before going away for any length of time or vacation? I really want to know!!!
Here’s a very soothing tune to bring you to that calming place of going away! “Le Chant des Sirenes” Frero Delavega.
Well, technically, it isn’t summer yet. But with all the rain and chilly weather we’ve had, it’s more like March or October!
On second thought, maybe I should be happy it isn’t full-on summer yet! I don’t want to be shark food!
Perhaps I should be watching the movie “A Summer Place” to get into the mood of summer!
Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue as the young lovers of “A Summer Place”. The movie was greatness and bordered on camp. Summer Camp!
But, if you really want to get prepped for your summer place, start with the summer face! Heavy foundation—actually, foundation in general, can seem very heavy during the summer months. And when you’ve been out and about in the sun, your face is going get a shade or two darker—even with tons of sunscreen.
Since I don’t feel like spending money on a darker foundation, and as I like my face to breathe a bit when the heat and humidity roll in. I normally forgo foundation completely and rely on bronzer and a bit of blush to even out my blotchy skin.
Anyway, I rediscovered tinted moisturizer this morning while getting ready for work and it was an “aha” moment. There was an old tube of elf tinted moisturizer in my makeup cache so I figured what the heck. And decided to apply it.
As you can plainly see from the looks of the tube, this tube of tinted moisturizer has been around for a while!
I must say, I was pleased with the results. Coverage wasn’t something I was going after. Instead I just wanted to even out a few bits on the visage and it worked. At $3.00 a tube, I’ll make a purchase before we leave for France next week. In fact, I wrote about this tinted moisturizer last fall. For transitioning into cooler weather makeup, I wasn’t enthralled about this product. However, transitioning into hot weather, it’s much better!
Top right before I applied the tinted moisturizer. Bottom right gives you a good look before blending. It’s light and really doesn’t give great coverage. Photo left. The end result. It gives a nice finish for a warm-weather face!
Did I ever mention my love for drugstore mascara? I’ve purchased high-end brands and was always pleased but for the price, the right cheap mascara works just as well. My present favorite mascara is Maybelline’s “The Falsies”. However, in my supreme cheapness, I’ve noticed the price has risen—at Walmart no less!
My fave mascara on the right–Maybelline’s The Falsies. It made my “Best of 2016″ listing!
Ever the mascara cheapskate, I went on the prowl and discovered this mascara by Essence. Essence has great budget lipstick and glosses so I went for it and was very happy.
Forbidden Volume Mascara. I am liking this a lot!!1
Snapping these pics this morning almost made me late for work!! Left pic. Before the mascara. Middle Pic. First Coat. Right pic. Second Coat. Cannot complain about the result!
At $3.99, I’ll pick up a few more!
Ok. Let’s talk shoulders! The new trend, which sort of isn’t new at all, since Lucy stomped grapes with this look, of the off-the-shoulder look is going strong.
Well, it’s more of an Off-ONE-Shoulder. But do you see the leopard scarf around her head. Lucy was a trend-setter!
Here’s our Lucy in a more demure state and both shoulders are displayed. Thank you Tumblr!
The look is summeradorableness but not all off-the-shoulder looks are created equal. I’ve tried quite a few tops and many of them had shoulder roam. The off-shoulder didn’t stay off and crept up. Also, wearing the right bra can be challenging. Truth be told, I either just tuck my bra straps inside my bra or take the damned bra off and go braless.
Lets have a look-see, shall we?
I picked this shirt up at Marshall’s the other day. I am in love with it..
The shoulders are more angled which make the fit fantastic!
See the sleeves? just below 3/4 and the sleeves tie. It’s really a great look for summer.
And it buttons up the back!! Don’t pay attention to the unbuttoned one. Actually, the button fell off and now I have to sew another one one.
I really love this shirt. Notice the mess in the background. I still have to pack and the pile is only getting worse. BTW, I’m not wearing a bra and you can’t even tell!
My denim Off-the-shoulder dress from Primark. This dress is great! Comfy and pretty!
At $16.00 the quality is outstanding!
The ruffle isn’t overpowering…
It’s slightly A-Lined. Ever so slightly!
Oh dear God. Bonaparte is going to have a fit because of the mess behind me. He’s sure to be even more upset that I had the nerve to post a photo with a horrific pile of clothing to be packed! Believe me–the rest of our home is spotless (except my bathroom)
OK. Here’s where the Off-the-Shoulder look is just “meh”. This is the dress from J. Crew that I had to size down from a Medium to a Small. The ruffle is just overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong–the weight of this dress is super light and great for hot, hot days, but I like the Primark dress much better!! Luckily, I got this on sale for $35. I’ll still wear it though!
I’m waiting for the fashun experts to come out in force blabbing that women of a certain age shouldn’t be wearing this look. But you know what? This look was made for us. We get to show those beautiful shoulders of ours that have been hidden for years.
Although not a fan of smoking, take a look at that beautiful dress our Lucy is wearing. It’s a stunner. Note the neckace–it’s just a tad longer than a choker and doesn’t dangle. I love this look..
More proof this look isn’t a trend. It’s just been revived is all. Why can’t I find a top like the green plaid one?
It’s a great look—off-the-shoulder ruffles are their own accessory! You don’t need a scarf and I find you don’t even need necklaces—less is more!
What do you think? Have you tried this look? Thinkin’ about it? Do tell!
Naturally, there was only one song that could relate to “A Summer Face”—the theme song to “A Summer Place” Ladies—Percy Faith. Remember this goodie? I still get goosebumps listening to this because I was five years old when this movie/song came out and I can still remember my parents listening to it.
When I started this blog just over two years ago, I never gave much thought to social media.
My vision was to write about the life of one 59-year old woman and her misadventures and life as both an empty-nester and one of living with a Frenchman. Over time, the blog evolved into more—I started writing about fashion, cosmetics, food, traveling, and randomness but all with a sense of humor.
Me as Little Edie Beale from my post about Edie Beale as my fashion icon. It was humorous but respectful to my Edie! And it actually was one of my personal favorite blog posts!
Sounds simple. Right?
Then, as I started to become a bit (and I mean a bit) more educated about the world of blogging, and started to research on how to make my blog more “popular” (i.e. followers) it was always stressed at how important social media was. To have a successful blog, it meant taking steps to be a part of Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
I get that. To a point.
I opened a Twitter account and started to “Tweet”—but realized three things. 1. I am not a celebrity nor am I a mega-blogger so my tweets basically went unnoticed. Which is fine because tweeting is too much of an effort for me. 2. Since Trump became president, I’ve tweeted some nasty stuff and saw that the nasty stuff I’ve written shows up on the sidebar of my blog. I don’t want to mix my politics with my blog because there is enough political shit roaming around cyberspace. And—I didn’t want to offend any of the more reserved readers of my blog with my tweets toward a certain political figure. 3. My Twitter Account isn’t even in my blog’s name and it’s too much of a bother to change it. So—I’ve stopped tweeting for now.
I’ll just keep my personal twitter account. It’s too much bother to have one in my blog’s name. I can’t believe I actually tweeted over 2,000 times!
I’ve been on Facebook for a few years now. And what I absolutely loved (and I say loved because I no longer feel that way) about FB was the ability to connect with friends I’ve had since my childhood days and old friends from my New York and New Jersey days.
But, FB has become a weird place. It has brought out the worst in me because of the way I feel about a certain person who was elected President. That’s all I will mention on that subject. But, slowly I noticed many “sponsored” posts popping up. I do not want to see posts about healthcare or people who need prayers (and no—I’m not against prayer. I pray all the time. I just do not want that stuff shoved in my face). I don’t want to see ads. All I want to see on my private FB page are posts from my friends and posts from those in the groups I belong to.
I‘m a fan of NARS cosmetics but I don’t want to see this on Facebook or any form of social media. Leave me alone!
Separating my private life from my blog, I do have a Facebook page for my blog. And at first, I was very “gung ho” about it. Now I’m very lazy—and it isn’t because I don’t want people to read my posts, it’s because I’ve become disillusioned with Facebook in general.
I need to get back to being friends with my blog’s FB page, but…
I don’t wanna deal with all of this! I want simplicity! This is too complicated!
And then there’s the piece de resistance of all social media (well, at least in my eyes). Instagram!
I started an Instagram account maybe a bit over a year ago in my blog’s name. The reason being that we have no internet service at the apartment we rent in Theoule but I thought it would be fun to snap pics and post them when I had the opportunity to be in an area with Wi-Fi. And I thought it would be great to have a glimpse into the lives of others through their photos.
And all was well until recently. I noticed that my favorite “feeds” from those I followed weren’t showing up and those who I follow, I follow for a reason! I love their posts and photos! I also noticed that more and more “sponsored” ads were showing up in my feed. I do not like that.
Why is this showing up in my IG feed? I am not a follower nor do I plan to be. My loyalty to scent is with Guerlain!
My suspicions were validated when I read a blog post from “Not Dressed As Lamb” The post is “Why Instagram Really Isn’t Much Fun Anymore“. Honestly, click and read her post to get a better understanding of the demise of Instagram. She’s got a nice blog and is very generous in her link ups. And her name is Catherine *ahem*. What a lovely name for a lovey woman!
My posts were being inundated with comments from sites that advertised to me I could get more “likes” and exposure if I paid them. Oh, hell no—no way would I pay for a “like”!
Uh unh. Catherine don’t PAY that game!
Nothing was in chronological order anymore!
Yeah Instagram. You are being rude by taking the people I follow regularly and hiding their feeds from me. And you are being rude with all those ads, and allowing follow-to-unfollow…
Worse yet, was the “follow-to-unfollow” trend that I was being baited with. In case you don’t know what “follow-to-unfollow” is, it is an incredibly dishonest and unethical means of getting your account numbers to rise—thusly, having your account become very intriguing to “brands”.
You “follow to unfollow” me and you will have one less follower!
A IG’er will suddenly “follow” you. And, being polite, you follow back. Many times, these are bloggers who are after big numbers. A day or so later, you will notice that same person who followed you has “unfollowed” you. This was happening quite often to me—so I did some sleuthing and discovered these Instagrammers/bloggers had something like 20,000 followers and were only following about 50 people. I became wise to that little activity and uploaded an app for that. Now if someone follows to unfollow me, I can find out who they are and “click”—their number just went down a follower. Does it make a dent in their numbers? Nope! But it makes me feel a whole bunch better!
You got that right. (Caveat–this is referring to Instagram only. I “lost” many “friends” from FB due to my politics–and I’m better off!)
My blog is my baby. I look forward to coming home from work to write. I never know what’ll pop into my head and I let my thoughts collect then start blogging. I love the people who read my blog because it’s an excellent group. We’ve become friends who’ve never met and we all respect each other.
And with or without Social Media, I’m pleased as punch to keep writing, to keep venting, to keep others laughing and to keep having fun.
With or without Social Media, I got a loverly group of Atypical60 friends!!
And speaking of fun, I did a bit of shopping for our upcoming trip. I can’t believe we leave for France in two weeks!
Whadaya think??
You will NOT believe this. I happened to stop at Primark after work on Thursday looking for another pair of those $13 jeans. Well, THIS dress was randomly hanging on a rack. It was the last one. And my size. $16 worth of heaven. I like it better than the one I bought at J. Crew! It also looks just like the one Oona bought at Zara.
Try-on’s at Marshalls. The white jeans and checked top from the middle pic came home with me and are now in the huge pile to be squeezed into the carry-on!
This hat was a great buy for $12.99. The top is SPF 50 fabric, which will also protect my fake hair from getting all tangled up like it can with straw. The brim is nice and wide to protect my face in the sun. I freakin’ love this hat. Notice the color of my “hair”? It’s the Juno wig from It’s A Wig and I got her for $9.99!
I wasn’t very good in journaling my outfits this week. Here’s Friday’s casual look. I love this sweater but, alas, it is now too warm to wear it.
This was my favorite look of the week. A pocketed skirt that I picked up last year at Uniqlo paired with a $4.00 Tee from Old Navy. Black Repettos and a French Market basket as tote gave me a bit of a Bardot vibe! (well, if Bardot wore fake black hair and was cross-eyed and wore glasses and was about 20 pounds heavier and wasn’t French!)
A maxi from last year–Old Navy gave me a day without having to shave my legs!
I’m wearing this now!!
Hey. What say you? Are you into social media? Whether or not you are a blogger, I am really curious!!!
What other song could I have possibly played today except this one—Follow You Follow Me from Genesis! Have a great end to the weekend!!
It started with a trip to the local dollar store last Saturday. I needed bobby pins to secure my hair under the wigs I wear.
Ohhh. Dollar Tree! I could spend hours in here. I mean it. I really could!
Naturally, I couldn’t just go into a dollar store and buy one item and leave. God forbid!
So, I looked around but I didn’t have much time to do so because Officer Bonaparte, my spending police was waiting for me in the car. (Talk about trust! How bad is it that the man doesn’t even trust me in a dollar store! A dollar store—OK?)
Yeah Bonaparte. You stay in the car with Chippy and listen to your Mozart. I’ll be but a minute…..or more.
My spirit was gleeful as I spotted a fan! Not a fan you plug into an outlet but one of those plastic and fabric fans. This was a Chinese foldable fan and I figured that it could be a very pragmatic purchase if the air conditioning at home broke down. And for a buck—I purchased it!
This will also be wonderful for those menopausal moments of hot flashes! And a dollar!! It’s so pretty!
Not stopping there, I had to check out the cosmetics aisle. Time was ticking away like a bomb—I knew Bonaparte would never step foot in this or any dollar store. His Frenchness would not allow it. But—I’m pretty much lower on the cultural ladder. However, I knew if I wasted too much time he would be mumbling in his native tongue all the way home.
With a street named after him, Bonaparte is too refined to step into my dollar store haunts! And I like it that way!
And so, I grabbed a cute little palette of eye shadows.
This neutral palette is great! A great mix of sparkly and matte and the shadows have very good pigmentation. Hey, and for on-the-go, that little sponge applicator isn’t all that bad!
Housed in a discreet faux leather case, this little cosmetic nugget could prove to be a great purchase!
The faux-leather case with a band for a closure is very discreet. I should go back for another to throw in my purse!
The brand is L.A. Colors and the shadows worked well.
I went home and couldn’t wait to play!
This is the look “eye” achieved with about three of the shadows. Very nice for an everyday look. AND, the shadows lasted all day without primer!
Let me say this. Sometimes you need to go out of your box of high-end brands and embrace the inexpensive bargain!
The verdict on this dollar bargain. Excellent. This is a great palette for the summer. If you go to the beach or a pool, chances are you are like me and don’t do the whole makeup thing on the eyes. Mascara runs off in sweaty heat. Swimming washes any makeup off.
But, if you are planning to go out and about directly upon leaving these places, you want to look decent. Two minutes with your car’s mirror and you can get a great look!
This palette is already in my travel bag for our trip to France!
Next bargain is this pair of jeans from Primark. (Click the link–but their website sucks!! It’s easier to just go into the store!) I like my jeans skinny. However, I do like a bit of stretch to them. And, in the warm weather I tend to keep away from heavy denim.
Wow! In any other country, I’m a moose! I’ll take the USA numbers! But this is the Primark brand, Denim Co.
These jeans are Primark’s “Denim Company” jeans. Not as stretchy as a jegging but not a heavy jean, the fit is excellent. And the cotton is light enough that will allow for comfort in the heat of the summer. The color selection is very good. I already have a pair in cream and went back for the black. I want to get the fatigue green. At $13 a pair—this is an excellent bargain.
See how nicely this pair of $13 jeans fits? Don’t mind the mess in the room–I’m still packing and unpacking.
Here’s another look…
And the best I could do from behind. I wanted to get a good ass shot because these jeans are dubbed “push up” jeans and they do a decent job of pushing up the butt a bit. What I really like about these jeans is that they keep their shape after wearing them all day!
I don’t know how the line got there. I wasn’t doing the Limbo Rock! But, I wanted to show you how nice and form-fitting these jeans are at the ankle. Do you know how hard it is to find a pair of jeans that fit like this at the ankle?
A decent blend–71% Cotton, 27% poly and 2% elastin. It provides a decent fit.
Not all bargains are heaven sent. I purchased a ponytail for nine bucks. I figured it could prove to be useful for summer hair wear. I just couldn’t make it work. In the photos, it looks fine but don’t forget, that’s ‘cause I’m standing still. After a few moves of the body the hair just wasn’t working.
It photographed well, but just didn’t work! I’m still not giving up on it though!
As a “fall” (remember those), it would have worked so well if it were much denser. Oh well, I’m going to continue to play with this to make it work as a huge bun. We’ll see!
I say bring back the “falls” of the 1960’s. Recognize the model? It’s Lauren Hutton! I love that hairdo!
Sometimes you just need a good bargain. Tomorrow’s bargain can very well turn out to be that elusive gem!! Do you have any recent bargains? Are you a secret bargain hunter? Do tell!
I think a great song for today would be “Shop Around”! The Miracles!!!
I would not consider myself a flashy or formal dresser by any means. Accessories are not my important thing either. I’m very basic.
Casuality is more the vibe that I dig. And when it comes to summer footwear and bags, I tend to lean toward the super chill.
Summertime and the feet need a break from the winter confinement!
Don’t get me wrong. I love dressing for work. And when Bonaparte and I have a date night, or when the kids come to visit and we go out, I like to step the look up a bit.
But when it comes to travel, weekends, and “time off”, I love a no-fuss, simple look.
And with summer footwear, it’s sandals.
Ok. So these aren’t sandals–but they are somewhere between a bootie and sandal and these are the most comfortable shoes of all time. I wouldn’t wear them in the dead of winter, but they can be worn from late spring into early fall. And, gray is a sort-of neutral–right???
These wedge sandals are by Crown Vintage. I love them but I do have issues wearing them. My foot is very narrow–and the strap was buckled on the third hole for the past two years. Due to stretch, the buckle is now in the fourth hole the one closest to my ankle And due to my very high instep (pictured), I have a problem keeping these on. It’s a shame because I really love these but I cannot wear them often. It’s really a beautiful wedge!
With bags, it’s a tote! I lug a lot of “stuff” around in the summertime. When traveling, I need a huge bag because it needs to go from pool or beach to touring to grocery shopping. Even when not traveling, I like a tote-as-bag in the summer. When out and about, you never know what you can pick up—and I like to carry my notebooks around too. Totes offer more room.
In addition, I like to keep to a neutral color palette for the footwear and totes. During these warm months, sandals are my footwear of choice. I think a neutral color elongates the legs. Along with a neutral tote, you don’t have to keep rotating bags. I like routine.
My summer footwear and bag palette. I don’t stray far from my comfort zone!
This summer brings me pretty much set on footwear and bags. Although I did spot this beauty at Barnes and Noble on Saturday. Unfortunately, Bonaparte was with me—and that meant the spending police officer was accompanying me. And that meant I couldn’t sneak the purchase in. But—she will be mine. Oh. Yes. She will be mine!
I dig this. A lot. And I’m still pissed off that Bonaparte had to police me from spending only $19.99 on this fun summer tote! I hope Barnes and Noble doesn’t sell out of this before next week!
Back to sandals. I’m extremely brand loyal to Rondini. (click on the link to see the beautiful sandals they have to offer) I swear to you, I can’t wear any other sandals. I look around, yes, I do. And the price point at Nordstrom and Bloomingdales, J. Crew, and other shops have me scratching my head in wonder at the unreasonable prices for goods that are mostly made in China. For less than the cost of a pair of Tory Burch Miller Sandals, I can have a pair of sandals, custom fit and made for me within moments in the small shop of this wonderful and trustworthy family run business. The notable thing is that you can order online from them and they will walk you all the way through your purchase.
This is the Tory Burch Miller sandal. It’s incredibly popular and at $195. I feel it is ridiculously overpriced. Look at the sole–it’s thin and rubbery!
Rondini Salome Vernis. These were purchased two years ago. This year they are priced at $140 euros–that’s $156.USD today. This is the only pair I have that is out of my color palette and I need to wear these more often! Still less expensive than Tory Burch…
My very first pair of Rondini’s. Sahariennes–they are now 130 euros. I wear these as beach flip-flops and running errands. They are at least six years old and have been worn constantly.Rondini Tropeziennes. The sandal that started it all. See how my toes have made an imprint on the insole? These have molded to my feet perfectly. I was thrilled when the folks at Rondini were able to fix these sandals after Chippy snacked on one of the straps. You cannot tell there is a replacement strap on this pair! We were able to drop them off in the morning and they were ready after lunch! Service is excellent!
My beloved Bikini sandals. OMG. I love these so much. They can be dressed up or down. I wanted to show you how they look from the back as well. (After contorting my body for this pic, I can tell you that I could perform with Cirque du Soleil!) I love these. At 145 euros, they are still less than the mass-produced sandals in upscale department stores. Ugh. I need to fake tan.
And the construction is also remarkable…
The sandals are wrapped and placed in a nice storage bag. I can’t wait to add another pair to my collection!
And then, there were Dr. Scholls! These get a lot of love from me. And have since I was in high school!
With the totes, it’s almost the same. I have many of the Longchamp Le Pliage nylon and leather bags. This brown one is my most-used and favorite. It comes to France with me every summer. It’s so friggin’ old that I use it as a beach bag and after the beach, it is used as a catch-all tote—and I even put other totes inside of it for grocery shopping. My Wythe Hotel bag gets housed inside this baby!
This well-worn, hot mess of a Longchamp bag is in constant use during the summer. Look at the photo on the bottom right. That’s French beach sand! I know, I really should empty it out…
See what I mean? The Wythe tote goes into the Longchamp. I’m leaving the Scholl’s home this summer. On second thought…..
I also like to use this well-worn French Market tote as a bag during the summer months as well. It’s beginning to look a bit raggy and I’m planning on buying one when we are in France—they are inexpensive as all get out. I think I paid the equivalent of $10 USD when I purchased this in Chartres.
Although usually kept in my car for grocery outings, I do like to use this as a tote during the summer!
My new and favorite tote is this monogrammed number. Is this not the greatest? It was done by a childhood friend and schoolmate, Kathy Torre Innace.
I love everything about this tote. The magnetized closure is handy and the length of the straps is perfect for staying on the shoulder. Look at the monogram job Kathy did–this is absolutely perfect!
She has a business of her own these days. Sew Spectacular—click on the name for the link to her FB page. Her talent is remarkable—she embroidered this tote. The second I saw it, I had to have it. in my opinion, it is the G.O.A.T. (that’s Greatest Of All Time!) of totes!
Here’s Kathy!! I love her glasses and she’s the best grandmother on earth! She and I were just a couple of many girls who shared the same first name at St. Patrick’s Grammar School!
Trust me, if you order anything from her, you will be more than 100% satisfied.
Next on my list of things to buy from Kathy are her stemware coasters. The coasters fit over the bottom of the stemware. My wine glasses need this. Have you ever seen anything this clever?? I haven’t!! Ugh. I wish I had a wedding shower to go to because this would be a great gift to give! I’ll just have to gift myself!
I could drink wine all day with coasters like these. They are designer shoes for wine glasses!!!
Well, my weight loss journey is moving along very slowly. I gained a pound and now lost a pound—so I’m steady at 144 but I really want to get down to 140. It’ll take a while but at least my clothing still fits.
Here’s a look at what I wore last week. And I’ve made the transition from winter to summer fake hair! In no particular order…
Well, I finally wore the “Heels on Fire” tee. I love it. And to add, I wore red heels and rel nails and a red watchband!
Neon and navy. Not a bad combo!
I loved this look because it was feminine with an edge!
Maxi Dressing! I didn’t shave my legs and this worked perfectly for those lazy days. I LOVE the cut in armholes on this dress. It is very flattering for all arms!!!
Friday’s look. The unironed tee drove me nuts all day. But–I cannot begin to tell you how many compliments I received on the shorter bobbed wig!
Saturday’s look was my favorite. Completely basic. $13 jeans. $4.00 tee. Hair at $19.99. What’s not to love?
One of my favorite summer songs of all time: War’s “Summer”–it’s just so relaxing and chill and just reminds me of summer!
That’s right! At the tender age of 62, I will now admit that today, I am tired of “Adulting”.That’s right. I’m not being an adult today…
I want to do things like shoot hoops in my driveway–which is what I did when the kids were younger and we lived in New Jersey!
Memorial Day Weekend can be blamed.
We have no plans for the weekend. I’m now convinced that the “Big Three”—Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day weekend, are reserved for children, the young, single adults, and families that have not reached the status of Empty Nest!
Yes it is–and I want that wig!!!!
When I woke up this morning, it hit me. There will be no cookouts.
Bonaparte and I both fear the grill.
Yup! Fear of the grill is one thing Bonaparte and I have in common. I would rather slave over a hot stove than grill!
There will be no parade action.
From my years growing up on Long Island in Bay Shore to the years of living in Pennington, NJ, there was a sense of township pride when it came to events like Memorial Day parades. When you don’t “adult” you can enjoy these holidays more!
I have no idea what goes on in the town I live in. I live in a beautiful townhouse community but everyone stays in their own space. Between work, writing, cooking and all that other stuff, there is no time to discover the nearby downtown area of Phoenixville that I pretty much would like to discover!
Beautiful downtown Phoenixville. Home of “The Blob”! Phoenixville hosts a “Blob Festival” each year! Phoenixville is becoming more and more hip with every new building that is erected.
For now, I’ll rely on my memories of Memorial Day festivities past—especially while I still have my memories as well as my memory!
I may have been born in NYC, but when my parents moved to Long Island, they never realized that Memorial Day Weekend would be the opener for THIS. All. Summer. Long. I want to go back to that time–luckily I have a ton of great memories!
Bonaparte’s dad is very ill. He got the phone call a few days ago. Dany fell and broke his hip. At 97 years old, this is not a good thing. My Frenchman has been on edge. Selfishly, I hope Dany heals in time for our visit in three weeks. He has stopped eating and that is what worries me. What self-respecting Frenchman stops eating??? And Dany’s appetite is the eighth wonder of the world—I know this, I’ve dined with him!
Yeah. THIS guy! HE’s the adult–not me and I want him to STAY the adult for a while! He can out eat anyone!
There is a backstory here that I’ll keep to myself for now. But in the four years that we’ve been visiting him in St. Tropez, there is never a dull moment. I want those fun moments back. Now!! And yes, I am having a child-like and very immature tantrum about this! Adulting sucks at times like these!
Is Bonaparte “adulting” with his father?? Truthfully, he was born an adult. I will take the backseat and be the non-adult thank you!
Please allow me to stay in touch with my inner child and go back to when I realized that red was my color!
Speaking of ill, I’m tired of worrying about my health. The future does not look too good for people like me. I’m talking about those of us in our sixties and above and those on affordable health care which, most certainly, DOES work. I know this. I pay into it and can get healthcare.
Speaking of NOT wanting to adult, this moron is the acme. Well, now we won’t even HAVE healthcare –so the complication won’t even exist. I need to stop now..
Oops! I slipped into political darkness. Let me get out!
True dat! I want to curl up with a good book!
Sometimes I just want to curl up in a corner with a delightful book and escape for hours on end with words and my imagination. My mind’s movie theatre–where I can see words coming to life. Let the cooking and cleaning be the responsibility of someone else for a while.
This is MY own little corner of the world. My space where I can let go of adulting momentarily. And YES, I still read Madeline..”In an old house in Paris, that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls, in two straight lines..” I can quote the entire book
The ironing awaits me. And as much as I find ironing a very relaxing and Zen experience, while taking a break from adulting, I don’t wanna iron today!
I’ll awaken early tomorrow morning to tackle the pile of ironing. Today, I just don’t wanna deal!
Yesterday I made a Crème Caramel. It steamed in a Bain Marie so that Bonaparte could take his mind off of adulting and be brought back to times when he enjoyed his favorite childhood dessert!
Bonaparte’s favorite dessert. I had none of this–it was made only for him and just for him and there is a sliver left over for this evening…
I burned myself taking the dessert out of the oven and had to take care of the injury myself. I didn’t want to adult that burn. I wanted my mommy! I kid you not!
Looking on the POSITIVE side, at least the blister wasn’t from sunburn!
Hey! Mom!! Can you come back to life and take care of me for a day or so????????
Ma!! Can you come back to life momentarily to take care of me for a day? I’ll be good!
Even though it drove me crazy with the thickness and unruliness, I want my hair back. Yeah. It’s my fault that it’s gone but I want that chance to stop the pulling and tugging and picking that left permanent damage. Well—on second thought if I hadn’t pulled and tugged and picked my hair, I could have ended up doing something worse. Besides. I get to wear cool wigs now!
Actually, the store-bought hair IS the hair I always wanted! Who am I kidding??
There is a pile of stuff that is half-packed for our upcoming trip to France. More attention is needed on what will be placed in my luggage. But for now, I just don’t feel like dealing with it!
This pile has doubled in a week! I’m not dealing with it today!
The sun is shining and I really, really should get in the car and go to the nursery to buy geraniums for the deck—but I can’t be bothered. Deciding on which pots of luscious, blooming flowers to get is too much adulting for me right now. I want to be indecisive today!
Truthfully, I could make a simple task such as picking out Geraniums into the most complex, indecisive moment in history. I’ll pass on it until tomorrow.
And as I sit here, with the contents of a bottle of hair dye plopped atop the locks that are thinning faster than one with an eating disorder, I am looking directly into our living room. And I love what I see.
I see a room in a house that is mine. After losing a home during my divorce, I thought I would never, ever own another home in my life. And through arduous work, not spending money, and paying off debtors thanks to the stern assistance of one particular Frenchman, I am able to enjoy a structure that is ours!
OK. So the walls need to be painted but that is another ADULT decision that is needed to be made soon and I keep procrastinating! But I love my chateau!
I also see a dog who is close by—he depends on me and he gives me unconditional love in exchange for food and a belly rub.
I like to think Chippy is looking at me with love for ME rather than what treats I will give him!
You know what? Adulting really isn’t that bad after all!
In the long run, Adulting is kind of fun–especially when your kids are adulting along with you!
Let me get that ironing done!
Have a wonderful holiday. And remember—it’s ok to not want to adult every now and then!
Happy Memorial Day. Country Before Party! I want my beautiful and welcoming America back!
Remember that song by Helen Reddy? Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)? Yeah. I was singing the chorus at the top of my lungs before I wrote the post!!
Before I go into a few reviews on a few cosmetic items, I need to show you another customer service email I received.
This. From J. Crew Factory. Let me backtrack. On Saturday, Bonaparte and I went to J. Crew Factory because I had seen a couple of items that I wanted to check out. I also had a “Rewards Card” and coupon and was itching to use both.
While I did purchase the two short-sleeved sweaters I wrote about in my previous post, and a pair of shorts that were on clearance, I had to pass on the one item I really wanted—a pair of shorts in a Pink Flamingo print.
I honestly cannot begin to tell you how much I love these sweaters. The sleeve length is the greatest on earth!
Yes. Navy shorts with Pink Flamingos standing in all their glory. Those shorts were meant for me. Until I tried them on. At 3” length, I had to come to terms that they just were not appropriate for me. I would need a bikini wax if I sat the wrong way. Lord knows if I had to bend all the way over, I would need more than a bikini wax.
These shorts. I’m so in love. Those pink flamingos. *Sigh* I wanted to make them mine–if only they were an inch longer!!
And when I went home, as is my usual routine, I went on the J. Crew Factory site and wrote reviews. I wrote glowing reviews about the sweaters and a sad review about the shorts:
My sweater review was filled with love….Below is the actual review on the J.C. Crew Factory site and the correspondence that transpired.
Not mature woman friendly
May 21, 2017
Ok, JCFactory. When I saw these shorts I wanted them because the Flamingo print stole my heart and the pink/navy thing melted it. At 3″ I didn’t care. I tried them on anyway.
At 62 years old, 5’6″ and 140 lbs, the 8 was a great fit –but wayyyy to short !! I would need a bikini wax to be running around in these!!!! Couldn’t you have offered this adorable print in longer lengths??? 4″ and 5″ would have been perfect for the older ladies!!!!show less
I’m so sorry to hear about the disappointment in these shorts – I’ll be sure to pass along your comments to the appropriate teams for you. I’d be happy to see what I can do to help, but I wasn’t able to locate any online orders for these shorts under your email. Did you happen to use a different email address to purchase them? Or, did you happen to purchase these in store? If so, do you happen to recall the date of purchase, the store you bought them from, as well as the last 4 digits of the credit card used? With this information I’d be able to look into this further for you.
I look forward to your response!
Best,
Marisa Z J.Crew Factory Customer Service
I responded and then I received THIS:
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for getting back to us! Please know that your comments about the shorts have been shared with my team – hopefully we can offer the same print in a longer length in the future. In the meantime, we have 5″ Chino Shorts in solid colors (item 21760), the 5″ Printed Chino Shorts in Pink Multi, Navy Pineapple, Ivory Navy, Blue Ivory, and Deep Navy Red (G2319).
Please let me know if I can help with anything else; have a wonderful week!
I’ve been pleased as punch with the customer service at J. Crew—they are the ones who “found” my Stewart plaid Lady Jacket when it was on sale. Kudo’s to my favorite store for stellar customer service. This older lady thanks you!
The beautiful Stewart Plaid J. Crew Lady Jacket. FOUND by the J. Crew Customer Service Folks!
Ok. Now for a few reviews….
First. I’ve “rediscovered” this Illuminating Palette by Wet ‘n Wild. I’m using it as summery eye shadow. It hit me the other day when the thought of a lighter, brighter eye might look good for the warmer weather.
I’ve had this about a year…it’s a great lower end product..
Blended together they make a nice illuminating product. But…
Separately, the colors make a nice summery eye look!
The notable thing is that this is a multi-tasking product. It’s an illuminating product but can double as eyeshadow and at a price point of fewer than five dollars, it is a great summer travel item!
Nice and bright–right? Don’t pay attention to the lips–I didn’t put lipstick on yet!
Next up is the Charlotte Tilbury Mini Miracle Eye Wand.
This is a two-step product. On one end, the first step is a hydrating eye cream. It does go on smoothly and is hydrating.
This is step 2 and the photo is way out of focus!
The other end is a highlighter—a twin for the YSL Touché Eclat, which I have. The difference is that with the Tilbury product, you get a cream as well.
I decided to use this on my lips instead. I like the way it hydrates the area around my mouth and I can “line” my lips with the highlighter. A two-for-one product which makes it excellent for travel. An eye and lip product!
I use it on my eyes then apply step 1, cream, to the upper areas of the lip then line with step 2. Works for me!
Since I’m running low on blush, I thought it would be an excellent idea to try the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in “Las Salinas”. This is a beautiful, bright, pinkish-coral color stick for both cheeks and lips. I’ll stick to using it solely as a cheek color.
Las Salinas Beach Stick is probably one of the prettiest cheek colors I’ve ever seen and used!
Here’s another view of the color..
..and how it looks on my pasty-fish belly white skin!! (this is the inside of my wrist)
I dot it on my cheeks and blend with a soft brush. I’m really diggin’ this. It is a great summer color. At $45, it is a bit pricier than the NARS Multiple stick but It’ll last a long time.
Dot, dot, dot and blend, blend, blend…
I have the Nars in “Riviera” and love it. I’ve had it for over two years and have hardly put a dent in it. A little goes a long way. It’s a great winter coloor. Same with the Beach Stick—a little goes a long way. This is a fantastic summer color and the price per use will be pennies!
I’m wearing the Las Salinas Beach Stick in this photo. It is so subtle and not clownish at all. Very natural. I’m also wearing the Model Model “Storm” wig!
And last of all—a little tip. You know how much I love my Chapstick and use it as a “blur” product. Lip Balms have a ton of uses. Well the other day I smudged mascara while applying it. I hate when that happens. I grabbed my L’Occitane lip balm and wiped the mascara off in one fell swoop. The L’Occitane is a bit creamier than the Chapstick and worked like a charm. It really worked wonderfully to get rid of any smudges or eyeliner “mistakes”!
More than a lip balm. Last summer I picked up the GREATEST lip balm of all time for one euro. I’m going to load up on it this summer!
Try it—it works!
Any multitaskers for you? Do you have a favorite product that does more than one task? Share it with us!!!
Do you remember this song by Carly Simon? Coming Around Again? It reminds me of all the multi-tasking we did when our kids were younger…
Left side is Rita on me right out of the box. I didn’t even manipulate the part yet and the stock card is still on the wig. Right is my bio hair from a few years ago. Rita looks better than my bio hair! If it hadn’t been for NaturalJoy’s review, I wouldn’t have known about this little cutie! I even went a shade lighter!
Barnes and Noble better never close. There is nothing like a bookstore to calm the wild beast of a soul!
I‘m a fan of NARS cosmetics but I don’t want to see this on Facebook or any form of social media. Leave me alone!
Rondini Tropeziennes. The sandal that started it all. See how my toes have made an imprint on the insole? These have molded to my feet perfectly. I was thrilled when the folks at Rondini were able to fix these sandals after Chippy snacked on one of the straps. You cannot tell there is a replacement strap on this pair! We were able to drop them off in the morning and they were ready after lunch! Service is excellent!
My beloved Bikini sandals. OMG. I love these so much. They can be dressed up or down. I wanted to show you how they look from the back as well. (After contorting my body for this pic, I can tell you that I could perform with Cirque du Soleil!) I love these. At 145 euros, they are still less than the mass-produced sandals in upscale department stores. Ugh. I need to fake tan. 
Well, I finally wore the “Heels on Fire” tee. I love it. And to add, I wore red heels and rel nails and a red watchband! 
Maxi Dressing! I didn’t shave my legs and this worked perfectly for those lazy days. I LOVE the cut in armholes on this dress. It is very flattering for all arms!!!
Saturday’s look was my favorite. Completely basic. $13 jeans. $4.00 tee. Hair at $19.99. What’s not to love?
That’s right. I’m not being an adult today…
