That Seasonal Transition Has Me Getting Organized!

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Catherine

I know.  I know. I’m quite possibly jumping the gun here because at any given time during April—it can snow.

I’m jumping into Spring knowing full-well that it can snow tomorrow!

But you know what?  I’m home nursing a cold today.   Rarely do I call out sick from work.  But with the focus on detail that I need to give my tasks, I needed this day to just take it easy.   Working while feeling under the weather can be cause for error and I can’t take that chance.

The first time I ever went into work with only mascara, eybrow makeup and nothing else.  I felt THAT awful!

That being said………when I arrived home from the office yesterday, I felt miserable.  It was a hectic day; my head was so stuffed up that I felt as though a vise was clasping down hard on my skull.  My throat was feeling like coarse-grade sandpaper and I was deep in wonder at how many Weight Watchers points were in phlegm (which, by the way, I found out through Google that there are 25 calories in a half-cup–but who’s counting!). I kid you not.

A hacking cough, sandpaper throat, a vise around my head and the taste of phlegm is not a fun time!

Bonaparte had a late client and I had a couple of hours of alone time…with Chippy by my side.

Chippy doesn’t like when I have a cold either!

So, what did I do?

I went into the garage, took the bins of my summer clothing out, carried them upstairs and went to work.

Making the transition from the winter wardrobe to the warm-weather clothing.

The moment hit me. And with weekends becoming busy—getting the deck ready for those nights where we can dine al fresco. Planting geraniums or other potted flowers.

This coming weekend’s project is geraniums for the deck.  Let’s hope it doesn’t rain.  Or snow!

Headed for day trips on the weekend.  Going out to dinner in two weeks for my birthday.  Going to Cincinnati to see Oona.  I am left with little time to get organized.

Though we won’t be going to France this summer, we will be enjoying relaxing time at the YMCA poos or the shore!

And so, I hit the closets and drawers with a verve and gusto.  Not wasting a second of precious time.

The outside temperature hit 80 yesterday and the indoor temperature on the third floor of our home was also pretty intense.  I sweated a lot but it felt so good.

The wool skirts and pants and sweaters were all placed carefully in the bins that held the summer items.  I bid farewell with a “see you in six months”.

Bye Bye my little friends–I’ll see you in the Fall!

And overall, it felt good.  Now, I’m not the most organized person in the world. But I try.  My pantry and cupboards are a mess—but as long as the cabinet doors are closed. It’s all good.

Shirts hung up to welcome the warmer weather..

Skirts on another side. Notice that I kept my favorite leopard-print skirt out. It’s a year-round delight!

Pants in front of the skirts…

And dresses in the front!

With my clothing—I’m a bit more diligent.  In fact, I knew the time to transition was coming when the Frenchman mentioned a few days ago “Cassee..eur clozzzit  eez bih-cominggg  messy” And that’s usually the time when the transition needs to be done.

Summer shorts in drawers…

..and additional room for warm-weather tee shirts has been set aside!

It’s that seasonal thing.

Toward the end of summer and into early fall we get that “longing” for the humidity to take an exit and make way for that first day of sweater weather.  We want crisp air.  We want that morning chill that wakes us up so.  And truth be told…we do welcome the shorter days because there’s something very warm and fuzzy about coming home from the office to a long evening of cozy, comfy pajamas!

The best thing about winter is that it’s always warm and toasty inside but we all love that first blanketed snowfall!

And we garner end-of-winter emotions as well.  We’re tired of the dark.  We want to be barefoot (well, I do at least) We want to rid ourselves of the layers and dress light and breezy because the warm air will have us out and about and push us to be more active!

Yes!  And when I say “Active” I mean actively sitting at the Ocean’s edge on a beach chair, under an umbrella reading a good book!  Very active!

But back to the clothing and organizing.  I needed to do it for another reason.  As you know I’ve put on a bit of weight over the winter.  With Oona’s wedding now three months away, it’s time to get serious.  When I’m organized, I can feel better about myself to the point where I can focus on the bit of weight I need to drop.

It’s a mindset thing—you know?  Organization just puts me in a more motivated frame of mind.

After my morning coffee, I went downstairs and ironed and folded tee shirts!

I did. I went downstairs and ironed a bunch of tee shirts.  Have you ever seen this “Fold-Away”?  I purchased it when the kids were young–it must be 20 years old and it folds shirts perfectly.  I should have purchased two!

Perfectly folded shirts.  I’ll bet Mary Poppins would approve!! 

How about you?  Do you become seasonally organized?  Does transitioning the clothing for the seasons put you in a better frame of mind?

I think I’ll go clean the pantry now!

Yikes!  I’ll see you in a few days!  Anyone else a pantry slob or am I the only one?

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All Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go? WTF???

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Catherine

Dressing up for the office is something that I like to do.  Actually, I love dressing up for work.  Not only do I get a kick out of it, but it makes me feel more professional.

So—you can just imagine my reaction when a co-worker saw me yesterday, looked at me and said “Hey. You’re all dressed with nowhere to go.” I was so stunned that I was at a loss for a comeback—and for me, that’s a tough one!

My Little Navy Dress, a strand of tiny pearls, navy pumps and  a remark of being all dressed up nowhere to go.  Really?  Well……I went to the mail room and then to the ladies room and spent the rest of the time in my cubicile so I did have somewhere to go!

There’s something emotionally uplifting about choosing the outfit to be worn, coordinating separates, choosing shoes…. it’s a ritualistic for me.

Bitmoji Image

It really is–getting my clothing ready. It’s as ritualistic as the nuns taking my classmates and me to church on the First Friday of the month to pray all afternoon.

When I was in my early twenties into my early thirties, I worked on Wall Street.  Back then, in the mid-1970’s to early 1980’s, everyone dressed for work.  It was what you did.  You felt good entering an office building dressed for success.  It was a matter of self-pride and self-respect—not to mention there was a strict corporate dress code that nobody cared to challenge.

It’s the strangest thing.  I wore what she’s wearing.  I had that same Coach bag and wish it would be reissued.  But hey–we Yuppies loved our dress codes!

Even during the years when I was a stay-at-home mom I still dressed up a bit when I left the house. I’m not talking about dressing up to the nines nor am I saying I wore a little black dress to the grocery store.  It’s just that I didn’t dress like a slob or that I didn’t care. about how I looked.  I wanted to look nice….for me!

The funny thing is that I dress the same way now that I did when I was a stay-at-home mom. This is definitely a mom outfit!

After my first marriage broke up, I re-entered the work force.  I worked at a local bank and there was a dress code—and the staff always dressed office-appropriate.

From the years I started working at that bank and onto other positions, with every job change came a less stringent dress code—to the point that where I’m now employed, the dress code seems to be null and void.

Welcome to my life.  And I won’t get rid of the business professional clothing!

Welcome to the casual workplace.

Throw a blazer of it and you have instant office polish!

I don’t know what your thinking is but my train of thought is that we Americans have gone way too casual.

First…people started dressing like slobs at airports and even going so far as wearing pajama bottoms with flip flops to their destinations.  That is an exercise in vulgarity—I always end up on long flights sitting across people with the most disgusting feet that are showcased for all to see….and sniff.

Snookie and Brittney Spears make slovenly bookends for the one in her pj’s at the airport.  No wonder the airlines treat us like cattle.

Then it was noticeable during the winter when men were venturing outside in shorts to shovel snow.  Not only that, but even at casual restaurants diners at times take things a bit too casually.  My mother never allowed my brothers to wear baseball caps or any cap in the house

Compared to the average Joe, Jack Nicholson is wearing formal attire here!

Now it’s the normal to see men in department stores, grocery stores, restaurants and even church wearing baseball caps with their favorite teams or logos.  You know—it’s kind of crude.

I don’t know what’s more offensive. The fact he’s wearing a cap indoors or the fact the cap is polyester!

Is this what turned the office environment into an “anything goes” as far as dressing is concerned?  It’s just so weird.  I knew parents who were so put off by children wearing uniforms to school that they tried to have uniforms banned—and they failed.  Their reasoning was “it stifles my child’s creativity”.  Screw that–give your child a box of crayons and paper and let them get creative by drawing.  And when they get older, they can express themselves with clothing after school!  I tell you, I’m the biggest proponent of uniforms because it sets the tone for professional dressing…when need be!

A “Jeans Friday” look.  But with a blazer thrown over it…………for polish!! 

At the office where I work we have “Jeans Friday”—and it’s somewhat of a  mystery to me because on Monday through Friday many co-workers wear jeans.  And leggings.  And what appears to be workout pants.

And don’t get me started on workout clothing and activewear at work!

And so, I’m the odd ball out with my carefully thought-out ensembles.  Oh yes. I will take advantage of the casualness of work but when I do, I make sure it’s a polished version of casual.

Yo!  I said put a blazer over it…………………..for polish!!  And a scarf too…

…and perhaps metallic heels to finish the look!

Too casual with dressing means a too-casual demeanor and in the workplace, I don’t think it’s a good thing to be too casual. Dressing in a more professional manner helps me to work better and give off a better impression.

And in this work-from-home day, you can be a total slob,  But when you are going to the office, it wouldn’t hurt to just dress up a bit and not arrive as though you just rolled out of bed.

…yeah…that’s about right!

If I seem snobby, I certainly don’t mean to be.  Look.  The job I have now is, most likely, the lowest-paying job I’ve ever had so I’m not rushing to the mall every payday to buy new clothing.  In fact, it’s just the opposite.  My closet is my boutique and there are a lot of clothes from over the years that I wear on repeat.  I can bet good money that most of my outfits cost less than the leggings, sweaters, workout pants and jeans that many workers throughout the country are wearing.  It isn’t a matter of snobbishness for me.

I wore this today. J. Crew Pixie pants that are about seven years old.  A J. Crew Blazer I got on sale for $29.99 about five years ago, a Gap Tee that was around five bucks on clearance.  See the photo of the shoes. They are so old that they are falling apart.  But I love them.  My closet is my boutique!

Trust me, when I’m home, and not expecting any guests, I dress like a total pig!

My sentiments exactly.  When I’m at work, and out and about I make an effort.  When home–it’s piggly wiggly time!

Rather, it’s a matter of professionalism.  And self-respect and just wanting to have a nice appearance.  Is this train of thought old-school?  It is a Baby Boomer thing?  Is it a pro-aging thing?

On Monday I went all yellow and blue..and Chippy licked my fake tanned legs..

On Tuesday I went with Blue and Yellow. As you can see, I don’t stray too far from my comfort zone!

And Wednesday’s outfit which was cause for comment…

I also wore this cute coat all week…so far..Monday through Thursday. Tomorrow I wear jeans!

What say you?  Am I the only one who is “All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go”? What are your views?  Do you work at home?  Do you commute to an office every day?  I’m very curious about this because I was almost offended by that remark made to me.

Another favorite work outfit!  I love metallic heels!

Seriously.  What’re your views on dressing.  Are we too casual?  Is office casual the new normal?  What do we do with our good clothes?  XOXOXOXO

 

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Baseball. Barbecues. Beach. And Hat Hair!

Posted on March 31, 2019 by Catherine

It’s that time of year—well, at least for one of the B’s—and that’s Baseball.  We’ll have to wait a month or so for Barbecues and Beach!

 

Hey Batta Batta Batta!!!  Hey Batta Batta Batta!  He can’t hit!  But Henry Margu hit a home run with this great Hair Accent!  Hair on a Baseball Cap!!

In the meantime, it’s time to get ready for the warmer weather.

And that can sometimes be daunting for the wig wearer!

This is my frustration at trying to wear a wig under a baseball cap!  Ohhhhhh  I am a Celts fan though!

Fear not though, my buddies at Henry Margu sent me a great summer accessory for review—and just in time for the three B’s—Baseball, Barbeques and Beach!

THE perfect wig hat for summer!   I’m wearing the Classic 8″ length on the beige baseball cap.  What’s not to love?

The funny thing is, I love the look of a baseball cap for the summer.  The brim is well-needed for protection (with the use of sunscreen) against the sun’s harmful rays!

The wide brim will be a tremendous assist in protecting against the sun’s harmful rays–and I know because I had skin cancer!

When I had my full head of bio hair, I always wore a baseball cap with my hair pulled through the back in a ponytail.  Due to the fact that my bio hair was also ridiculously thick, the baseball cap never looked good with my bio hair down because my hair stuck out too much.  Even when blown out to straight perfection.

Ummmmm…nah.  My bio hair (what’s left of it) doesn’t cut the mustard on the Philly Pretzel of hair under a cap!

Even if worn in a pony, it still just doesn’t look good.

And the time wasted on trying to get a full wig to look decent under any cap is a harrowing experience!

Hey. I love my Swami wig but it is so thick and trying to get ANY cap to fit over this one is a pain-in-the……..and the proportions are so wrong.  Arrows point to the shoddy fit of the cap over the wig and the hair sticking out of the wig. 

And so, I was pretty much intrigued when I was asked to review.  I was a bit skeptical because I couldn’t imagine the “hat hair” (as I’m prone to call it) would look or perform well.

Any doubts were gone after I tried this cap on!

But, after wearing it out and about for a day and getting comfortable with it while writing this post and filming a YouTube review, I have to say that I’m very happy with this and will definitely be wearing to the shore this summer—look for me wearing this at Stone Harbor!

And this goes so well with a Lacoste dress!

Let’s take a look why this Hair Accent by Henry Margu should be a summer essential in any wig-wearer’s collection.

The Cap:  The cap is 100% cotton.  It’s strong with being lightweight.  Cotton breathes and therefore, during the hottest days, the comfort level will be high.

Breathable cotton, unlike polyester which holds the heat, is a weather-friendly plus for comfort of this wig/hat combo!

The cap adjusts in the back with two plastic strips that can be snapped together for allowance from a smaller head to a larger head.  You can also adjust it tighter for extra security.

Adustable plastic band straps give for a secure fit for any sized head!

The Hair: The hair is securely attached between the cap and a breathable lace reinforcement.  Although not thick, the hair is dense enough to give the appearance of a full head of hair without being thick.  It’s a well-suited amount of hair for summer months.

The hair is secured with double reinforcement from the lace and the fabric band..

The mesh fabric in the back adds for additional comfort!

The Fit:  Adjustable straps notwithstanding, the fit is very comfortable.  If you are fussy about baseball caps, fear not with the fit of this.  Henry Margu picked out a winner of a cap that not only feels and fits great—but it looks great too!

The fit is great from all angles–as is the density of the hair. You can hit the shore with ease and confidence!

A back view.  Mind you, I’m not even wearing a wig cap. I simply pinned my bio hair up and shoved it into the cap!

How’s the appearance?  Come see!

The shade I’m wearing is 8H…and Henry Margu has some of the greatest hair colors ever!

The fact that the Hair Accents is cap to scalp (or..if you do have bio hair, you can just stuff the hair into the cap and it’s still a comfortable fit) allows for a better fit of the cap.

The cap that I received is the Classic 8” in the shade 8H.  The cap can be worn with the hair down or tucked behind the ears.

Looks great tucked behind the ears too!  Remind me to apply sunscreen to my ears!

 

This also comes in a curly version but I’ll tell you, I prefer the straight for me.

Here’s the curly-haired version.  Even though I prefer the straighter version…after looking at this I think I would also wear this.  Yes. I would!

Many online vendors sell this.  Among them are:  Pattispearls.com; NameBrandWigs.com; WowWigs.com; Amazon.com; Galleryofwigs.com; Theheadshoponline.com; Wilshirewigs.com

Whether you are new to wigs or wear wigs regularly or…even if you don’t want to ruin your bio hair at the beach (because if you have hair that tends to frizz, we know what the ocean air can do to hair that’s been blown out), this Hair Accent is a great Hair Asset!

Now howza ’bout some MLB Hair Accents???

My one suggestion to my friends at Henry Margu Wigs is—can’t you work something out with MLB to manufacture “team” baseball caps with hair?  Yeah.  I would be thrilled with a Boston Red Sox Hair Accent…or a NY Yankees…or a Cubbies….or a Cincinnati Reds Cap with hair!!

Or what about College team hats?  I’m a Longhorn mom!  And a Terps mom!  Yeah…. I think we’re on to something hair!!!!!!

Henry Margu Hair Accents = A Grand Slam!!

Overall rating:  A+ on the hat hair!

Here’s another look from my YouTube channel!

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No Country for Old Women…Or..Try This On For (S)Eyes!

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Catherine

Ok guys.  This is one of those weird posts. I planned to start out with a bit of a rant but then I had a change of heart.  My original thought was to go into yet another blog post on how our demographic and every woman over the age of …60, 70 and upwards (and I’ll add mid-to-high-50’s too) is ignored by the beauty industry.

This is me,  begging cosmetics companies to pay attention to our demographic.  As you can see, I’m ignored!

Kind of like No Country for Old Women—but beauty-related!

True dat.  We are the girly version of “No Country for Old Men”! (Do you like the look I gave to Javier Bardem?)

But seriously—how many times can I write about the lack of inclusion?

How many times can I go on about the beauty industry not being truly diverse when they don’t recognize us?

No!  I’m NOT going away!  You need to include my peers…and me!!!

As much as I love and admire the beautiful Helen Mirren—just because a cosmetics or skincare company uses her in an ad doesn’t mean they are being inclusive.  In fact, sometimes I think it’s a bit patronizing!

But overall, I love me some Mirren because she embraces her lines and she’s age proud!

And so, I’ve decided to change my tune to a more positive note because we need those cosmetics.  Those cosmetics not only make us look good but they make us feel good.

Truth be told, this is how I feel after I put on a full face of makeup!  

Screw it.  It’s not about them. It’s about us! 

Wanna know what I’m doing?  I’m Age Crashing! That’s right I’m crossing the boundaries into the land of over-photoshopped, over-filled, completely unnatural Instagram, Blogging, Pinterest and Brand Name Cosmetics website galleries to do makeup geared to the way we can wear it!

That’s right. I am shasaying and sauntering my way across the age border to take charge of makeup that is not marketed to the mature woman.  Come to think of it there aren’t any cosmetics companies exclusively marketed to the mature woman!

A couple of weeks ago I took a chance and ordered a lip balm and a palette by the brand “Winky-Lux”.  This is a brand marketed to the very young.  The palette I ordered is named “Mini Uptown Kitten Palette”.  Word to the wise—any makeup with “kitten” in the name is not geared to your average older woman.  Regardless, I made the purchase.

When I first opened the box, I thought the palette was covered in sandpaper. Then I realized it was glittery glimmer!

The palette, six shadows.  Three shimmery shades and three mattes.  I would say overall; these shades are in the berry family.  But—this actually is a pro-aging, mature woman friendly palette.  The shadows are not heavily pigmented and would work very well for a no-eye makeup look—understated but with a hint of something-something.  I’ve worn the shadows once (and didn’t take a pic) and liked the way the shadows blended.  The shimmery shades are very subtle with a hint of glimmer so this is a great palette for those who shy away from shimmery shadows.

Surprisingly pro-age friendly!  These shadows are not heavily pigmented and blend well.  I’ll be taking pics of an eye look with this over the weekend to share with you!

The lip balm in Rosé is beautiful.  It’s really a bit more than a balm because it has decent staying and wear power.  It changes color.  From first look, the balm has bits of golden shimmer, but once it touches the lips, it changes into a gorgeous pink.  I have to say I really, really love this!

The Winky Lux Lip Balm in Rose.  See the glitter?  But see the top of the bullet–it’s pink.  That’s from use…

Goes on pink. I LOVE this stuff!!!

Both were purchased, along with a metallic Winky-Lux cosmetic bag for $21.00 and it was a very good deal!

My love for Jeffree Star knows no limits.  I have his Sarcophagus highlighter and I absolutely love it.  But recently I purchased one of his lipsticks.  Beam Me Up.  This is another glimmery lipstick that, back in my youth, I would say it’s a frosted shade.  I’ve been wearing it under the Winky-Lux lip balm and am very happy.    At $18.00 on Beautylish, it’s a great buy.

The Jeffree Star “Beam Me Up” lipstick.  I have been using this under all the lipsticks I use and this is good.  I feel like I’m revisiting all my frosted lipsticks from the 70’s!!

I only wish Jeffree was inclusive of the mature woman.

Today I wore the Jeffree Star Beam Me Up underneath the Winky Lux Rose Lip Balm.  It’s a great office look!

And now…. for the greatest purchase in eyeshadow palettes.  Anastasia Beverly Hills Riviera Palette!

I swore up and down I wouldn’t buy it.  But I did.  And I’m so happy that I did!

A mix of neutrals and Easter-egg colors and is just fun and perfect for the upcoming warm weather and it’s so …. well…it’s just plain ol’ feminine!

This palette is like a basket of bright colored Easter Eggs, but with the shades, Estate, Yacht, Coastline, Palm and Sails, you can achieve a beautiful neutral look!

Now—I’ll tell you, I have seen many reviews and all the reviews were by younger women ranging in age from around 19-ish to 30.  And most of the reviews had “looks” that not only would not suffice the more mature woman…but would be questionable under normal, everyday situations like at the office or a trip to the OB/GYN!

I’ll leave this look to every Instagramer and YouTube reviewer.  But a more subtle and understated look CAN be achieved with this palette.

But anyway, I decided to pull the cash outta my wallet and I bit the bullet.  Here’s another look at the palette.

And in my ultra clumsy way, I’ve managed to mess the Seychelles shadow a bit.  The Bahamas,  Cannes and Palm shades are all pure pigments.  It’s instructed to use caution with these shades as they may irritate.  I used all three –two as liner and they were fine!

Isn’t it beautiful?

The beauty industry loves fabulosity.  And flamboyancy.  And makeup looks that, if you left your home and ventured outside under normal circumstances, you would get a ton of side eye.  But—our young peers can carry those looks off with no problem.

If you are interested in leaving your comfort zone, these looks are actually pretty darn creative and the YouTube channel,  Annette’s Makeup Corner is a good makeup channel.  This young woman has a very nice way about her and I may try the bottom left look.  It’s colorful but not over-the top!

I prefer a more…. sedated look and the Riviera palette offers that.  That’s what I love about it.  You can go with the brights one day then tone it down for the office the next.  Take a look at how I used these shadows!

Sunday’s look.  I washed lid to brow bone with the white shade “Sail”. It’s very pigmented and gives a good base color.  Then I went into the crease with “Cannes” and blended it out.  I lined my lid with the pigment shade “Bahamas” and lined the bottom lid with “Yacht”.

The color is there but it’s pretty-much toned down.

Monday’s look was more subtle.  I went with “Estate” on the lid and used it as a transition shade.  Then ever-so-slighty, I took the pigmented  “Palm” and went into the crease.  Again, “Yacht” lined the lower lids and I lined my upper lid with “Seychelles”.

Here’s today’s look. Neutrals with a punch! I used “Sail” as an allover wash up to the browbone.  Then used  “Cabana” as a transition shade and lightly added a bit of “Palm” to the crease.  I got very bold and applied “Inheritance” to the inner corners of the lid and touched the brush with both “Monte Carlo” and “Bahamas” and dotted it to the center of my lid.  “Yacht” is very popular with me as a liner for the bottom lids.  There’s a lot to love with this palette!

What do you think?  Are you willing to crash the age border with me?  I do have to say, the Anastasia Beverly Hills is quickly becoming a favorite brand for me.  The shadow palettes are wonderful and the dipBrow is my HG brow product.

Have a great mid-week.  I’ll be back with what I wore this week in a couple of days!!!

 

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Thanks To The Frenchman, I’m Shook On eShakti–More Dress Talk!

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Catherine

OK—so we are now familiar with the search for the Mother-of-the-Bride dress.  And we have a couple of other weddings coming up.  Basically, I need a few new dresses.

My constant complaining must’ve hit a nerve with Bonaparte because shortly after our trip to Lord & Taylor, he took it upon himself to peruse the internet to find some place, any place where I could order a dress to customize to my measurements and taste.

Remember the dress with the floral bottom and the black knit top that I liked but A. it was too short and B. Oona thought it too casual for the wedding.  Well, I loved that dress and apparently, even though it was a bit short for the husband’s liking, he found a similar dress.

Remember this dress from my MOB post?

What he found was a site, eShakti—their motto being, We Design.  You Customize.

Not gonna lie.  The dress he found was stunning.  But—could this be a reliable site?

Here’s the eShakti dress Bonaparte found–leave it to a Frenchman–huh??  It’s similar but not the same as the dress above it!

With Bonaparte paying, and me handing him a tape measure, we went to it with measuring and customizing.

By the way, this came as a freebie with the dress I ended up ordering–read on…

Dress chosen, I added measurements and my height.

For the faint-of-heart when it comes to measuring–the site has step-by-step instructions!

I changed the neckline, the sleeves and the length of the dress—all to my specifications.

The height inquiry really piqued my interest—that’s something that dress manufacturers never take into consideration!

We placed the order and waited!

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect.

The dress arrived much earlier than anticipated—less than a week, in fact.  The box large but not huge. It was an excellent example of pragmatic packaging.  I carefully opened it and when I took the dress out—I was shocked at how beautiful it was.

Here’s the box the dress came in–this pic was taken AFTER I practically destroyed it.  But I’ll tell you, I was impressed that there was no wasted space in the box the dress was delivered in!

It wasn’t shoddy. It was well-constructed.  The zipper was sewn in perfectly.  The detailing was fine!

And when I tried the dress on, I felt like a princess.  Have a look why doncha!!

I really should have changed my hair but I was just so excited about the dress!  The fit is gorgeous.  You can see how I changed the dress a bit.  I made the length a bit shorter, and I changed the deep-V neckline to a boat neckline..

The dress pictured on eShakti’s site has the sash tied in the back. I prefer it tied in the front!

The top comes down at my proper waist.  I love that because way too many dresses are made for the short of waist!

I am seriously in love with the sleeve length–and I love the look separates in a dress!

The length of the dress is below the knee and with a higher heel, I’m feeling very vintage!

 

Pockets!!!!!!!!!!  I think I’ll wear my Jamison wig with this delightful party dress!  Or perhaps a longer wig in an updo!

At a price of around 69.00 including shipping and customization, this was well-worth it!

Here’s a sampling of more dresses–there are a ton of dresses on the website to choose from–in  fact, eShakti offers shirts and skirts too!  Click on the link to the site–but pour yourself either a glass of wine, or a cuppa tea or a mug of coffee because you’ll be looking for a while!

This is on my wishlist.  I would change the sleeves to just above elbow and I would definitely wear pointy-toed heels!

Got a party?  Or a special event?

I tell you, if Oona was getting married in the fall or winter, THIS would be my Mother-of-the-Bride dress!  It’s tons nicer than the dresses I saw at Nordstrom and over $100 cheaper!

Today I received an email from eShakti containing a $20 coupon to be used toward my next purchase—and I can assure you that coupon will be used very soon!

Now that Winter is over and Spring is officially here, I’m somewhat making the transition to springtime clothing.  That means bare legs and, as my daughter calls it “badly faked tanned legs”. As far as the legs go, I don’t care if they are a bit streaked because I’m always in a hurry when I apply the product.

My St. Patrick’s Day outfit.  I’ve worn this sweater every year since my Da passed away.  It was his favorite and he got it in….Ireland!  I even wore ginger hair!

However, my pasty-white legs do look better with some color!

I went with Ocean Potion self-tanning lotion fron Walmart this week!  

Here’s what I wore so far this week with the farewell to Winter!

I wore black velvet pants and my plaid J. Crew Lady Jacket on Monday. I kept my Irish hair!  

Tuesday I went red and gray–and the red matched my bloodshot eye. I think I’m allergic to a new skincare product that I started using last week.  Either that or I’m working too hard!! 

Yesterday I went with an old reliable outfit–my leopard-print skirt!

And today, I shopped in my closet and wore this J.Crew dress that I’ve had for years!!!!

This was last Saturday’s ensemble and I think I’ll wear it for Jeans Friday tomorrow!

And on a last note, eShakti sent me a referral code so if you would like to order, just follow the instructions below then when you order you can get a referral code and so on.  It’s a good deal if you decide to make a purchase!

Say mah name, say mah name–and get an additional 15% off your initial order!  The code is my name in caps!

Easy-to-follow instructions –at the end of your order look for the Apply box and add the CATHERINELARTIGUE code!

A nice party dress–or any decent dress for that matter is a daunting search but thanks to my husband, I was able to find a dress that I love and it’ll be appropriate for Oona’s wedding shower!

If you check out the site, let me know what you think in the comments below!  We’ll talk about it!  XOXOXOXOXOX

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Would You Cheat for Your Children?

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Catherine

Ever since the news broke about Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin’s mega-bucks spending sprees to acquire college admission for their children, I can’t get that question out of my mind.

A seemingly innocent aunt of a Full House and a Desparate Housewife–cheating and thieving to send their kids to a good school.  How rude!!!

If I had their, or any other persons of extreme wealth’s funds, I wouldn’t.  What I would do is hire a proper tutor or SAT coach to further educate them and give them pointers but I wouldn’t buy a spot in a college or university for them.

The first I heard of the news was actually online and was focused on Huffman’s “scandal” and when I saw the recent photo of her, all I could think was “Wow—I wish I had her money and plastic surgeon because she looks great!”

Check out the before and after pics of Huffman.  I’m telling money is better spent on great plastic surgery than cheating.  Hey Felicity–my birthday is coming up and I’m poor AF–can you treat me to your plastic surgeon?  

And then it sunk in along with the $500,000 that Aunt Becky and her designer husband paid to get their daughters into USC.

Hmmm.  Is Lori Loughlin’s husband tan-gifted naturally, or is he fake tanned like all of Hollywood–and me?

So many thoughts were swimming around in my gray matter.  I was shocked, disgusted, angry and fed up—but yet, I wasn’t surprised.

Apparently, this practice has been going on for a long time. Wealthy people securing a place for their less-than-intellectually-gifted children into Ivy League or other institutes of higher education by way of the almighty donation.  Money.  A building.  A wing.  Name your price.  Get my idiot child into your school.

I have NO idea what school these guys are from but the “A” isn’t for behaving like Hester Pryne!  Judging from the aura of inbreeding, I’m sure these are blue-bloods who’s parents’ cheated old-school style to get the fruits of their loins into institutes of higher education!

And it’s so wrong on every level.

It’s cheating.  It’s white-collar crime.  It’s vulgar.  It’s entitlement at it’s worst.  It’s basically saying “I have money, therefore I’m better than you”

Pretty-much says it all-doesn’t it?

And it reminds me of something my father told me. He said “Katie—you are no better than anyone and nobody is better than you”

Think about those words—they ring so true.  No one person is better than anyone else.  Does anyone $hit gold medallions?  I think not.  We all have the same bodily waste.  We’re all on an equal par.

Or are we?  The cheating starts early—and it’s the parents to blame.

I think back to when my own kids were in school.  They did their own projects.  If assistance was needed in the form of my bringing in treats to coincide with a project, I would do so for them.  But they did the work and the research and the final product!

And its one thing that has always irked me—the project.  As God is my judge I’ll never forget when my daughter, Oona, was in third grade and the students had a project where they had to dress like a character and recite an oral speech.  Parents were invited for a fun time.

One of her classmates came dressed as Pocahontas.  Her grandmother made an elaborate outfit and the child had to refer to index cards because she couldn’t even pronounce many of the words she had to recite.  Who gets the grade?  Grandma?

In my time as a mom, I’ve come across a percentage of parents who would do their child’s homework; parents who called up the coach because their child didn’t make the team and parents who challenged the school system because their child didn’t have the smarts to get into an AP Class.  Yet, the parents insisted their child get into said class and therefore dragging the rest of the class down.

These are forms of cheating. It’s being dishonest and it isn’t giving your child true values or an exercise in real life.

So true.  I would be surprised if these women did any time–yet a person of color goes to jail for years over a stolen candy bar!  These women stole college tuition and a career from a student who SHOULD have gotten into school on merit!

I may not have been the perfect mom but I damn well sure as hell would never cheat to get my child ahead in school or extra-curricular activities.  It takes a spot away from one who deserves it.

Yes. I was the mom with the “saucy” vocabulary–but I gave my kids a terrific set of values.  

What message are these people giving their entitled spoiled brats?  That it’s ok to cheat your way in life.

I have absolutely no sympathy for Ms. Huffman and even less sympathy for Loughlin and her husband, the designer Mossimo Giannulli!

Actor Felicity Huffman (R) appears in this court sketch at an initial hearing for defendants in a racketeering case involving the allegedly fraudulent admission of children to elite universities, at the U.S. federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 12, 2019. Image created March 12, 2019. REUTERS/Mona Edwards

While I do give Ms. Huffman (of the stellar plastic surgery) credit for appearing humble, she still doesn’t get a pass from me.

But Aunt Becky?  Look at the arrogance!  Where Huffman appeared humble, Loughlin looks like an entitled bitch. I hope she goes to jail!

So far Hallmark has dropped Loughlin from her present project with them and there will be no more projects.  Netflix has dropped her from the upcoming season of Fuller House.  It looks like she ruined her career—and rightly so.

Yeah honey. Hopefully nobody is gonna have mercy on your cheatin’ arrogance!

Her daughter, Olivia Jade, who is a huge Instagram and YouTube influencer has been dropped by Sephora, TRESSeme and other companies she’s collaborated with.  This young entitled brat has gone on record (on her YouTube channel) to wax poetic about how she can’t stand school.  Meanwhile, somewhere out there is a 19-year-old who studied hard all through high school, took SAT courses, did well and did not get into USC or their choice of Ivy League college and some privileged little snot did.

Something tells me that these two aren’t smiling now!

Can any good come out of this?

No Felicity–we will talk about your plastic surgery later but your crime today!

And take a look at how your husband is handling this!

Well…hopefully it should and I hope it does.  Our institutes of higher education are money makers—many schools sit on millions to billions of dollars and tuition rates climb.  For what?  Will these kids get a good return on the money spent?   They will stress while the wealthy entitled will end up getting a great job because mommy and daddy know people.

I, for one would love to see free college in this country—but that’s another can of worms.

I want this expose to linger.  I want the guilty parties exposed. I want them to go to jail—yes, I do.  They lied. They cheated.  And people of lesser incomes go to jail for a longer time for lesser crimes.

So perhaps our system will change a bit.

For me—this whole scandalous incident makes me even more proud of my three children than I’ve ever been.  They worked hard during their college years.  Harder than many people because nothing was handed to them on a silver platter—not even a Chinet © plate! All three are successful adults and they did it on their own.  And each of them will still manage to say that they could have worked harder.

While the children of stars and the wealthy are getting wasted,  I can rest assured that my three kids were hitting the books and got into school on their own merit!

What’s your take on this?  I’m wondering if you are as disgusted and angry as I am.  Voice your opinion in the comments~

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A Disappointment. My Thanks to You. And I Shan’t Give Up!

Posted on March 16, 2019 by Catherine

Remember I applied to be on the Sephora Squad?  On the surface, I had no expectations.  But—deep down inside, I wanted this so freaking badly!  The reason being that it’s just so important to me—and it’s my mission to get the “Over 60” demographic noticed.

Sent in my application.  Got 200 plus testimonials.  For that alone, I’m grateful and over-the-moon happy!

I didn’t make the semi-finals.  Here’s the wonderfully personal and generic email I received from Sephora.

This generic response is such a passive-agressive one.  I’m shaking my head over the lack of creative writing!

And despite the amounts of testimonials I received…. the “Over 60” demographic was not included.  It was not part of the not-so-diverse mix!

I’m a basic….

And like Frenchy, the Beauty School Dropout, I’m a Sephora reject!  

I perused the listing of semifinalists and despite what Sephora stated about diversity and numbers not mattering—overall, it was the same old same old.  Over filtered, over highlighted makeup people who, if they went out of their homes with the amount of makeup they showcased, they wouldn’t look like the average, normal woman or man.

One of the two over 50 semifinalists has over 43K followers.  I can’t compete with those numbers.   Many have more numbers but only a few of the 93 semi-finalists have low numbers.  It is about the numbers.

Ladies.  Our demographic didn’t even make the Sephora chart.  Does it mean we don’t buy makeup?  NO–it only means we buy cosmetics elsewhere–like at department stores, other specialty stores and online.  My guess is that Sephora doesn’t want to branch out to welcome the over 60 woman as a customer.  But–I wonder how many of those 93 semi-finalists DO shop regularly at Sephora.  I’m handing in  my Sephora VIP card!

And if I sound like “sour grapes”—it’s because I am.  Not for me though.  I’m sour graping over the fact the over 60 woman continues to be ignored—regardless of the amount of money she spends on skincare and beauty.  The Beauty industry will continue to pontificate “anti-aging” and youth but as daunting as it is, I’m putting my big-girl hair on and moving forward!

Wait!  Let me make myself clear. I’m putting my FAKE Big girl hair on…

Oh yes!  That’s much better!  Do you like my hair?  It’s Avery by TressAllure and the shade is Mocha Gold!

But before I move forward, please let me take a moment to thank each and every one of you who sent a testimonial for me and thank you to each and every one of you who continue to follow this blog and Instagram account and YouTube channel.  Atypical60 will never give up and neither will I!

 

you holding a giant gift basket that says thank you

THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Here’s a virtual Basket of thanks for you!

Now to the good stuff!

I was watching a video review that Tati Westbrook had on her YouTube channel.  She reviewed an eyeshadow palette that I’ve been wanting.  It’s the new Riviera palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills.  It’s out of my comfort zone because of the bright colors.  And being a neutral gal, I still wished for it.  But at the price of $45—I’m not sure I want to make that monetary commitment!

The gorgeous Riviera Palette.  That bright pink did it to me!

Anyway, Tati did a look that really was beautiful. It would have taken me at least 12 hours to make it look somewhat like hers.  But here’s the thing.  Westbrook loved the palette but said that other palettes were similar or had similar shades but were less pricey.  I liked that she brought that to fruition.

Tati’s eye look was crazy-beautiful! Might I add, if you want great and honest reviews, check out her YouTube channel.  She’s one of my faves! NO BS either!

And yesterday, I was at TJ Maxx perusing through their beauty section.  I spotted a palette by Too Faced cosmetics.  It’s the Chocolate Bon Bon palette and came in at under $25.  I opened it and staring at my face were two gorgeous pink shadows—one being very bright.  I bought the palette!

And, thanks to a Jeffree Star review on the bareMinerals Serum foundation whereas he showed how to use the foundation the correct way, I purchased another in a shade closer to my skin!  It was worth the $7.99 because I gave it another chance and it works!  The mascara–$3.99 and it’s one that I love!

I also purchased brush cleaner for a total of $3.99.  And might I say, this was a great deal!  Let’s compare it to the $19.99 iT cosmetics brush cleaner.

$3.99 brush cleaner on the left, the $19.99 iT cosmetics brush cleaner on the right.

The $3.99 brush cleaner has a built-in pump–

The iT brush cleaner has a pump that broke the first time I used it.  I had to transfer most of the product into a smaller empty pump bottle!

No fuss–you simply place the brush, bristle-side down on the pump, push down, the cleaner pumps up and…

does a great job cleaning the brush.

Gross–I know, but the cheap-o brush cleaner did a stellar job, smelled great and left no residue–whereas, the iT cleanser smells like turpentine and leaves an oily residue!  I rest my case!

Today, being Saturday, there was no pressure to be out the door to get to the office.  And so, I took my time playing with this palette.  I definitely took a trip out of my comfort zone but was so happy with the way my eyes turned out.

I used this palette today and that bright pink–yeah. I used it!

I went out of my comfort zone and glad I did!

Not overdone but a step away from my usual neutrals.  This is a fun look for those days when I’m not rushed!

In fact, the eye shadows inspired me to go one step further.

I ran to my closet and took my raspberry pink bag from Nat et Nin out of hibernation.

I picked this up a few years back in Paris and don’t use it as much as I should!

Then I went into my scarf drawer and grabbed a Lilly Pulitzer Infinity Scarf that hasn’t been worn in years.

The eyeshadow palette inspired me today!

Isn’t it funny how you can become inspired by the smallest things—like a little eye shadow?

Today’s look–inspired by an eye shadow palette!

Or…. inspired by a bunch of friends who read your blog.  Yeah.  I’m inspired by my failure to be on the Sephora Squad.  I didn’t make the cut—but in the long run, it doesn’t matter.  I’m here and not going away.  That rejection was a wake-up call to me to get back on track with the blog.

week sum GIF

 

Yeah Babe!  I’m back on track!

So, thanks guys—thanks for your constant support.  I feel rejuvenated!!!  Off to get the nails did now and do some food shopping.

Once again, Kim did a stellar job on the nails!

Thanks again and have a spectacular weekend!!!

You make me smile!  Thank you!

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Is A CC Cream Better Than Foundation? (Answer. No. iT’s Not!)

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Catherine

This is a question I’ve been pondering for quite some time.

Some years ago —around six to be exact, I tried a BB Cream.  Remember those? The Blemish Balms, Blemish Base creams. Lighter than foundation but seemingly used to even out the skin tone while moisturizing and protecting you from the sun?

The BB Cream I used was by Dr. Jart and I purchased at Sephora.  In all honesty, it mustn’t have had a great impact because I remember liking it but, for the life of me, I don’t recall it working wonders on my face.

I had the blue Dr. Jart BB Cream.  I liked it–but I wasn’t over-the-moon about it!

In fact, I don’t even know if BB creams are still popular in the beauty circles.  What I do know is that the Dr. Jart cream I used was nothing more than a pricey tinted moisturizer. Still, I remember liking it.

Fast forward to now.

CC Creams. Basically, the same thing as a BB Cream but with a built-in color corrector.

The iT Cosmetics shade selection of CC Creams.  I should have known that with such a small shade selection, the product would be very small at correcting my skin!

And while perusing through QVC’s many offerings of beauty products, I came across a good deal on an iT cosmetics brush and CC cream duo.

The brush was a decent deal but truthfully, doesn’t work that well with this CC Cream.  The brush is better left for a stick foundation and is now in my travel kit!

My love/hate relationship with iT Cosmetics continues in the fact that the brushes are stellar and many of the products have been “meh” to “WTF is this” for me.  The one exception being the Lip Vitality products.

Three of the many iT brushes in my possess

Anyway, I decided to order the duo and take, yet another chance, on the brand to see if the CC cream would be worth a try.

But first I had to get past the awful term on the tube of CC Cream.  The “anti-aging” term.  It’s so effing demeaning and offensive.

Every.  Freaking. Product. By. iT. Cosmetics. Is. Branded. With. This. Vulgar. Term! This is NOT hydrating–but it isn’t very pro-aging either so maybe………

The shade I chose was the Fair Light.  Based on the swatches online, it seemed like a good enough match and it was.

The tube holds 1.08 Fl. Oz., is supposed to be a hydrating serum CC Cream with an SPF 50+.

The tube holds just a smidge over an ounce of product–but the amount of product you need on your face  is quite a bit!

I pumped one pumpful on the back of my wrist and picked it up with the brush.

I’m surprised the pump did break after I used it twice!

This was one pumpfull.  And I needed an additional pump to finish the rest of my face–and it was not full-coverage!

The brush was too stiff to blend the cream in, however it worked better when I stippled the product in and blended out with a beauty blending sponge.

The one pumpful was enough for one side of my face.  I ended up using two pumpfuls to finish applying.  It was not full coverage.

It did not cover all my redness and blotchiness. It did not even out my skin tone.

After 2 1/2 pumpfulls.  You can see that the redness from my cheek and my nose shows through.  There’s a spot of dewiness on my forhead and the rest of my face looks dry. Go figure.

But…….it did leave a dewy finish for a fleeting moment!

Yesterday I went over the CC Cream with the bareMinerals Serum foundation I picked up at TJ Maxx. At first I wasn’t crazy about this foundation then after seeing a tutorial on the proper way to use it, it turned out to be better than expected. 

And I concealed with Mac’s Pro Longwear concealer–which I use quite often, as you can see!

t’s a shame because had this been truly full-coverage, it would have been a great, great product.  It fell short.

Yesterday’s look.  Thanks to my other products, my face had decent coverage.

And that’s what drives me crazy about IT cosmetics.  The brand falls short with so many products. Remember the post I did on the iT eyeshadow palette? Allow me to refresh your memory: The Eyeshadow Palette You Should Not Buy!

The brand is touted for being very “mature woman” friendly.   First of all, how can a brand be mature woman friendly when they use the incredibly unfriendly “anti-aging” term? Think about it.

But what’s worse—either I’m the only “mature” woman who’s had an issue with iT’s creams, foundations and eyeshadows or the brand is pulling one over our heads!

Don’t get me wrong.  I adore the Vitality Lip Flush. I have four of them in the Je Ne Sais Quoi shade.

My friend Anna Marie got me hooked on this stuff!  It’s the best lip product out there!

And I have the Je Ne Sais Quoi Lip and Cheek Flush which I use specifically on my cheeks.  I’m on my second stick.

One of my “summer” go to’s.  I swipe it on sun-kissed cheeks and it’s beautiful!

And the Hello Light Crème Illuminator is fantastic.

 

And, as you can see, I use this quite often!

In the past, I’ve received generous samples of their various moisturizers that left me perplexed and flummoxed as to why my skin felt taut and dry after using them. I

The foundations—the same thing.  No hydration for this woman’s skin—go figure!

But I still manage to try to give the brand one more chance.  And one more time, it failed!

Overall Rating?  The Brush?  C–it does the job but not for this CC Cream.

CC Cream?  D-  to F. It failed.

Today’s face was rescued with The Ordinary’s Serum foundation!! I had hopes for iT’s CC cream but it was hopeless.

I stand by my thoughts that Deciem’s  The Ordinary’s Serum Foundation is one of the greatest foundations out there.  It even beats The Ordinary’s Coverage Foundation in the coverage department.  And both foundations are a lot less expensive than iT’s CC Creams and foundations.

What say you?  What brands are so hit-or-miss or what brands to you have a love/hate relationship with?  It’ll be a good share in the comments!

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The Mother-Of-The Bride Dress Saga Continues or, I Don’t Get Mad. I Get Even

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Catherine

With Oona’s wedding four months away, it was kindly suggested to me that perhaps I needed to get off my butt and start looking for a dress!

Bitmoji Image

Oh..and might I add that after watching what I’m eating BEFORE the wedding, I’ll eat her entire wedding cake the day OF the wedding!

Now, you know how I feel about “Mother-of-the-Bride” dresses.  They are beyond ugly.  They are downright “fugly”.  I’ve written about this in the past and trust me, things haven’t changed.  Click to read:  Why Are Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses so Freaking Ugly?

The rag trade continues to visualize mothers of brides (and grooms) to be frumpy, matronly and completely void of any style.

No.  Dusty Rose is not a flattering color and  even on the much-younger model, the dress is wearing her.  Not a good look!

My objective was to find a short dress that would suffice for my daughter’s wedding.  In my mind, I had a vision.  Very Audrey Hepburn, 1960’s with a bit of Jackie Kennedy thrown in.  Oona mentioned that maybe a long dress would be more fitting of the occasion because her bridesmaids are wearing long dresses and her dress is more on the formal side of bridal attire.

Mommy’s stubborn. I knew that somewhere out there was a dress for me.

I even went as far to order a dress from Overstock.com.  I found an Alfred Sung dress and when I showed my daughter, her reaction was that it was better left for the rehearsal dinner.  Don’t get me wrong—she liked the dress but felt it was a bit too…………………………basic for her wedding.

This is the dress I purchased from Overstock.com  The one I ordered is black and I’ve heard the dresses run small so I’ll be sure to count WW points!

No big deal because in October I’ll be attending the wedding of one of her friends and I can wear the dress I ordered. (And by then I’ll finally fit into the dress if it runs small!)

The online search was getting me a bit stressed to say the least and so, I marked this Saturday off to search for a dress.

Now, on Friday night Bonaparte and I attended a performance of the Opera, Don Giovanni, in Philly.  We got home at midnight and, well—you know the Frenchman…he insisted on sitting down to aperitifs and a store-bought roast chicken dinner. At midnight!  Since it’s Lent, I was concerned about eating meat on Friday, but I realized that after midnight is actually the next day!  And so, I considered the drinks and chicken to be my early Saturday breakfast!  By the time we went to bed it was almost two in the morning.

This version of Don Giovanni was chock-full of talent but the costuming left much to be desired! I want full-on traditional Mozart costumes!

And I woke up at 7 AM.  Giving me approximately five hours of sleep.

My first inclination was to just roll back under the covers and sleep for another three hours.  Then I realized that I needed to start that dress search because it could take a massive amount of time and weekends!

tired jet lag GIF

Yeah. I just wanted to stay in bed–but I had a mission!!!!

I prepared well.  Into my large tote bag, I placed two wigs.  Yes.  I need the right hair to match the right dress!  Also packed into the tote was a pair of three-inch heels.  Since there will be plenty of standing before the shoes come off, it was a pragmatic choice. Next item into the tote—padded bra inserts to assist in making my titties stand at attention if need be.  And last of the essentials was shapewear in the form of long-line panties.

Mother-of-the-Bride shopping essentials:  Additional hair, pointy-toed heels, shapewear and bra inserts!

And it all fit nicely into my tote bag!

As this was to be a serious mission, I wore very comfortable jeans, a white button-down shirt, a navy blazer and Converse low-top sneakers.  My makeup was perfect for this task and I chose a wig that could be worn in an updo.

Comfort is key!!  I’m NOT wearing heels to traipse around the mall!

With Bonaparte in tow (the poor man thought I was nuts for carrying so many essentials), we were off to the King of Prussia Mall!

Many women have told me they lucked out at Nordstrom so I was feeling very positive and excited that a dress would be found there.  We arrived just a few minutes after the store opened, and I knew my chances could be great to have an expert sales assistant assist me.

First stop–Nordstrom! I was so excited and anxious at the same time!  Would I find my dress?

That was not to be.

The “Special Occasion” dress area is located on the second floor.  We headed there first.  Bonaparte found a seat because he assumed, he would be sitting for a while as I looked around.  Already, the department was lively with many women around my age perusing the racks.  I found a sales assistant, a woman of mature age, and I felt confident.

As I approached her, I said my obligatory “Excuse me…but…” followed by “do you have Mother-of-the-Bride dresses that aren’t as frumpy and matronly as the ones on the floor?”  “Or do you have any Alfred Sung dresses?”

After looking at the likes of dresses like THIS at Nordstrom, I was justified in my choice of wording to the “Mature” woman sales associate!

After she figuratively threw darts at me, she curtly replied “No” and turned around and walked away. Perhaps it was my assertive approach and my absolute honesty about the inventory that made her not want anything to do with me.

That’s pretty-much the look I received when I asked if there were any “nice” and “up-t0-date” Mother-of-the-Bride dresses!

But—as a mother-of-the-bride, it is my duty and, I owe it to my daughter, to get a nice dress.  People remember two things at weddings.  The beauty of the bride, and, if the Mother-of-the-Bride has a hideous dress—they remember that as well!  The objective is to not take anything away from the bride and that means not wearing a dress so matronly, so awful, so unstylish that it does take away from the bride because, trust me—people will be noticing the ugly dress more!

And here’s a sampling of washed-out dresses for the MOB! 

Another woman who was standing close by started to laugh and told me that “…. you won’t find anything here!”  “I’m in the same boat as you are”. And she laughed again.

Not only is this shapeless but the sleeves are absolutely atrocious to the mature woman who’s arms may have become a bit flabby!  Who designs this anyway????

Now here’s the thing. And what I’m about to write does not apply to all sales assistants. Please—if you work in retail, realize that I’m only speaking about a small percentage—ok?  I’m not a fan of many “mature” sales assistants.  A number of them are what I, and some of my ex-coworkers from Nordstrom, used to call “sharks”.  They are out for one thing and one thing only—commission.  Their job is to move inventory at a cost that is beneficial to them.  They will find the ugliest, priciest dress in the department, insist you try it on and tell you that it is YOU!  Meanwhile, you are thinking you wouldn’t even put your worst enemy in the dress.

That woman checking out the dresses is the one who had a good chuckle at my inquiry.  The dress on the right–are you kidding me?  They only human to look fabulous in brown was Ronald Reagan. OK?

This type of sales assistant avoids customers who know what they want, are aware of their body shape, and have specific tastes.  Basically, the sharks of the retail business aren’t fond the knowing customer.  That makes it difficult for me to get the assistance I need, when in reality, there are times when a little assistance can help.  Remember this for later on in the post!

Beware the retail sharks!  They will hunt the vulnerable customer down and sell you anything to make commission!

After a quick look-see at the rest of the department, I was so disgusted because the sales woman lied by telling me they didn’t have Alfred Sung dresses.  These dresses are in the Wedding Suite at Nordstrom.  And so are bridesmaids’ dresses.  She  didn’t even suggest  that I even try looking at The Wedding Suite.  It’s this lack of customer service that leaves me wondering why Nordstrom pontificates on great customer service when, in fact, it is severely lacking in some circumstances.

Though not my personal style, this is closer to what a MOB dress should look like–and Nordstrom has dresses like this in the store’s Wedding Suite.  I should have gone there but I was just too disgusted.

As we left, I suggested we head to Lord & Taylor.  I’ve always heard that the store had great dresses and I hadn’t shopped in that store in a dogs age.  By this time, I was experiencing full-blown MOB anxiety.  I felt bad because I wished my daughter was with me, I was upset at the lack of help and selection at Nordstrom and I started to tear up.  Thank God I had my husband to remind me we had only been looking for a half hour!

Lord and Taylor.  It was high time to revisit!

As we approached the cocktail/mother-of-bride/special occasion dress department of Lord and Taylor, my spirits lifted.  The selection was stellar!  Short dresses, long dresses, fancy dresses, fancier dresses all sorts and I was hopeful.

Then it happened.  I headed up to the department’s cash register.  There were not one, not two, not three, but there were four sales assistants.  All women around my age (gee—what a surprise).

And when I asked about Alfred Sung, kind of Jackie Kennedy mother-of-the-bride dresses, shorter length dresses for the mother, three of the women ignored me and one gave me the once over and said.  “We have nothing like that.”  She then turned her back on me and proceeded to talk to another sales assistant.

 

Oh honey, the same can be said for some sales associates!

Is it me?  Was it the fact I was in jeans and ultra-cool Converse low tops with a J. Crew Schoolboy blazer that turned these women off to me?  Was it my nasal, Long Island/NYC Borough Girl accent that disgusted them?  Perhaps it was my crossed eyes or the fact I speak loudly that may have seem as though I had the plague.

..or perhaps the sales associates thought I was a working girl if you know what I mean….

Whatever the reason, I was now two-for-two with the mature lady sales assistants.  I would have fared better getting assistance by a college co-ed at Forever 21!

The saving grace?  Lord & Taylor’s spectacular selection!  Honestly, the choices were overwhelming—and in a rather underwhelming category of dresses, this was good.  Oh yes—this was very good!

I headed to a dressing room lugging my tote bag of essentials and about a dozen dresses.  With no help from a mature sales assistant, mind you.  Absolutely. No. Help!

Once inside the dressing room, I took my clothes off, changed into my shapewear, decided to change my hair and put my Sage wig on and hit the dresses.

…and a change of footwear and hair!

Let’s take a little peek at a few of the dresses I tried on.

This sheath dress by Guess. I absolutely loved it.  The 8 fit beautifully.  It had stretch, making it comfy to be on the dance floor.  Bonaparte liked it but wasn’t bowled over.  Thank God for cell phones because I took a pic and sent it to Oona.  She was “meh”.  I kept it in the “maybe” pile.

I stinking LOVE this dress!  I can’t help it.  The fit, the cut of the dress–everything–and I’m not a “lace” person but this dress….

There’s nothing about this dress I don’t love! But is it Mother-of-the-Bride kind?

Next dress was by Eliza J.  Neon Pink!  I picked up a size 10 because there were no 8’s and it was large in the bust area. Nonetheless, I loved the dress.  The drawback was the fabric.  Oona’s wedding is in July and the polyester fabric was very heavy.  My husband really liked this one too. Oona really did but said that the color was too loud.  Then I realized she was correct because her bridesmaid’s dresses aren’t a bright color.  Gotta think of the photos.  She asked if the same dress was available in a muted color.  It wasn’t.

What would I tailor on this dress?  The length. I would cut one inch off the hem to make it perfect!

A small slit and a one-shoulder cut.  Out of my normal range of style but I loved this!!

The size 10 was just a bit large in the top..it wasn’t a good thing when I bent over!

Next dress was a great frock which I really loved.  A knit top attached to a Dupioni skirt.  It was fun and flirty.  This was the one I had to go up two sizes and it was still a bit tight.  WTF is with the inconsistency in sizing anyway?

I. Love. This. Dress.

The “issue” with this dress?  It was too short.  At first, it didn’t seem that short, but when I bent over to test, I bent over in front of Bonaparte.  He said “NON!”  it was inappropriate for the wedding especially since I would be spending a good amount of time on the dance floor!

From a distance you can see that it is a bit too short for a MOB.  But it’s more about bending down when a dress is that flouncy at the skirt.  

Still, I think this makes a lovely party or date night dress!

Next up, a Fit n’ Flare deep blue dress with silver embellishments.  The 8 didn’t even zip up past me waist. Neither did the 10 or the 12.  Inconsistent sizing is not good for the ego.  That dress went in the “never” pile!

On the hanger, this dress had great potential–but the sizing was ridiculous!

Just for ha-ha’s, I selected two long dresses to try on.  Oona kept hinting around that a longer dress would be preferred. But in all honesty, I’m just not a long-dress person.

Regardless, I tried a black and gold-embellished number on and adored it. In fact, when I left the dressing room to show the husband, a woman came up to me to compliment me on how great the dress looked.  And still, no sales assistants approached me!  But customers did!

Another dress I absolutely loved and so did Oona.  Bonaparte hated it. 

Look!  I’m Angelina Jolie!  

Unfortunately, the top was huge–which meant sizing down!  Was this THE dress?

This was the dress that was too large.  Bonaparte didn’t like it because he said it made me look older—even with the slit!  It was daughter-approved and I had to find it in a smaller size.

The next dress was one that I figured nobody would like because it was just way too simple.  A Calvin Klein.  And it was the simplicity that drew me to it.  A long dress—surprise!  A high neck but sleeveless and a slim cut.  A built-in bra because the back was low—but still, very simple.

Basic.  Simple. Calvin Klein.  And this dress fit perfectly…

The back of this dress is beautiful–all that’s needed is a fake tan!  You can see the woman who took my photo.  She was going crazy over the dress!

Overall–a gorgeous dress and fit–but is it worthy of MOB status?

When I walked out of the dressing room, two more customers approached me to comment that this dress was absolutely stunning.  One of the women actually asked me if I wanted her to snap a pic –which she did and she also gave suggestions for jewelry!  And still—not one sales assistant approached me!

Oona thought the dress very simple—and I reminded her that the day belongs to her and not me. I would rather blend than stand out!

As I headed out of the dressing room to put a couple of the dresses away (Yes. I’m also that customer who puts clothing away. I may be loud and demanding but I’m obsessive about hanging the clothing back and putting it in its proper place), I passed to of the sales assistants who didn’t help me.  They were deep in conversation.

Then it happened.

One of the assistants turned around to say that the dress looked absolutely gorgeous on me.  I thanked her profusely then went in for the kill.  After thanking her I said …”and no thanks to you. All of you refused to help me when I asked for it.”

Hey—I call it like I see it.

Allow me to reiterate.  Nobody deserves to be ignored.  If a customer needs assistance, and the S/A’s are busy, it’s only normal and polite to wait your turn. I understand that. If the S/A’s are not busy then they shouldn’t hover around the cash register—they should be out on the floor.

I’m not going to tell you if I purchased a dress specifically for the wedding.  (I want it to be a surprise and the search continues) However, I did make a purchase of a dress that I could use.   And I did not purchase the dress in the department I was in.  I went elsewhere.

When the cashier told me that I could pay in the dress department, a can of worms was opened.  Without going into further detail, I explained why I was at her register.  She, Linda, being of sound mind and a pro at customer service, called the store manager over.

The outcome?  I was able to air my grievances to the manager.  And trust me, I also mentioned that Lord & Taylor has a great selection of dresses—especially for the mother of the bride or groom.

Ravi, the Lord & Taylor store manager.  He was very much the listener–which I appreciate and Linda knows her customer service!  Might I suggest looking for her if you are ever in the King of Prussia Lord & Taylor and need assistance!

I highly recommend going to Lord & Taylor’s online site to check out the selection of their dresses because it’s excellent and the in-store selection doesn’t fail.  Even better is that Ravi, the store manager explained to me that they are expanding on these dresses!  Smart move for Lord and Taylor—especially given that there’s a larger variety of “pro-aging” dresses that other stores lack.

Look—some of you may think I was overreacting and being a total ba-zitch. But I want to stress a point about customer service. These days more and more retailers are suffering the effects of online shopping.   It’s easier for those who don’t want to travel to a store.  It’s easier for those who work weekdays and are too spent to shop in the evenings and weekends.

Then there are those who want to see the goods first-hand.  Those are the ones who do in-store shopping.  And the more sales assistants (NOT ALL—JUST A PERCENTAGE) judge customers, or become picky about who they assist, the more customers will be drawn to online shopping.

And so, I don’t get mad—I get even.  Nobody in the dress department received commission on my purchase.

And it is a big mistake to ignore customers and not assist them.  I realize there are horrible customers out there but for the most part–all they want is to be treated fairly.

Tell me your thoughts.  Please.  Do you think I was being too much?  Have you ever been ignored by a sales assistant—and a mature one at that?  I’m really curious!

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More Skinny on The Skincare–Live Skincare With Me!!!

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Catherine

Isn’t it funny how we’ll discuss fashion and beauty in the form of makeup?  We can talk hairstyles, hair cuts and even wigs—but how regularly do we really discuss skincare?

Ahhhh….my wigs–this is my beloved Finn…

And one can never have enough eyeshadow palettes!

It’s more than slapping SPF on your face—but please.  Do make sure to use sunscreen!

I’m admittedly late to the skincare party.  It wasn’t until a few years ago that I became serious about my skin and over the years I tried a plethora of products.  Some great but at this stage, too expensive.  Some so-so.  And some not worth mentioning.

Bitmoji Image

True dat!  I may be late to the skincare party–but now I’m in full swing!

And with the onset of blogging, I’ve been very fortunate to receive skin care products to test out and review.

This is something that I enjoy because I get to discover products that are relatively new to the market within the past couple of years—i.e., the ever-popular serums.

Overall, my skin isn’t bad.  It’s merely aging.  And with age comes lines—some deeper than others.  We also acquire spots on our faces that aren’t the adorable freckles and we also experience dryness and redness.  And to tell you the truth, I don’t think any of us have really bad skin.  We’re just going through changes.

My naked skin–and YES, I’m in my pajamas because they are my “at home” uniform!!  Seriously.  My skin isn’t that bad–some freckles–some redness –some blotchiness but it’s not in dire straights!

Anyway, I received an email from Live Skincare asking me if I would be interested in testing out a few of the brand’s products.  They knew I wasn’t going to review overnight and I would take my time in trying the products.  And they were aware I would be giving my honest opinion.  So here goes ….

Before testing the products, I went on to Live Skincare’s website.  The website isn’t fancy.  It’s a rather simple and pragmatic one and easy to navigate.  But I balked when I saw the term………….” Anti-Aging”

Yeah.  Beauty companies expect you to believe you’ll turn back the clock to your youth.  I don’t wanna!  I just want glowing skin!

When will these companies learn?  I mean, really??? If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times— “Anti-aging” is such a vulgar, negative, demeaning, and unnecessary term.  It’s insulting to the mature woman.  You anti-age the moment your heart stops beating.

From the moment a baby leaves the womb of the mother, the aging process is in effect.  Aging is a great privilege because so many don’t get to experience true aging.  Seriously, man, anti-aging is an offensive term.

Oh yeah.  This guy is going to anti-age real soon–when he breaks his neck from trying to anti-age!

That being said, it was a strike.  But I fault the beauty industry as a whole for this term. Live Skincare isn’t the only company to use this.  The term runs rampant!

The website also doesn’t go into the minute details about the creator, Tamy, of the brand.  The products are developed by dermatologists but I want more deets on who they are.  Forget curious—I’m downright nosey!  I really wish the website would go into more dish about this.

OK, now that my rant is out of the way, let’s concentrate on the actual products.

Four products were sent to me:

The Live Skincare Radiant Cream Day and Night Moisturizer and three serums—The Hydration Serum, The Regenerate Serum and the Glowing Serum, a Vitamin C. Serum.

The Hydration Serum, the Regenerate Serum, the Radiant cream and.

And the Glowing Serum (Vitamin C) were sent to me.

All products are cruelty-free and fragrance free.

Each serum serves its own purpose.

The Hydration Serum comes in a 1-ounce bottle with a rubber-tip dropper.  It isn’t a thick serum at all.  The consistency is a liquid but not watery.  It glides on nicely and I’m going to tell you right off the bat, I’m now on my second bottle.  I use this in the morning before putting on a light moisturizer and primer.

The Hydration Serum..Good to the last drop!

The last drop was used yesterday morning.  This is very good stuff. It is very hydrating and no scent at all!

As you can see from the dropper, the serum is a clear and lightweight liquid–and there isn’t even a hint of fragrance!

The Glowing Serum –on the website it states that this helps to fade spots.  I did not put much faith in that.  But—let me tell you something.  I have this dark spot on the left side of my face.  It’s always covered with makeup.  Last week I noticed something.  I didn’t notice the dark spot.  The spot didn’t disappear, but it did fade. It faded quite a bit too.  I swear to you—I was shook! Shook!   And guess what?  Bonaparte has a few of those spots so he started using it!!  Truth.  This comes in a 1-ounce bottle.

I’ve circled the “age” spot that’s on my face. This was a lot DARKER before I used the Glowing Serum regularly.  I’ve been using it faithfully at night and sometimes in the day since January.  I was shocked that it faded.  Surprise!  It works!

The Glowing Serum.  And may I add that the packaging and labeling is very “no-nonsence” and sensible.  And even though I’m a sucker for cute packaging when it comes to makeup–skincare is different.  I like a more sensible label–it means it’s serious!

The Regenerate Serum is a serum that contains 2% Retinol.  I’m very cautious with serums containing Retinol.  I have a stronger Retinol Serum from another brand and my skin peels from it if I use too much.  This serum is a gentler one—most likely because the percentage of Retinol is less.  I apply this only at night and on the average three times a week.   My skin isn’t that sensitive to the elements but if you have super-sensitive skin, I would do some research on Retinol before purchasing any serum containing Retinol.  As with the other serums, this also comes in a 1-ounce bottle.

Many high-end moisturizers and creams come in 1 oz jars for a price that’s higher. the 2 ounce jar isn’t bad!

Radiant Cream Day and Night Moisturizing Cream. This is not your silky, lightweight cream.  No. This moisturizer is serious.  It’s the strongman at the circus. It is a thick moisturizer but not drying.  A little goes a long way and I use this at night.  Even though it is both a day and night product, I chose to apply at night.  The reason?  I wear a full face of makeup each day.  That means primer, foundation, concealer, contour, highlighter, blush and whatever else strikes my fancy. A lighter moisturizer for day is more suitable to my needs.  However, I bring this out at night and let it do it’s work whilst I’m in dream land!

And………………….it doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes!  In fact, none of these products were irritating to my eyes.  And that’s a great thing!

I’ve used this much since the beginning of January.  Every night.  

As you can see, it’s a thicker cream…

A small amount goes a long way. I dab this amount on each cheek and blend into my skin.

So, overall what do I think?

Well, I’ll tell you, I didn’t put much thought into it until I went to get my face waxed (those pesky lady whiskers) and Kim, the technician who does my nails and face, said that my skin was looking great.  She asked me if I was using different products.  That’s when I had my “aha” moment about these products.

Under this fully-made up face, there are no dry patches–which makes the makeup glide on.  So I can’t complain about what the Live products do.  I DO want to add a caveat.  The Retinol serum is stated as getting rid of dark spots but I digress–it’s the Glowing Serum that did the job!

My husband also mentioned that my skin was looking very nice.

Natural lighting. No filter.  This was taken yesterday morning.  The Frenchman has been admiring my skin so much that he took off with my Glowing Serum.  I’m off to order more when I finish writing this post!

Then I realized that during the months of January and February, the skin on my face wasn’t as dry as it usually is during the winter months.  I had no peeling (Retinol notwithstanding) and even when I was bare-faced, my skin didn’t feel dry.  That was impressive.

 

The pricing?  It’s fair.  The moisturizer is sold on the site for $39.99.   This isn’t drugstore pricing but it isn’t department store, luxury brand pricing either.  It falls smack in the middle.  For the 2-ounce jar, it’s a decent price because a small amount goes a long way.  There’s still plenty of product in my jar!

The pricing on the serums is very good.  You can order the Hydration and Regenerate serums for $49.99 each for a three-month supply.  The Glowing serum can be purchased at $26.99 for a three-month supply—which is really good!

This three-step PROAGING kit retails for $79.99 on the Live website.  I would rather see the Glowng Serum replace the Regenerate Serum in a kit–but that’s just me!  

It’s funny because every woman has a different need in her skincare regime.  Some are very brand loyal and others like to try different brands until they find one that works.

For me, I like to rotate brands.  My favorites from Live Skincare are the Hydration Serum and the Radiance Cream with the Glowing Serum coming in third.  Since I’m on my second bottle of the Hydration Serum, I’ll be ordering a three-month supply when I hit the bottom of the bottle.  I’ll definitely be ordering the Glowing Serum—especially since the husband has started to use it.

CAVEAT 2–I  am NOT receiving any kick-backs from this brand.  I’m recommending it because I like the way the products work.  Mind you–you won’t see a difference overnight but you will notice a change in your skin over the course of a month or so.  

If you would like to see more—I did a video review—it’s got some fun to it so I hope you enjoy! Chippy joins in on the fun AND there’s a story about my father trying to cure my acne with Ting–a product he used for Athlete’s foot fungus!

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