Can We Just Let Summer Be Summer? Please?

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Catherine

While sitting in my car on the commute home from work, in the long parking lot known as 422, the worst road in the Philadelphia area, I glanced quickly at the dashboard and noticed that the outside temperature was 96 degrees.

They say L.A. traffic is bad……………Route 422 is worse!

And it didn’t surprise me because we are in the throes of summer.  I honestly think that people forget that summer—especially late summer is generally very hot.

It’s hot and sweltering and I love it!!

It’s my kind of weather.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m a four-season kind of gal.  Fact is, I love the seasons because each one has its own personality and each season has a special quality.

Image result for four seasons

I’ll take those four seasons–in due time!

Fall brings that first day of the year known as sweater weather.  There is something so glorious about the air that changes from hazy, humid and hot into crisp, cool and breezy.  It makes you feel alive and the colors of the foliage are vivid and bright and life is toasty.

Image result for atypical60 halloween

And Fall brings Halloween.  I’ll tell you, I loved making my kids’ Halloween costumes–it was my favorite thing about Fall!

Paris. Montparnasse cemetary. Another view of the falling leaves against the stiffs

In October 2015, Bonaparte’s Aunt Daniele passed away.  I remember the Fall weather being much cooler in Paris than it was here and even though this is a photo of the cemetary in Montparnasse where she rests, this is one of my favorite photos of Fall.

Winter brings us The Holidays!  My favorite time of year.  Days are short and hot chocolate and tea are plentiful.  Sleeping with a ton of blankets is very comforting and it’s time for the stick-to-your-ribs food and al those wonderful baked goods and good cheer and family and friends!

Best part of Winter!  Christmas!!!!!

Worst part of Winter–having to put a hat and coat on just to run to the grocery store!

Snow may be pretty as it falls, but it turns into a slushy mess after a few days–and I miss sitting out on the deck!

But Holiday Dressing Up is fun!

And just when we’ve had enough of sleet, snow and ice, Mother Nature gifts us with Spring!  I always get a happy, tingly feeling when I see that first sprinkling of trees in their Crayola Spring Green leaves!  The sun is warming up, flowers are blooming, people are out and about and happy that winter is gone for another year.

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And those April showers in the Spring–they don’t bother me that much becawz…..

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The grass turns green, we get to wear our sneakers outside without socks and the flowers start to bloom!

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And–as in Fall, it’s the other season where I can wear my beloved blazers as outwear!

When Spring grows up, she turns into Summer.  And she’s one hot ticket!  Now’s the time to get rid of the shoes and dress your feet with sandals and flip flops.  It’s the time when Life’s a Beach! No coats, sweaters or panty hose needed—its time to bare those limbs!!

Ohhhhhhhhhh summer!  Boats and the sea…

Tans (fake, of course) and dresses you can slip into..

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And Sandals…

 

And bare feet…

And resting beach feet!!

Oh yes. It’s true. I thoroughly enjoy each season for what it means to me.  So why, then, must we rush summer?  The other three seasons never seem rushed to me.  I’ll hear people saying that they can’t wait until Winter is over but not with the ferocity that they will complain about their hatred for summer’s end.

Why?  Why can’t we just let summer be summer? In three weeks, Autumn will be a knockin’ at the door and guess what?  It’s still gonna be hot outside!!! My cool/cold weather clothing will be packed away until the first true frost!!

Being home from work and nursing a cold yesterday, I read in the news that it was day that Starbucks released its infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte.  Sorry folks, but I won’t be ordering one any time soon.  I’m still in the Iced Tea/Lemonade frame of mind because it’s still summer!  I don’t even like pumpkin spice and everywhere I go from here on in, I’ll have to smell that artificial scent of pumpkin and those disgusting cinnamon-scented pinecones that give me headaches!

As much as I love Starbz (my “special” name for Starbucks),  I’ll stick to the Skinny Chai Latte.  I can’t stand pumpkin anything!

Wegmans has Halloween candy on full display.  Halloween is two months away—has anyone given any thought to the freshness of the sweets that’ll be passed out to the goblins, ghosts and superheroes?  It would make me feel so much better if the candy wasn’t put out for the public until at the least, September’s end.

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The worst thing is that if I bought this stuff now, I would eat it all!

Why is everyone talking about transition wardrobing when it’s this hot outside?  I am certainly not ready to make the switch from sleeveless comfortable swing dresses to long sleeves?  Please don’t even mention the heavily-textured fuzzy scarfs or boots yet.  My feet are enjoying being sensually bare or enjoying the freedom of sandals.

Here are some Fall 2018 Trends–and speaking of rushing the season, it looks as though this photo was taken early last spring–check out the foilage.  PS.  I am happy that I’m not this trendy!

The flowers—or rather the flowers I haven’t killed yet are hanging out in the sunny atmosphere.  My fake tanner is doing its job so pleasantly.

Our flowers are still enjoying the summer and they’ll stick around for a while!

As is the air conditioning in my car!

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I would much rather be in an urban setting where I can take public transportation.  But as long as the A/C in my car works–I’m happy!

Earlier I was aghast while watching QVC.  Philosophy was selling some of their many bath and skin products and each one of them had a fall scent.  Apple Cider and Cinnamon Buns among the products and the hostesses of the show were getting all orgasmic about the “fall” scents of Apples and Cinnamon and they could feel the cold.  I would gather they were feeling the cold because the studio where they film is heavily air-conditioned.

I had to take a photo of this because the women on QVC were going all porno-crazy over the apple cider and cinnamon bun scent.  Ugh.  Stop. Just. Stop it already!!!!!

Why rush the season?  Why rush life?   I think one of the worst things that could have ever happened was sending children back to school in August.  That’s one of the main culprits.  After all, back in the day, we started school in September.  After Labor Day.

back to school summer GIF by Look Human

You got that right.  I’m a firm believer that kids should go back to school in September!  Let ’em enjoy a full month of August!

People were still enjoying the last of the late summer days.  That last week in August was a time when families used to go on vacations.  Now they get ready to organize car pools for extra-curricular activities that the children will be taking part in.  Why?  Why can’t kids just be kids and enjoy the end of August doing nothing?

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Get back to the beach one or two last times!!

What is the point of sending a child to school when it’s 90 something degrees outside?  They should be swimming.  They should be reading a book under a shade tree.  They should be playing stick ball or continuing to play Capture the Flag or Manhunt at night.

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The hot summer nights were made for neighborhood kids getting together for a game of Capture the Flag or more fun.  Summer + Kids is a great equation!

This is the time when you can still enjoy the longer days and the hot weather.  You don’t have to put a heavy layer of clothing on just to run to the store to buy bread or milk or something that you forgot.  You aren’t stuck indoors because it’s too cold to go outside.  You can enjoy the scents of the great outdoors such as grass that is still being mowed or the scent of the ground after a rainstorm!

ladybug rainstorm GIF

Enjoy that summer rain the way this little ladybug does!

So, let’s not rush it.  Enjoy the next three weeks as we bid farewell to Summer 2018 and welcome Fall!

summer dancing GIF by Fandor

Do the happy dance because soon it’ll be too cold to go outside dressed like this!

Speaking of seasons—how’s about a little Vivaldi??

 

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Snailed It! A Look at Korean Skincare!

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Catherine

Skincare products.  Can we have too many of them?  As my skin continues to pro-age, I’m always on the lookout for hydrating products that don’t cost a fortune.

This is just one minisule sampling of the skin care products that are in the house…

Let’s face it.  The promises that luxury brands make can be so misleading.   $100 and up isn’t going to make that pricey cream stop the process of aging.

Crème de la Mer, 16.5 oz.

Forget the $100!  16 ounces of this costs $2,160 at Neiman Marcus–but you get free shipping! I would rather put the money in a savings account for a neck lift.

If it did, we would all be strutting our stuff wrinkle-free like Perma Prest clothing—and even Perma Prest needed to be ironed!

Remember Perma Prest? My mother would iron Perma Prest clothing on the lowest setting. 

At this point, the most important quality of any skincare product I use these days is hydration.  Having skin that feels a bit plump, soft and full of moisture is paramount these days.  Nothing is getting rid of my lines except a face-lift or fillers that I cannot afford.

And for what it’s worth, I use cosmetics to even out my skin tone and get rid of the redness.

I am also well-aware of supplements that are taken in capsule form or powder form and consumed because “beauty starts from the inside out”.  That’s why I eat vegetables and fruit.  I’m not putting any supplements into my body because who knows what the long-term effects are? I’ll take my chances with putting stuff on me instead.

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I know many believe in putting this stuff into their bodies.  Unh Uh not me.  I’ll eat pig’s feet for collgen and vegetables and fruit for vitamins.

That being said, lately, I’ve been intrigued  by Korean skin care products containing snail slime or snail mucin—the benefits that it is natural and moisturizing.

Would I let snails crawl on my face?  Of course I would!  But it’s more pragmatic if I just buy products containing snail slime!

So off to Amazon I went and I let my fingers do the shopping at a snail’s pace! (Caveat–the prices on Amazon are better than on some of the Korean brands’ websites some of which are not secure sites so I didn’t add links)

I did go shopping at a snail’s pace

Not wanting to overspend, I limited myself to three products:

All In One Snail Repair Cream by Mizon, a Korean beauty company

The All In One Snail Repair Cream

Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule, a serum also by Mizon

Snail Repair Ampoule–a wonderful serum!

Gold and Snail Hydropatch by Petitfee, another Korean beauty company

In this little jar lies the most fun…under eye patches!

All three products contain snail slime.  All three products are extremely affordable.  For the 60 eye patches, the price was $11.15 and for the two products by Mizon, I paid $15.44 and I will purchase again.

Let’s take a look at the products.

Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule, Ingredients:  Snail Secretion Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethanol, Panthenol, Glycereth-26, Punica Granatum Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Trehalose, Copper Tripeptide-1, Human Oligopeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tropolone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Adenosine, Coptis Japonica Extract

It warms my heart to see Snail Secretion Filtrate as the first-added ingredient.  80 % in fact.  I’ll say that’s a darn good amount!

It’s a clear thicker liquid but very moist and spreadable!

The serum is a clear substance that drops out in a perfectly round little circle.  And that one little drop spreads all over your face evenly.  It does feel refreshing and hydrating.  It did not and continues to not irritate my skin.  It has no scent and dissipates quickly.   I’ve been using this before I add the…

One drop is all you need because…

It spreads beautifully and oh boy–it’s very hydrating!

Mizon All-In-One-Snail Repair Cream.  Ingredients:  Snail secretion filtrate, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, glyceryl stearate, hydrogenated vegetable oil, dimethicone, triethanolamine, carbomer, butylene glycol, peg/ppg-17/6 copolymer, polyacrylate-13, polyisobutene, polysorbate 20, sodium polyacrylate, caprylyl glyocol, adenosine, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, sodium hyaluronate, portulaca oleracea extract, betula platyphylla japonica juice, arnica montana flower extract, artemisia absinthium extract, achillea millefolium extract, gentiana lutea root extract, alcohol, camellia sinensis leaf extract, centella asiatica extract, copper tripeptide-1, Rh-oligopeptide-1, propylene glycol, rubus idaeus (raspberry) fruit extract, beta-glucan, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, disodium edta.

There’s a ton of moisture in this small jar..

….slightly tacky at first but that feeling disipates and the moisture is sealed in.

It’s nice to know that this contains 92% of the snail secretion filtrate!  This feels so nice because it glides on.  Slightly tacky but very “wet” with moisture when it dries the skin feels soft.  It isn’t like other moisturizers in that they can sometimes feel “filmy”—this has no filmy feel whatsoever after drying.  A small amount goes a long way!

Again.  This is no miracle product where your lines will completely disappear.  But it does give your skin a softness and suppleness that comes from hydration.

Gold & Snail Hydragel Eyepatch. Ingredients :   Water, Glycerin, Calcium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Snail Secretion Filtrate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethanol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77861, CI 77491, CI 77891, CI 77480, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Artemisia Princeps Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Fragrance.

The opened jar of the silicone eye patches.  They are floating in moisture.  These feel so freaking good it’s crazy!!

I was surprised to see that the Snail Secretion Filtrate was the ninth ingredient listed!  Considering water and glycerin as the first two ingredients added, though, made me realize why these patches are so moisturizing.  Do they work to get rid of wrinkles?  No. At least not for me they don’t.  But—they feel so freaking refreshing on the face.  And they do plump the undereye area up.

You can see from the photo that the patch covers a good area of skin under the eyes.  I’m telling you, I LOVE these!

Proof for me—I have a cold.  And a bad one at that. I woke up this morning and yesterday morning and my eyes were puffy in a very bad way.  My eyes looked like two little slots.  Very hooded and just sick looking.  I placed one under each eye and went back to bed to relax for a while.  After 15 minutes I placed the pads on the top of my eyelids and puffiness subsided.

Before and after.  I have a really bad cold and am home from work today.  When I woke up, my eyes were so affected by this cold that they were puffy and swollen.  I did use all three products today but I relaxed in bed for a while with those patches on my eyes and the puffiness went down as you can see in the after photo.  I also have makeup on but the makeup doesn’t get rid of puffy eyes!

These little silicone pads are also great at multitasking.  After using them for their original purpose, I reuse as “guards” when applying eye makeup.  They work wonders against shadow fallout and bottom lash mascara!  Of the three, this is my favorite simply because of the multitasking and the fact that my eyes feel great after using these.  I feel awake.  It’s a nice feeling!

We all like affordable.  We all want products that work to some extent.  I can honestly say that these products snailed it!

Seriously.  I’ve been using these products for almost two weeks now and I’m pleased.  

All of these products were purchased by me on Amazon.  I’m now waiting for the snail foam cleanser and the blur/primer to arrive.

Image result for mizon snail foam cleanser

Eagerly waiting for this cleanser to arrive!

Image result for beauty shot face blur

I’m interested to see how this primer works.  It isn’t expensive and hopefully it will do the job of being a decent blur product!

The price was right on both.  Have a look at my Korean Beauty Product Idea List to see some of the products and browse through Amazon to check out the products. It’s fun!!

You know–this whole aging skin thing can be somewhat daunting when you look in the mirror and realize that the face looking back at you has just gotten……well, old!  And we can’t erase the years away but we can still look our best!  We  need to work with what we have and try new items.  I have to say, I’m glad I hopped aboard the Korean beauty train.  The prices are right!

Have you tried any Korean beauty products?  Let us know in the comments!!!  And thank you!!

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Pro-Aging My Teeth By Whitening At Home!!

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Catherine

Earlier this summer, I received an email from Smile Brilliant, a company that created a tooth whitening system which can be used within the privacy of your own home.  And—it’s far less costly than whitening at the dentist’s office (and does  insurance even cover the cost of whitening your teeth at the dentist’s office anyway?).  They asked if I would be interested in trying out the Smile Brilliant Whitening System for review.

It was intriguing to me because as I’ve aged, my teeth aren’t as bright as they used to be in my younger days.  A lifetime of drinking tea (I come from an Irish tea-drinking family), decades of drinking coffee, red wine and just the nature of things have caused my teeth to fade into a lighter shade of yellow rather than a lighter shade of pale!

I’ll explain how I went from more yellow on the left, to a brighter shade of pale on the right!

But—the good thing is genetically, I’ve got strong choppers.  Other than a front capped tooth from opening a package of hot dogs with my teeth (don’t ever do that—I ripped the enamel right off my tooth), every tooth in my mouth is mine.

Regardless, I thought it would be a good idea to try the Smile Brilliant system out to see if it worked.

When my package came in the mail, I was both excited and apprehensive.  And the box was chock-full of materials to use along with reading materials and very specific instructions on how to use them in order to start the process of brightening my dull teeth!

Simple packaging but when opened…

It was Christmas for teeth!  I’ll admit it was a bit overwhelming–with the base paste, the catalyst paste, the trays for the molds, the whitening and desenitizing gels!  Would I be capable of using this?

These plastic trays would be filled with the putty made for taking impressions of my teeth…

These pastes would make the putty to take the impressions and Smile Brilliant gave a good amount of this!

And last but not least are the two gels that would bring brightness back to my dull, aging teeth!

The instructions were very clear and concise and definitely easy to follow.

The first step was to make the impressions of both my upper teeth and my lower teeth.  To do this, the catalyst past and the base paste are kneaded together until a blue putty is achieved.  The putty is then placed into a blue mold and then you put the mold with the putty in your mouth.  If you mess up, the kit comes with extra catalyst and base pastes.

I bit down on the cold putty that was in the blue tray and relaxed a bit…

Then I repeated the process on my bottom teeth.  You can see from this pic that my top teeth are looking a bit on the dull side..

I followed the directions, and when I took the mold from my mouth, I compared it to the photo of the “good” impression that came with the instructions.  It looked fine to me –and so, I placed the molds in the pink envelope that Smile Brilliant included and sent it off! I was trying to imagine what the clear custom fit trays that would be sent back would look and feel like!

I must say, I was impressed with my impressions!  For once in my life I followed instructions!!!

I filled out a little card, placed the molds in this pretty pink envelope and waited!!

There’s nothing like anticipation.  And I was really getting excited about the clear trays being sent back to me.  I was also nervous that I would get a notice that my impressions weren’t good and I would have to redo them.

Alas!  The trays for my teeth arrived and they were perfect!  They fit my teeth like a glove. I’m not kidding—but more on that later.

I was so excited to receive the envelope containing my clear trays molded to my teeth!!

The clear trays came housed in this cute little case.  My main objective beside bleaching my teeth was making sure Chippy wasn’t able to find this and snack on it.  He’s the dog who will eat anything in his path!

Here’s the trays.  They were molded beautifully!

The night before I planned to start the process I was eating pistachios and cut my gum on a shell.  Don’t judge.  Yes.  I was opening the shells with my teeth—you would think that after my hot dog package incident I would learn my lesson.

So, a few days later and I was finally able to start the bleaching/whitening process.

TThe first step is to line the molds with the Desensitizing Gel that comes in plastic syringes.  This is key for the comfort of your gums.  Following the instructions to snap open the cap of the gel, I filled the trays with the proper amount, fit into my mouth and kept it there for 25 minutes.  The instructions state from 15-20 minutes but I gave myself an extra five.

I lined the clear trays with a light coating of the Desensitizing Gel..

And waited 25 min.  YOU CANNOT TELL I HAVE THE TRAYS IN MY MOUTH!!!! The fit is THAT good!

When time was up, I spit out the gel and after wiping the trays from the desensitizing gel,  applied the whitening gel to the trays and popped them back in my mouth.

Next step–Whitening Gel!!!

I did a teeth-whitening Flamenco dance!  In place of a rose in my mouth, I danced around with the syringe!

Easy peasy and quite fun.  I’m just in love with these clear trays!!

Ain’t gonna lie.  I love the trays.  They feel so good and the way they fit is just so perfect.  You can’t even tell you are wearing them—I went shopping with them on.  A slight lisp was the only detection that I had them in my mouth.  The other great thing about these trays is that I’ve worn them without the gels because they are a great diet aid!  I don’t eat anything when the trays are on my teeth!  Smile Brilliant should only know that the clear trays are multi-taskers!  Add to that, when I slept with them on, I didn’t grind my teeth!

Oh and these trays are a great diet aid and keep you from grinding your teeth at night!  Now if they could only pick out a winning lottery ticket for me…

You can whiten your teeth anywhere in the window of 45 minutes to three hours.  It depends on your sensitivity level.  I’m about as sensitive as a moose in the forest during the middle of a snow storm so for me, I went the full three.

After the first session I did notice brightening on my top teeth, and were surprised that my bottom teeth were noticeably lighter.

First session over and I noticed a difference.

The second session had me admiring the job on my top teeth a bit more.

A lazy day with not much to do–but a great day for taking care of my teeth!

I even managed to film a YouTube Chat video with my clear trays intact.  I’ll be doing a video review on the teeth whitening sometime next week!

Getting brighter after the second session!

Now—I did an experiment during the third session.  I didn’t use the desensitizing gel.  Since I was reviewing, I wanted to be completely transparent and wanted to see if the desensitizing gel really worked.

It did.  Without prior application of the desensitizing gel, and straight to the whitening gel, my gums burned.  But not enough to make me stop the session.  The burn went away after a half hour. Still, I would not advise using the whitening gel without using the desensitizing gel first.  It really is a very necessary step.

The end result after four at-home sessions is that I’m very pleased.  I’ll definitely be using this before Oona’s wedding next summer.  Did my teeth become the pearly white chicklets that we see on celebrities, models, and Instagram beauties?  No. They did not—and I wasn’t expecting them to either.  Although my teeth needed brightening, I’ve never had pure white teeth.  They’ve always been more of a vanilla shade.  And the years have dulled them.  In fact, I’ve had my teeth professionally whitened when I was in my thirties and Smile Brilliant did as good a job if not better!

There are different kits to choose from with price points of $149 up to $189.  The kits come in a variety of strengths.   And it’s worth the money.  Another good thing is that the whitening and the desensitizing gels can be purchased separately without the kids.  I plan on getting more!

Overall, how would I rate this?  A solid A.

My rating is based on the comfort and ease in using the system and the fact it does what it says it will.

As we age, so many body parts change.  One of the changes is with our teeth.  Our enamel isn’t as strong as it once was.  Years of coffee, tea and wine stains can make our aging teeth dull and discolored.  Smokers have it worse.  And the other thing is that many are on fixed incomes and this is a more affordable way to add some luster and brightening to your teeth than to go to the dentist.

Toothcare is more than just brushing and flossing our teeth and this is more of a beauty product for your teeth!  And that’s a good thing because our pro-aging teeth should be beautiful too!

Like the rest of me my teeth are pro-aging.  And they have gotten lighter and brighter!   Enter the giveaway because you’ll have nothing to lose!!  I won’t steer you wrong!

Wanna try to restore your teeth to their youthful and brighter beauty?  Here’s a coupon for 15 % off your purchase. Copy and paste  atypical6015 to yourSmile Brilliant purchase!

And, for an additional burst of brilliance, there’s a giveaway!!! It ends two weeks from today–on September 6th!!!  And is open to all my friends in the USA, UK Australia and Canada!!!!!

Giveaway link: http://www.smilebrilliant.com/g

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Kat Von D “Lock-It” Foundation. Holy Cannoli This is a GREAT Foundation for Mature Skin!!!

Posted on August 19, 2018 by Catherine

Once again, I’ve been on the search for a foundation that is “mature skin” friendly.  I’m also searching for makeup that I can wear for the transition from summer to fall.

That’s right ladies!  I’ve been on the search for yet, another, mature-skin-friendly foundation!

Now, normally during the dog days with the heat and humidity, I try to keep away from foundation, concealer and contour.  The eyes and lips are enough—especially since I’m in front of a computer at work all day.

So, I did some research and kept going back to the Kat Von D “Lock-It” foundation.  Wayne Goss loves it and you know how I love Wayne Goss.  Besides, I think Kat Von D is a very pretty young woman and her cosmetics line is very intriguing to me.

Kat Von D.  She’s so pretty. I think we wear the same red nail polish.  We’re practically twins–many years apart!

Too lazy to head out to the mall because after working all day, I just want to get home, I headed to the Kat Von D Beauty website.  The good thing about shopping online is that you can usually get some kind of great deal.   Lo and behold, there was a special on the Lock-It foundation.  A foundation and brush duo for $42.00.  The foundation alone is $35, and the foundation brush is $24.  It seemed like a good deal.

Foundation Power Pair Set

I bought this. duo and it was quite the deal!  Allure likes it but more important is–do I like it?

The only conflict was choosing a shade. It’s difficult enough to choose the right shade in real life and online images can be cause for error!  I went with the “44 Cool Light” shade and crossed my fingers.

Here are the shades of the Lock It foundation.  Thank you  for doing this Beauty Professor.  I’m a huge fan of yours!

Delivery was quick and in three days the new foundation and the brush arrived at my door!

The foundation is housed in a long cylinder with a pump.  The pump is great because just the right amount comes out.  The brush is excellent. It blends well and even.  A beauty sponge also does a fantastic job of blending the foundation too.

I’m a sucker for packaging and I love the way the foundation is housed in this sleek pumped cylinder!

The brush is also very sleek!!

Skin primed, I dotted the foundation on and blended in.  This is touted as full coverage.  It is.  And one pump goes a long way.  The foundation does dry quickly and once it dries, it’s not going anywhere.  But when it dries, your skin is well-hydrated.

One pump is all you need!!

Let’s take a look at how this foundation worked—shall we?

My naked face.  Nothing–absolutely nothing but a bit of primer is on this.  Now you know why I love makeup so much!

Face primed and ready to apply the foundation.  Proof, though that this foundation ain’t going anywhere.  I turned my hand around and the foundation stayed put.

The little pump gives you just the right amount of product!

Just press down on the top of the cylinder!

No drip. No sliding off my hand. This stays put!

I applied with the brush…

…and then set in with a blending sponge.  This sponge from Real Techniques is my favorite!

I applied to half of my face so you could see that this is full-coverage!

After blending and buffing the foundation in, I was ready for the rest of my village–Um–I mean, CITY of products to make me look great!

Before and after.  Kat Von D’s Lock-It Foundation is a winner!

And when I wore the foundation to work this week–it stayed put until I scrubbed it off!

The foundation doesn’t cake up and doesn’t collect in the fine lines.  For a pricier foundation, this is great!

Yo. Kat–giving me the side-eye because you knew I would love this?

Overall, I rate this foundation A+.  Yes. It is an absolutely stellar foundation and I will be purchasing a backup very shortly!

I’ve been working long hours the past week and haven’t been able to post much.  But I am trying to get back on track.  Now that we’re at the “end” of summer (even though we still have a month until autumn officially arrives), with schools starting soon and whatnot, it can be that time when we get antsy about wearing our summer clothes.  I’m sorry but that’s not the way I feel.  I love not having to wear a ton of layers and I adore not having to load on the outwear.  Summer clothing is very comfortable and free to me.  Here’s a look at what I wore this week!

It’s rainy and damp today but I’m still comfortable enough to wear shorts!  I took this lightweight plaid shirt outta the closet to wear and realized that I should have worn this more during the summer! Those Palm Beach Sandals are so comfy!!

On Friday I wore my favorite ten-dollar dress that I got last year at Old Navy–worn with my Rondini bikini sandals I felt like I was back in St.Tropez.  Until I got out of my car and walked through the parking lot to the office!!!

Thursday I wore this because the weather was not that good in the morning and the A/C at work is always pumped so cold. It wasn’t until I left the building that I realized the weather had changed and it was hotter than haites out there!

My lips look like “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane”  but I love the simplicity of a white tee and black pants.  These shoes got a ton of compliments at work!!!

I’m not big on prints and I threw this skirt in the trash but retrieved it and I’m glad I did because it’s one of my favorites.  This is a nice summer office look

Sometimes you just don’t feel like shaving yur legs and that’s where maxi’s come in.  This one by Old Navy is a classic.  Another pair of Palm Beach Sandals that I ordered for $39.99 on sale (not to be confused with Jack Rogers).  They are so comfortable.  Ugh–I’m really not looking forward to the cold weather!!

I did a YouTube video earlier today reviewing the KatVonD LockIt foundation.  But–I also had a bit of a rant to the beauty industry.  Here it is.  It’s kind of long but I think women in our age demographic should see it!!

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Why Are Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses So Freaking Ugly?

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Catherine

As the “Mother-of-the-Bride” I’ve so much to do before my daughter’s wedding next summer. Like stick to Weight Watchers to lose 15 pounds.  And to find a Mother-of-the-Bride dress!  Oh yeah. And I need to help my daughter pick out her dress too.

I’ll stop eating cheese after Christmas.  Actually, I’ll stop EATING after Christmas!  I have to get in shape for the daughter’s wedding!

But let’s talk about me. To keep me at bay, Oona gave me the “go-ahead” to look at MOB dresses but not to buy anything yet until the bridesmaids dresses are decided upon.  I think she’s petrified that I will buy a dress like her bridesmaids.  And that’ll only happen if they wear short dresses!

I promised not to wear anything that will embarrass her…

And besides not wearing anything to embarrass Oona, I won’t embarrass her with my actions–although I’ve been known to sizzle!!

But I do need a dress that I can run around on the dance floor in..

That’s right–I need a dress that I can have fun in.  

Seriously.  In my head, I know what look I’m going for.  Very Audrey Hepburn.  Very Jackie Kennedy circa 1964.  And I have to look in the Bridesmaid’s section for the dresses I like because the Mother-of-the-Bride dresses are hideous!

THIS is the look I’m going after and THIS is the dress I want. And pockets no less! But I made a promise I wouldn’t buy anything before the bridesmaids picked out there dresses…

But seriously.  This type of dress, pointy-toed kitten heels and a wig in an updo is Mother-of-the-Bride perfection for me!

For those of you who aren’t at this place yet, I can only hope that by the time you are a mom of the bride, the fashion industry changes things because presently, the pickins’ are slim to none for a hip, chic, classy and timeless dress.  The fashion industry has, once again, placed the mature woman of a certain age in the category of “no style” “frumpy” “matronly” “granny” “farty” and “downright effing ugly” back of the room.

The fashion industry sees me as the meddling  mother in Bye Bye Birdie…

And stereotypes me and my demographic as this.I would actually feel better if the fashion industry saw the older woman like Julia Roberts before the infamous Pretty Woman makeover!

The fashion industry continues to exhibit a of preponderance of ageism! Why?  Why do they do this?

Image result for matronly woman

I’m surprised I haven’t seen this getup in the Mother-of-the-Bride section!

Adding to the actual lack of fashion the advertisers insist on using women in their 20’s to model these atrocious frocks.  Think about it?  A 25-year-old mother of the bride?  What? Is she a freak that got pregnant at three years old?  Now that’s some ageist food for thought!

These are Mother-of-the-Bride dresses.  And for formal attire, they aren’t THAT bad–but I wouldn’t wear any of them.  What REALLY gets my goat is the age of the model.  She ain’t no 50 or 60 year old!

Let’s take a look at what I’ve found.  Shall we?

What is that hideous broach for? It cheapens the entire look of the dress.  The sleeves are ridiculous. You eat at weddings, those loose sleeves are sure to either get soaked by a drink or fall into a plate of food.  There is just too much material on this dress.  The dress will wear the mother rather than the mother wearing the dress.  It’s all wrong and uncomfortable looking.

It’s bad enough the 20-something model is trying to look old and stern, but the color of this dress is like wallpaper paste. If this model looks washed out, the mother-of-the-bride will look like she needs a night in the ICU!  The length is so frumpy it is sickening and don’t even get me started on those shoes.  Just. Don’t!

What’s with the washed-out colors?  And the overabundance of fabric in the skirt?  You can house a family of six under that skirt!  The length–mommy will trip, fall, and end up with a hip replacement by the time the newlyweds come back from their honeymoon!

I take it this Mother-of-the Bride watches Game of Thrones–or thinks she’s Stevie Nicks from the 1970’s. Let’s try to eat and drink with that dopey cape.  And another dress to trip over..

This dress is a complete lack of style.  WTF is on her feet?  Hurraches??????

I suppose this is a Mother-of-the-Bride Kentucky Derby ensemble?  Whatever it is, it’s a costume!  First of all, if  MOB is wearing a chapeau such as this, an updo is more flattering.  And once again, nothing like a color that will wash you out.  Is the bland look popular or something?  The length is off–too long. It should be shorter.  And if she’s on the dance floor, those underarms are going to darken ten shades due to sweat!

The other thing that kills me is that I’m not going for an expensive designer look.  My goal is to spend as little as possible on the dress.  I don’t want to spend over $225.  That’s my limit.  Between the dress and the shoes, I am pretty sure I can make it come in for a lesser total.

I can do this look without breaking the bank—or falling over fabric and breaking a leg!

My daughter’s wedding day will belong to her—and it will be all about her; as well it should.  But all I want is for her to be proud of me.  And for her to think I look great for her.  I can do that!

Oh dear God, I don’t want my search to end with me saying this because I couldn’t find a great Mother-of-the-Bride dress!

So, what say you?  If you’ve been a Mother-of-the-Bride, did you have a challenge to find a dress?  If you are in the same position as me, how’s the dress search going?  Am I being too fussy?

Seriously though. I’m so happy for my daughter that if she asked me to wear a paper sack, I would!  And I can’t wait to go shopping for her wedding dress with her!!!

She’s given me permission to come up with a playlist for the DJ.  I want some good classics on the dance floor.  And we have to have this  song that Bobby Darin made iconic.  From Threepenny Opera…….

 

 

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The Shoes of Summer. Sandals, of Course!

Posted on August 12, 2018 by Catherine

It could seem a bit odd that I’m writing about sandals this late in the season but better late than never.  Besides—as much as I love shoes, during the summer months, I enjoy giving my feet respite from being closed in to tighter footwear, heels and boots.  It’s kind of like giving my feet the freedom they so deserve.

Image result for atypical60 barefoot

Like taking my bra off as soon as I arrive home from work, my feet need to be free of closed-in shoes at times!

The opportunity to be in St. Tropez to purchase another pair of Rondini sandals in person has passed me by for 2018.  However, the opportunity remains to order through their website. Rondini Website

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I never miss an opportunity to get a pair of sandals from Rondini!

Let’s talk about what I love about these sandals.

They are custom made for the feet.  When you go to the Rondini Shop, your feet will be measured in both length and width.  Yes—whether your feet are wide or narrow—you will get the best fit for your feet.  The sandals will be constructed at the shop and will be made within moments-although my foot is so narrow that for one of the pairs I had to go back a couple of days later.

Rondini sandals from Left to Right:  Bikini; Pouche Tresse; Salome

L to R:  Sahariennes 2M, my first pair ever and the Tropeziennes–my second pair!

But the beauty of ordering online is that the sandals will be delivered to your door.  And for custom made sandals, the price isn’t much more than the higher-end sandals you can buy here in the U.S. of A!

The leather sole simply does not wear down. It’s amazing!

These Tropeziennes are about eight years old and have been worn every summer, many times and the heel hasn’t worn down either.  For the money, and the price per wear, these were a great bargain because they are worn year after year after year!

The sandals just mold to your feet…

..and over time, the leather builds up to a nice patina finish..

Image result for atypical60 Rondini

This photo was taken last year but I’ve worn these a lot this summer..

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The Tropeziennes are the most comfortable sandals I own.

Image result for atypical60 Rondini

Ain’t they purty?????

Speaking of the USA.  The next sandals I’m going to talk about are very “All-American”.  And the two brands have the same designed sandals.  But they are both different fits and different levels of comfort.

What’s more American than sandals with strawberries on them?  Ouch.  One leg is fake tanned darker than the other–how’d I do that?

The two?  Jack Rogers and Palm Beach Sandals.  Part of the preppy uniform.  Part of the American woman uniform.  Part of the Southern girl uniform.  And my girl Jackie Kennedy wore those Palm Beach Sandals all summer long!

I found this little comparison chart online and have to say, it’s pretty-much on point!

Palm Beach Sandals is the brand the Bonanno family created and created for Jackie Kennedy.  But somewhere along the line, Jack Rogers took over in popularity.

Image result for jackie kennedy palm beach sandals

Jackie in her Palm Beach Sandals.  My heart skips a beat when I see the way she dressed!

The difference between the two?  Well, in appearance—not much.  But in fit and construction.  Quite a bit.

Jack Rogers….

….or Palm Beach?  You be the judge!!!

Jacks have a synthetic sole and a leather upper, whereas Palm Beach Sandals are all-leather.

Synthetic sole….

vs. leather sole?  Hmmmmmm…

The Jacks, in the past haven’t had cushioning in the heel—making them very uncomfortable to wear until broken in.  Also—the Jacks have leather that stretches out to no end.

Look closely and you’ll see the outline of the cushioning in the heel of the Palm Beach sandals. 

My old Jack and no cushioning although my strawberry Jacks do have a bit of cushioning.  The brand may have tweaked the sandals a bit!

The heels of the older Jacks that I have are separating from the sole. Granted, these are old but not so old that this should happen on a quality sandal.

With the Palm Beach sandals—the upper sole is a bit wider than the Jacks, but the strapping across is made more with a better fit for a narrow foot.  There is cushioning in the heel area and my preference is that the Palm Beach sandals are a much better fit for me.  They are far more comfortable.

The upper foot area is slightly wider on the Palm Beach Sandals but the straps give a more narrow fit–which is perfect for narrow feet!

I’m definitely a fan.  The fit of the Palm Beach Sandals work better for me!

That isn’t to say that I abhor Jacks. In fact, I purchased a cute novelty pair of Jacks recently from Nordstrom Rack for $59.00 and they are pretty comfortable.

I have to admit, though, that I do like the style of these Jacks better than the other Jacks I have.  The strawberries are just so much fun and summery!

Both brands run in the $100 to $118 area for most models but you can find deals on them.  Jacks can be found at Nordstrom Rack.  I purchased the Palm Beach sandals for $39.99 per pair from Something You boutique on sale.  You gotta look around!

A few months back I ordered a pair of Tory Burch flip flops.  The Tory Burch company sent me a gift card for a pair of returned boots.  The boots were an awful fit and took years to break in.  The same thing with the Reva flats that I have from Burch. They were a bitch to break in!

Tory Burch Black Terra Flip Flops on the left.  My old pair of fancy Old Navy $4.00 flip flops on the right!

I gave the brand another chance when I ordered the flip flops.  (I believe the brand no longer makes these) All I have to say is that for the $79.00 or more that they retailed for, they are an absolute rip-off.  How can a flip-flop possibly be uncomfortable?  I can’t answer that but Tory Burch managed to do so.

They are only comfortable when I’m sitting down.  People pay for the TB logo.  Ugh.  What a waste of money–thank God I used a gift card!

The four-dollar Old Navy flip flops that I purchased many years ago and are still going strong are a million times more comfortable.

Birkenstocks.

Image result for birkenstocks

People love ’em.  And I know they are comfortable but this isn’t my cup of tea.

No. I don’t own any with the exception of a rubber pair I picked up last year or the year before.  They are comfortable enough but the way the sole is molded, the fit is just a bit off for me.  I know so many women who love Birks and I’ve tried the regular ones on and they are comfortable but they style just isn’t for me.   I may give them another chance though.

When I made the purchase the $19.99 price seemed right but the top of the foot doesn’t fit me 100 percent.  They are comfy though. I’m wearing these as I write this.

Whatever style you like or whatever your budget, sandals, in my most humble opinion are a great choice for summer footwear.  Let your feet breathe!  Let them loose because come October, those dawgs will be back to closure until May or June!!!

But remember—look for sales and make sure those sandals are comfortable because during these summer months we are on our feet a lot longer than in the winter months!

Make your feet smile the way you do!!  And enjoy the rest of the summer!

 

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Who Needs The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale When You Can Get The Goods At Nordstrom Rack?

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Catherine

That “N-Sale”. Everyone raves about it.  Bloggers abound as well as influencers get all warm and fuzzy over it. They rave about what you have to buy—mostly because they are getting a commission from that “N-sale.”  I’m actually happy the sale is over!

Whatever happened to the timeless, classic Nordstrom I used to know and love?  These days it’s all about what’s “On Trend.”  

Over the past couple of years, the sale has taken a serious turn from selling classic and timeless goods and has turned over to the young and trendy. Thank God for J. Crew sales is all I can say!  Don’t get me wrong—in the past I’ve gotten great buys on leather Longchamp bags and boots—but those buys are no longer to be found.

Image result for atypical60 longchamp

Image result for atypical60 leather longchamp bag

These two leather Longchamp bags were great buys at past Nordstrom Anniversary Sales.  I did not see these at the sale this year.

 This year’s sale brought and bought forth for me nothing more than panties and a bra.  And I could have gotten the bra at Nordstrom Rack for a better price.  Oh well.

My big Anniversary Sale purchase.  A Natori Feathers bra and Hanky Panky panties.  I could have bought the bra for a lesser price at Nordstrom Rack!

Anyway, after perusing the Nordstrom site to see if any of my favorite brand of jeans, AG Jeans were on sale.  I did see that a few pairs were.  But they were still pricey.  So, me, being as frugal as my Frenchman would like, headed over to the Nordstrom Rack site.

AG Legging Ankle Super Skinny Jeans–$225.

This pair of AG Jeans was priced for Nordstrom Anniversary Sale at $168.

And not only did I find one but I found two pairs of AG Jeans.  Both around $70 each.  And they were well-worth the purchase! In fact, the two pairs that I purchased came in costing less than one pair of AG Jeans on sale over at the Anniversary price!

Image result for nordstrom rack

I find myself shopping here more these days rather than at Nordstrom

Let’s have a look at the jeans I purchased.

The first pair I purchased was originally $215.  I paid $70. 

They are skinny jeans with a raw hem–which is as trendy as I’ll get with a pair of jeans.  But they are classic with an edge.

Here’s a better view of the hem.  I also like the color wash of these jeans.

The waist has a higher mid-rise cut, which I find to be the most universally flattering

The overall fit of AG is great.  The size 29 fits beautifully.  The brand hugs curves and if you are curvy AG is a great jean!

The original price tag from the second pair that I purchased–also around $70

A lighter wash and a skinnier jean.  This is the same 29 inch waist size.  

I got a little gut and the jeans stretch nicely over it.  Let’s face it–most of us don’t have 6-pack abs!

Overall, another great fitting jean.  I’ll be getting a lot of use out of them once the weather cools off!  It’s just way too hot for me to wear jeans now.  

Seriously—the point I’m trying to convey is don’t be taken in by all sales.  Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale has become iconic.  However, it doesn’t mean that because it’s an iconic sale that it’s the best sale around.  Because, quite frankly, I don’t think it is.  You can do better at Nordstrom Rack.  And you can also do better at end-of-season sales. And you can do better at online sites.

Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean you HAVE to buy it!

The jeans that I purchased are my fall/winter wardrobe additions.  There are enough articles of clothing packed away for the upcoming cooler times to keep me well-clothed and stylishly clothed from October through next April.

I should have taken my own advice when it came to this Natori Feathers Bra. It’s $29.99 at Nordstrom Rack.  I paid $40 at the Anniversary Sale!

I wish you happy shopping and smart shopping! And with Labor Day approaching, you’ll be finding some terrific bargains as retailers make way for winter clothes and Holiday shopping!

……especially during the Holidays!!

Do you like Julie London?  I was listening to her in the car today.  I love her voice.  Here’s her version of “Cry Me a River”.  I think it’s the best!

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Do You Margu? I Sure Do! And Here’s Another Wig Review!!!

Posted on August 5, 2018 by Catherine

Are you admiring my poetic ability–LOL??  Let me tell you–things were not going as planned earlier today.  Another unwanted “update” on my laptop caused yet, another glitch that prevented me from filming much needed wig reviews on my YouTube channel.  And after running out of the house with my laptop, driving to Best Buy in this atrocious heat, heading to The Geek Squad counter only to find out I could not get an appointment until 4:30 this afternoon, I almost gave up.

But when I arrived home and glanced in the mirror, I saw a reflection of a great head of hair that held up in the sweltering atmosphere and I had to do something about that laptop.  So, I uninstalled the camera then reinstalled it and was finally able to make the video reviews.

Seriously folks. I ran out with no lipstick-NO LIPSTICK!!! And only eye makeup and when I saw my reflection in the mirror I said to myself “Who is that woman with the beautiful head of hair”–and it was me!

See what confidence a great head of hair can give you?  When your hair looks great, you can do anything—even fix a laptop’s camera!

laptop GIF

So true.  My laptop is such a cause for unwanted stress. I’m scared of it.  But with this wig–I was empowered to take it on!!!

And what great head of hair was this?  It was Hayden.  A spectacular wig from Henry Margu.  I was very, very fortunate to have the brand reach out to me and ask if I would be interested in reviewing a wig or two for them.  Naturally, I was curious.  I’ve seen many wigs by Henry Margu on sites where I purchase from and I was a bit familiar with the brand from watching reviews by Taz of Taz’s Wig Closet.  I also knew that the brand started out some years ago as a milliner and somewhere along the line switched over to creating wigs– but I didn’t have any of the Margu wigs.

So, what happened when Hayden arrived?

The wig arrived within two days.  I was so excited to see what awaited me…

When I opened the box and saw the color of this wig my heart skipped a beat.  The shade, 7H is a beauty! 7H is a medium to light brown with well-blended and subtle golden highlights.  I knew right away that this color would be flattering to women of all skin-tones.  It’s a universal color!

This 7H color though!  Wow!!!  Light brown with such subtle highlights–if you are looking to go lighter but don’t want to go full-on blonde, might I suggest the shade 7H?

The wig is very lightweight and the stretchability made placing it on my head very easy.

Here’s a few pics of how Hayden looks!

See how the waves are more separate and “piecey”?  OMG. I am so loving this look!

Not your granny’s bob.  This is a modern edgy, sassy bob with a kick!

I love the “pieciness” (if that isn’t a word—it is now!) of the style.  I’m a huge fan of the beach waves bobs and Hayden has more of an edge. The waves aren’t as softly curled but more separately pieced apart giving the wig a more “undone” look.  And when I use the term “undone”, I’m using it in the best way possible.  The unit has a natural and very relaxed vibe!  It’s a slightly messy bob and is a pleasure to wear.

She looks great with a clip in the front and check out that hairline.  Hayden also looks great smoothed down a tad!

She looks so natural!!!

Another look at this hairline…

Check out that wave pattern–woudja???

And another look!

Hayden is a great everyday wig.  She’s a great weekend wig.  She’s just a great all-around head of hair.

And the Frenchman loves Hayden on me.  This is big!!!

Let’s look at the construction:

She has a lace front—curved to the shape of your face.  There is also a thin, silicone strip which can prevent the wig shifting.

The curved lace front makes the hairline appear more natural.  That thin silicone band can actually stop shifting!

The full-mono top allows you to part the hair on either side or the middle.  And she’s hand-tied.

The hand-tied, full mono top not only allows for great multi-parting, but also makes the wig more comfortable!

The parting space is extremely natural.

That parting space–it’s better than a bag of tortilla chips!

The ear tabs are long and soft making it more comfortable—especially if you wear glasses!

Cushiony ear tabs–a must, especially if you wear glasses!!!

The adjustable straps are Velcro which also ads to comfort and the cap has a lot of stretch.

Comfy Velcro straps for adjusting!

A stretchy cap to hold the overabundance of intelligence that I have!!

Henry Margu makes a stellar wig—that’s for sure!

Another added plus is that the hair, as light as it is, is dense and full.  And you know how I love me some big hair!

This is not little hair.  It’s a nice weight. I am thrilled to be wearing Hayden!

At a weight of 3 ½ ounces, you can easily get on a scale to be weighed and not worry about extra poundage! (Um…I’ve taken wigs off to get weighed so this is important!)

The bang is 7”, the area around the ear tab is 9” the nape is 4”.  The strands at the layered top run from 5 to 10” and the layered sides run from 6 to 9”.  The layered back is from 4 to 9” and the overall length is 11 ½ inches.

I can tell you right now that Hayden is going to get a lot of love and a lot of wear from me.  She’s a perfect length for fall and winter clothing because the ends of the wig will not become tangled when wearing textured scarfs and sweaters.

Honestly.  If you are a regular wearer of wigs and are not familiar with Henry Margu—become familiar!  If you don’t wear wigs, perhaps now is the time to think about it and check out the other wigs that Henry Margu has to offer.

Wigs have become my accessory.  Of course, I can no longer go out in public without a wig because my hair loss has gotten worse and will continue to.  But it’s ok.  I have an artillery of wonderful hair and now I have a new addition to my family of wigs that give me my best looks on a daily basis.

If you do suffer from hair loss, no matter what the reason, it’s devastating. And sometimes that first step to wearing wigs can be daunting–but when you have a great and natural looking wig–it helps to make the transition so much easier!!!!!

I do.  I do. I do. Margu!!  Will you?

There are no cons with Hayden.  She’s really a fantastic unit.  

Please let me add that I’m grateful to Henry Margu wigs for asking a woman over 60 to review.  My age group is oftentimes ignored and we take up a large percentage of women who wear wigs so I’m very thankful.  Just wanted to add that!!!!

My computer was fixed–thanks to yours truly–and here’s another look at Hayden in my YouTube review!

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Perf-ektly Thrive-n. A Few Makeup Reviews and Then Some!

Posted on August 4, 2018 by Catherine

Alrighty now!  Life is winding down to normal.  The excitement of Oona’s engagement still lingers and work is still mighty busy but it’s so good to be able to sit down on this Saturday and get back to what’s important.    The blog!!!

You mean, can’t BLOG–I’m working too much!

I feel as though I’ve been neglecting my baby for a few weeks.  Summer has a way of doing that with the activity and long days.  So now……it’s back to business!

Summer has a way of making me a bit lazy…..

I’ve been shopping and luckily the shopping was done before the engagement because now I’m on a strict “No Buy”.

Bonaparte put his French feet firmly on the ground and placed me on a “no-buy”.  Thankfully I purchased everything I need! Just call me Spanky!

Even though Oona and Sam are paying for their wedding, there will still be expenses with travel, clothing and other items in connection with the “big day”. Quite honestly, I’ve got enough clothing to last until the cool, crisp days of Autumn and enough in my winter wardrobe to get me through the mildest or most frigid ones!

Mommy of the Bride is hoping they go for a Chocolate Cake!

Anyway, there have been tons of ads on Instagram for Thrive Causemetics.  Note— “Causemetics” is the key word.  Makeup Artist Karissa Bodnar created Thrive after the death of her best friend, Kristy, to cancer at 24 years old.

Karissa Bodnar, right.  A young woman with a purpose!

For every purchase made, Thrive Causemetics donates a product to a woman in need.  In hospitals and such.  I, in good faith, couldn’t pass up a purchase or two.

What I ordered was the mascara and the eyeliner that I’ve heard and read so much about.

Both products are excellent.  For the most part, the Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner, which I use in my top water line, doesn’t transfer to my bottom lid until late in the day—and the transfer is very slight.  The liner stays put, though, on my top line.  It’s definitely worth the money.

Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner.  And it most certainly is waterproof!

A streamlined and slender pen/pencil, there is a twist turn end that allows you to regulate how much product you want.  I don’t put a lot of product because I’m petrified of breaking.  The other end has a little rubber tip for blending..

I feel really bad that I couldn’t get a decent photo of my applying this to my eyes, but I already have one blind eye.  I don’t want a second!  I swatched on my wrist and this doesn’t come off at all!!! I like the control of this liner too.  You can’t mess the application up on it!

This was the best I could do with the liner. I also added some liner to my bottom water line and under my lids for you to see.  Oh dear–from this angle it looks like I have a French nose! LOL!!!

The Liquid Lash Extensions mascara though, is my favorite of the two.  The wand is especially a delight to work with.  It gathers plenty of mascara without getting clumpy.  The funny thing is that I’m a fan of clumpy mascara, but this is different.  It really gives the illusion of longer lashes. And it doesn’t flake or smudge.  It stays put.  And in the summer heat and humidity—it’s a great trait.

This mascara though!  Wow!

It’s excellent..

….and this mascara brush is great!  Separates the lashes like nobody’s business!

This is with one coat.  I used two coats because, as you can see, I missed a spot –the lash primer is visible!

It really does give the lashes some length and it is not going anywhere either!

The free makeup bag that you receive as a gift with purchase is really good too.  It’s large enough to carry enough stuff for a weekend trip.  I stuffed it for our trip to New York City last weekend.

This makeup bag is so cute…

See how deep it is?

Here it is today but last week when we were in NYC, this held a ton of stuff!!!

Realistically speaking though, this is not going to make pro-aging lashes appear so thick so that it looks like you are wearing false lashes.  Let’s face it.  Part of the aging process is that we lose the lush lashes that we once had.  But this mascara is excellent.

At the price point of $24, the mascara ain’t cheap and the $22 eyeliner isn’t cheap either.  However, the quality is there.  The products are also vegan and I’m leaning more and more toward vegan products these days (except for food and shoes).  But just knowing that by making a purchase of these Thrive Causemetics, it makes me feel good to be able to give back to women.

I give both of these products an A.  And I give the company an A+ for empowering women who need to be empowered!

Oy.  Thank God I’m on a no-buy because I swear, Instagram can put one in debt!  One of my favorite IG’ers,  @turtlelovesbeauty, posted a photo with some products from Per-fekt and it brought back memories for me.  Some years ago—oh geez, it was around the time when primers were coming onto the scene I purchased a skin perfecter of sorts and it was pretty darn good.  Back then the $50 price tag was very steep, but I was making good money at the time so I went for it.  Then I lost my job and forgot about the brand.

It was a good thing for me that I reconnected with this brand.  Thank you TurtleLovesBeauty!

Well, I headed to the site and with the discount code that Turtle had, bought two products.  Liquid Gold and self-tanner.  I couldn’t resist another self-tanner.  Both costs less than the original product I purchased many years back. Really. I paid $30 for both! And that included tax and shipping.

I can’t wait to try this on my pasty white legs.  It’s sold out so I’m guessing it’s pretty decent!

The tanner hasn’t been opened yet.  I’m waiting to go through all the tanners I have before opening it but I’ll be sure to review it once I do use it.

The Liquid Gold?  Despite the awful packaging, the product is fantastic!  I don’t even know how to describe this.  The flimsy thingy that it comes in is so questionable and quite clumsy.  The product can also be used on your hair—I would keep away from that.  But on skin it is terrific!  Gives such a subtle and slight glow. Not overly illuminating as so many of these illuminators tend to be.  It’s lightweight and if you prefer, can be used in place of foundation.  I’ve applied this to my shoulders and knees too and I just love it.  In fact, when I went to re-order, I found out that the product is sold out.  Just my luck!

This is a tough call. I give the product an A, but I give the packaging a D+.  Still, I tried to repurchase for the sale price and it’s sold out!

This packaging is horrific but I’m guessing that it may be…

….eco-friendly.  If it is though, couldn’t you come up with something better?  

But my friends, it’s what’s inside that counts.  Take a good look. It doesn’t look like an illuminator.  It’s so subtle and feels nice gliding on the skin…

I‘m wearing the Liquid Gold in this photo.  It is so subtle –almost invisible but gives off the prettiest and slightest glow. This is a winner! I’m also wearing the Thrive eyeliner and mascara! (And my Jamison wig by Estetica Designs!)

And finally, another look at the Thrive mascara and eyeliner in action. 

Another purchase that I made upon the completion of my “How to Wear Camo….” post was this scarf I found on Amazon!  It cost eight dolliz and sixty-nine cents!!!!!!  What a steal!

A perfect all-season scarf! Lightweight for the summer and a treasure for A/C office buildings!

It dressed up this lbd with an edge!

One of the best Amazon purchases I’ve ever made!!

The scarf is lightweight and the colors are vibrant and not faded looking.  Overall it measures 35.4″Wx70.9″.  A great length.

If you are unsure of going full-on camo with clothing, this scarf is the perfect way to introduce camo into your wardrobe!  Here it is on my Amazon Page IDEA LIST Camo Scarf!

Well, the bread has been baked and I’m making Lemongrass chicken for dinner tonight.  And after dinner, it’ll be back to blogging!!  Stayed tuned for more reviews and goodies!

With Amazon Prime, I’m able to download (or is it upload?) tons of music to my iPhone.  I was so happy to get Warren Zevon on my phone. I loved this guy. What a shame he’s left us.  Remember this song?

 

Posted in Per-fekt Cosmetics, Scarfs, Thrive Causemetics | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Weekend In New York. Pawt Tew!

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Catherine

Okay. When we last left our weekend, Sam and Oona had gone back downtown  to continue the engagement celebrating and Bonaparte and I walked back to our hotel.  The summer air cooled somewhat and it was still hot but it was comfortable.

Sorry, but I forgot to take photos of the hotel. I’ll just have to return for another weekend!

When we got back to our room, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.  And I didn’t wake up until almost eight in the morning!

Here’s basically what our room looked like but bigger.

Bonaparte said that between work and the excitement of Oona’s engagement, I really needed that good nights’ sleep.

The sun was shining for the second weekend day in a row.  This was astounding because it seems that we haven’t had a full weekend of sun since summer began!

Another beautiful day and another bird’s eye view from the room!

Our plan for the day was to head up to the Met Breuer and then over to the Frick.  It would take up a good part of morning into afternoon and give us time to drive home, get Chippy and enjoy dinner on our deck!

And might I add, I wore the wig Bonaparte got me for my birthday–Chloe by Envy in the fabulous Chocolate Cherry shade!  I also wore the dress I wore to dinner the night before. It was too hot to wear pants again. Just too hot!

We started out with strong coffee in the hotel’s lobby while we waited for the car.  And I admit, I was still on cloud nine from last night.  Oona and Sam were meeting friends on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx for a very authentic Italian lunch.  NOTE:  If you are visiting NYC for a long weekend or a few days, head up to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.  It’s more Italian than Manhattan’s Little Italy section!

I coulda had three of these!!

And then we got our gear, headed to the car and bid goodbye. I’ll tell you, the staff at this Marriott couldn’t be more helpful or greater. It was an absolute pleasure!!!  Marriott should be especially proud of the staff here!

Sunday morning in New York City.  It’s sleepy.  A lot like Paris.  The locals stay in and get a later start on this day of rest.  And when they head out it’s usually to a long brunch.  The avenues and streets are empty of the crippling traffic for a few hours—the calm before the storm.  The morning lighting makes the buildings appear crisp and bright.  A few city dwellers out with their dogs in the mixture of tourists out to begin a day of exploring.

Sunday morning in New York–a pleasure to drive when there’s minimal traffic and you hit all the green lights!!

Most of the inhabitants are still sleeping…

A man and his dog out for a Sunday morning stroll.  I don’t think the dog wants to walk–she wants to people-watch instead!

And it’s easy to find street parking too!

Time to get my feet off the dashboard and hit the pavement!

We parked at the corner of 75th and Madison next to the Breuer—you couldn’t possibly get any closer unless the car drove into the building.  This was the first time at the Met Breuer for both of us so we didn’t really know what to expect.  There is a current exhibition showcasing the talent of Picasso, Gustave Klimt and Schiele.  The exhibit, Obsession:  Nudes by Klimt, Schiele and Picasso, comes with a warning that it’s pretty erotic stuff.   I would say that for its time, the works were pretty risqué, but neither of us thought they were that erotic.  Some of the works are below:

A welcoming sign…

I don’t know about you, but I love Klimt’s paintings and have ever since I found out about him when I was in my early twenties…

His work is very etherial to me…

Schiele is new to me but I love the way he distorts bodies and I enjoy his simple line drawings too..

His line drawings are gorgeous

This mother and daughter drawing was my favorite.

And then there’s Picasso

I find myself liking his work more and more these days..

Maybe because he hung out in Antibes!!!

It didn’t take long to go through the exhibit.  And when we got into the elevator to see what the other floors had in store—there was nothing.  Other floors were closed off.

How would I rate the Breuer?  Well, it’s a modern building but not ugly modern, it’s streamlined with clean lines.  The architecture is nice.  There’s a lot of open space inside the building but there wasn’t much to see.  Surprisingly, the building is 52 years old and in all the time I’ve lived in Manhattan and have spent hours driving and walking up Madison Avenue, I’ve never noticed it.

We were expecting more works of art to be adorned on the walls rather than just one particular exhibit.  In all honesty, we would return to the Breuer if there was a very special exhibit that we were dying to see—other than that, time would be better spent at the Met on Fifth!

After leaving the Breuer, we headed up toward the Frick.  The location, on 70th and Fifth, is a stone’s throw and a short walk away from where we were parked.  I’ll tell you, if felt so good to finally walk again!

The Frick.  I’ve been here before but there’s just so much stuff that it takes a few visits to absorb it all. It kind of reminds me of a more refined Barnes Collection

We arrived shortly before opening so we found a bench across the street and did some serious people watching.  People watching was much better thirty and forty years ago before big developers chased the middle class and starving artists and entertainers out of the City.  The vibe was a bit crazy and more colorful.  Now it’s just a continuous parade of active wear.  But still, it’s fun!

We had time for a smooch on a bench–and my husband’s French nose smushed my little American nose…

But my nose bounced back!!!  And we continued our fun!

If you’ve never been to the Frick—get there.  Make sure on your next trip to NYC you head up to this mansion turned museum.  Henry Clay Frick was a very wealthy man who had both the “eye” for great art, furniture and everything else—and the money to pay for it.

Unfortunately, taking photographs is forbidden and it’s too bad because the Fragonard Wall Panels that Frick acquired are swoon worthy. I did manage to get a few photos of the garden.

The entrance to the museum, which used to be the Frick home.  I can’t even—it’s that spectacular!

Another outside view…

And another–what a piece of real estate!

One of the Fragonard’s.  I love Honore Fragonard paintings because they are just so romantic and pretty–yes they are just plain ol’ pretty!

A view of the Fragonard Room. Can you believe that someone LIVED here?

Not part of the original home, this courtyard garden was actually a passageway for carriages going between 70th and 71st street!

But it blends in so well with the rest of the museum/mansion!

On our way back to the car, we decided to stop at a small Eli Zabar bakery for a baguette.  Bonaparte was intrigued by the beauty of the loaf in the window.  And here’s where our trip was almost ruined.  Upon entering the establishment, I asked the young woman (most likely between high-school and college age) if we help ourselves to the bread.  She explained yes and pointed to the paper to grab the baguette with and the bag in which to put it.  And when Bonaparte reached for the baguette, a muffin fell to the floor.

Do not go here.  There are tons of other places throughout Manhattan with friendlier and more cordial staff!

Now, I kindly mentioned to the girl that the muffin fell from the shelf but needed to be thrown away and due to protocol, I was unsure if I should pick it up or what?  This set the girl up for a nasty attitude. And she came stomping over, picked up the muffin, noisily threw it into the trash, gave me a scowl and stomped back to the register.  We paid for the baguette, she kept scowling and we left.

Ima tell you somethin’. If Bonaparte was not with me, my native New Yawka would have surfaced and I would have gone on a four-letter word tirade with that little snot. Eli Zabar must be the worst employer in Manhattan to have bratty, miserable workers who are the rudest people I’ve ever come across in a long time.  Suffice it to say, I do not recommend purchasing baguettes, bagels or any other baked goods at Eli Zabar’s.  Perhaps if he hires friendlier workers, it could be worth the trouble but not any time soon.

With Bonaparte there to calm me down, we resumed our walk back to the car and I was once again a happy woman!

Wouldn’t it be lover-ly if I could afford the rent here. I couldn’t afford rent in a janitor’s closet in NYC!!!

We can safely say that from this moment on, I will be window-shopping and searching for Mother-of-the-Bride outfits.  I love the pantsuit. The gown–no!

We made our way to the Holland Tunnel, which by this time, traffic had built up to its regular weekend mess.  But it didn’t matter because it gave us a bit more time to enjoy the City before heading home!

And we drove through Times Square which depresses the hell out of me.  Times Square was better when it was dirty and grimey and full of undesireables.  Now it’s Disneyworld for adults.  It’s got no character anymore..

And does anyone even dress nicely to come into The City anymore?

A quieter street down by the Tunnel.  One of the few cobblestone streets remaining!

Goodbye NYC–till next time!! I love ya!

Those weekend trips.  They are, at times, more meaningful than a full-on vacation. They are little respites from the workweek.  They make for special times. And you just never know what surprises await!

Here’s my favorite song about NYC–its so true and it’s very beautiful! Written by a true New Yorker–Billy Joel–NY State of Mind! Never Forget the WTC.

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