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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A Weekend in NYC—And A Big Surprise! Part One

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Catherine

I’m pretty sure that I mentioned to you that Bonaparte and I were headed to Manhattan for an overnight stay.  My daughter, Oona and her boyfriend, Sam were spending the weekend in The Big Apple because she has a week of business meetings and her boyfriend, Sam, had only been to New York for day trips.

Casual Summer City Street Style!  Camo and sandals!!

It was a great plan to be able to get together since we don’t get to see each other that much anymore.  Cincinnati isn’t that far but between her busy work schedule and business trips, it’s not easy.  And so, this weekend was special.

Will we all get to see the skyline up close?  Read on….

But—it didn’t start out that way….

Thursday evening, I fell asleep early.  Work’s been knocking me out—with sitting in front of a computer all day and problem solving and multi-tasking, it’s tiring.  And at around ten-thirty, Bonaparte woke me up to a ringing phone.  It was Oona and she was incredibly upset.

 

My beauty sleep was interupted!!

The weather in Cincy was horrific.  And because of this, all flights out of the airport were cancelled.  Oona and Sam’s flight was cancelled.  She had a meltdown, I was on the verge of a meltdown too, but they took a risk and rented a car to drive to New York.  It was a smart move because they couldn’t get a flight until Sunday.  There goes the weekend. Right?  Wrong!

With a few hours’ sleep, both woke up early for the ten-hour drive and by afternoon arrived at their hotel downtown.  We stayed in the Marriott East Side in midtown.

Image result for marriott east side nyc

We love our Marriott Hotels!

And so, the weekend went back to being a good one because at least we would all be able to have dinner together. More on this later!

Our Saturday started out with Bonaparte bringing Chippy to Doggie Day Care early; I got ready and we were off to the City!

Dress was street casual for me.  I packed my olive-green pants, a white tee and a camo tee. I like to have a choice with shirts.  My Rondini bikini sandals and a simple black dress were packed for dinner.  In fact, the camo scarf that I ordered from Amazon arrived Friday and I was able to pack it to wear with the dress!

Here’s a better look at what I wore for traipsing around Manhattan on a hot July Day! I went with dark hair as per Bonaparte’s request.  I’m wearing Estetica’s Wren!

And to be comfy but not sloppy, I wore the new skinny camo jeans that were purchased at Old Navy with a white tee and Tropezienne sandals, also by Rondini.  The sandals are perfect for walking around because at almost ten years old, they are broken in to perfection!  Any tote bag was left home because when traipsing around cities, a zippered bag is my preference.  My leather Longchamp bag was perfect because it carries a ton of stuff and matches both pairs of sandals!

The husband, ever the planner, made a wise move.  He ordered tickets for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in advance and we had three-day access to any Met museum.

Access to the entire MET family is a great deal–and purchasing in advance means no lines!

Since check-in at the hotel wasn’t until four in the afternoon, our plan was to hit The Cloisters when we arrived over the GW bridge and after that, drive down to the Upper East Side to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The weather was absolutely beautiful as we arrived at The Cloisters.  If you aren’t familiar, The Cloisters is uptown in Ft. Tryon Park.  Nestled in the Fort Washington area of NYC, it’s just below the Inwood section where I lived for years.

At 10:00 in the mornin’, Bridge traffic was pretty bad–but it’s to be expected!

We drove up the Henry Hudson Pkway. I can’t begin to tell you how many times, I’ve passed these buildings…

And we exited at  Fort Tryon Park–my old neighborhood!

The view from the short walk from the parking area to the museum is spectacular.  A good view of the boats on the Hudson and New Jersey!

And I’m so ashamed to say that in all the years I lived in New York—from Queens to Long Island, then to Brooklyn Heights, then the Upper West Side then to Inwood, I had never been to The Cloisters.  Bonaparte was rather perplexed as to why I hadn’t been to this wonderful treasure of a museum and I really had no answer other than a meek shrug and an “I dunno”.

At The Cloisters Museum.  Bonaparte makes his way up the steps..

This exhibit, Fashion and the Catholic Imagination was fabulous–and it wasn’t about the imagination of girls in Catholic School Uniforms either!  Here’s a look.  Jean-Paul Gautier.  Alexander McQueen and others’ designs are showcased and beautifully curated because they blend in so well with the structure of the building and the surrounding artifacts.

Among the designers showcased were Alexander McQueen and Jean-Paul Gaultier

The exhibit was incredibly well-curated..

A Catholic Bride…

And another–I felt like I was in The Sound Of Music when Maria married Captian Von Trapp!

Fashionable hats on cast iron poles look like caps from Nun’s habits!

And I really don’t know why I had never bothered to go there because it is astounding.

A Unicorn tapestry

Iconic detailing

Stained Glass Windows

Mary and the Holy Child

A centuries-old Mary and Child

A Walk through the courtyard.

And a better view from the garden

It’s a quiet treasure apart from the city stress and noise.  It’s in one of the most bucolic areas of the city on a hill overlooking the Hudson river.  The views are incredible.

A great view of an almost hidden GW Bridge from the Terrace

A great place to find solace in The City!

Another tidbit of greatness is that the parking is free—which is unheard of in Manhattan!  The earlier you arrive the better your chances of a decent parking space though.  We arrived at the right time too because when we left at about noon, the crowds were arriving.  Bonaparte was thrilled to hear many people speaking in French—I was surprised because I hadn’t realized that so many French were visiting New York.  I thought they would all be down in the Cote d’Azur!

I even treated myself to a book of the Saints!!! Be still my heart!!!

We took the long way downtown by driving down Broadway.  It still gives me great pleasure to see all the colorful boutiques, local ethnic restaurants and markets and the daily activity of life during the summer months.  That’s what I miss so much—the activity.  Always something to do. Somewhere to go.

By the time we arrived at the Met, the crowds were deep.  Summer tourists and out-of-towners like us, as well as locals were seeking cultural refuge…and air conditioning! Thanks to the smarts of my husband, we didn’t have to wait on line!

The crowds were moving in at the Met.  The woman behind me was yelling to her friends to hurry up.  I love New Yorkers!!  We’re a loud but fun bunch!

This is just a sampling of the admissions line!

TIP:  Heading into New York City?  Whether for a vacation stay, a long weekend or a day-trip, buy tickets to museums in advance.  You’ll escape the long lines and have more time to enjoy exhibits.

The Met was hosting an exhibit on Versailles—and I think we caught it on the last day.  B wanted to see this exhibit and after we saw it, we both agreed that if you’ve been to Versailles in France, the exhibit was average.  But if you’ve never been to the Palace at Versailles, the exhibit was pretty interesting.

The Three Louis of Versailles.  Louis Quatorze, Louis Quinze and Louis Seize  of the French Nose!

Some authentic Versailles ensembles. I love the striped number and that guy’s coat. I would so wear that now but I think I’m too large for it. Those people were little nuggets of fashion!

I’m obsessed.

And the thought of how to steal this DID cross my mind!

 

We liked the Eugene Delacroix drawings exhibit better.

I’m a huge Delacroix fan. I think he’s an underrated talent and it was such a thrill to see an exhibit dedicated to his drawings.

A Delacroix watercolor

And, we spend a good portion of the afternoon looking at, and admiring, many of the great works of art.

Manet

Courbet

Picasso–I could have spent the entire afternoon here.

Back out to the heat and to get the car!

Need a cab?  Go to the museum and grab one!

By now it was just about  an hour till check-in at the Hotel. We got into the car and drove the forty odd blocks downtown. But first we made a stop at La Maison du Chocolat on Madison Avenue.  We made a macaron purchase and ate eight of them during the drive. I have no shame.

The macaron were bagged in pairs.  We ate four pair!

We passed the most beautifully embellished florist..

And my sons’ old school!

I have to admit, The Marriott East Side is location, location, location at it’s best.  On Lexington and 49th Street, it’s convenient for a walk up to Rock Plaza, Central Park, Broadway, tons of shopping and is just steps away from the subway.  Getting a cab is easy too.

It’s not a super-luxurious hotel and it isn’t a flea-bag either.  It’s an upscale hotel in an older building—and that means character and charm.  The staff is crazy-friendly and incredibly helpful.  The room we had was off the beaten path.  On a floor with limited rooms and our room was fantastic—up 33 floors and quiet.

The view from the room

We dropped our stuff off and went for a little walk up to Rock Plaza!

30 Rock. Where Roman works..

And NBC News–where Jake worked before moving to L.A.

I own the City!!!

So, here’s the thing.  We decided to take a rest before we were to meet Oona and Sam.  We figured earlier in the day that we would meet for a drink at about 6:15 then walk to the restaurant around seven.

With Bonaparte taking a short nap, and me perusing social media, I was somewhat surprised when the phone rang minutes before 5 o’clock.  It was Oona.  She wanted to know if there was a bar at the hotel.  When I said yes, she answered that she and Sam were on the way.

I quickly got dressed—and had no time to change into my other wig!  Bonaparte woke up and I explained that Oona and Sam were meeting us earlier than expected but he could nap a bit longer and meet us down at the bar.  He decided to come with me.

Another phone call to let me know that Oona and Sam were waiting at a table in the Hotel Bar.

When we got to the table, Oona and Sam looked so cute! They didn’t look like they drove ten hours from Ohio to NY either.  Youth! Anyway, Oona hugged me then showed me something.

It was on her finger and it wasn’t a band-aid either.  It was an engagement ring!

OONA GOT ENGAGED IN CENTRAL PARK!!!!!!!!!!  She was born in NYC and she became engaged to be married in NYC’s Central Park.  Sam proposed in Central Park!

The ring. I was shaking so hard I couldn’t get a decent photo…

After a bit of the bubbly, I was able to calm myself down to take this photo!

Well—I let out a scream so loud that the entire hotel staff practically came running.  I proudly announced that my daughter got engaged and we were gifted with a complimentary bottle of champagne! How great is that?

What a surprise on this wonderful weekend.  I’m also gaining a great son-in-law too!

The cute couple!  I’m so happy for them!!  Oona and Sam are a great couple!

We all had a delightful dinner at Le Relais de Venise.  I’ve written about this restaurant before.  It’s become our “go-to” restaurant in the city after Les Halles closed.  The menu is limited to salad, steak and frites and dessert.  And the steak is cooked (or in my case barely cooked) to order and it’s just one of those restaurants that you know you’ll get a consistently good meal.

This joint.  It’s now “our” go-to!

After Kir Royals, we started off with salad…

Followed by steak frites and that sauce is to-die-for..

Profiteroles for dessert!  YUM!

Oona and Sam, still beaming, were headed out into the evening for more celebrating downtown and we went back to our hotel.

Part Two Continued Tomorrow………

 

 

 

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How to Wear Camo When You’re Over 50!

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Catherine

Camouflage—or more commonly referred to simply as “camo” these days has become one of the newest trends in fashion.  Today’s camo is up there with yesterday’s leopard print.  And as the leopard print has become both a new neutral and a mainstay This mixture of olive green, brown and gray is rising to the top of the new normal in clothing.

Image result for atypical60 leopard skirt

It took me a while to come around to leopard print–and I am in absolute love with this leopard pencil skirt I picked up at J. Crew Factory.  So how do I feel about camo–and how can we “mature” girls wear it?  Keep reading to find out….

It’s been around for decades.  I can remember back in the late sixties, oversized camouflage and army fatigue jackets being worn at war protests and rock concerts. And when I was in high school, many of the boys I went to school with had the iconic army fatigue green jackets that they wore with their torn jeans and long hair.

Who knew that the print on the camouflage uniforms these Green Berets were wearing in Vietnam would end up becoming the new neutral trend decades later…

And the uniforms worn at protests would become fashionable?

My brother, Tommy, had the original G.I. Joe complete with a camo ensemble!

Barbie’s fashion certainly has a run for the money now–GI Joe’s outfit is more of a statement these days!

And camo has inched its way into our everyday fashion.

You might think that it’s a print strictly for the younger set.  I mean, everywhere you go, you are bound to see a millennial dressed in a variation of the camo!

They are younger women, but I’ll tell you this much–any older woman would be able to rock any one of these outfits!!  I’m especially sweet on the middle one!

But I digress.  Camo is age-appropriate for everyone—even for women over 50 and beyond.  Yes. We mature women can rock camo like it’s nobody’s business.  We just need to know how to rock the look!

That’s right ladies!! Yours truly climbed aboard the camo love train!

Quite honestly, I never thought I would get aboard the camo train.  But I did. And I love it.  And that’s one of the great things about pro-aging!  We can take risks with clothing that we would have never done back in our twenties or thirties.  These days I find that I’m going for a more relaxed look in clothing than I did going back just five years or so.

Anyway, I had been thinking for a while about how to incorporate camo into my wardrobe because, like leopard, my opinion is that it looks better when it’s discreetly done and not over-the top.

Yes–I said discreet!  High fashion is not always the way to go!

But how to start?  In small doses.  After Googling “camo tees for women”, I came across the perfect tee at American Eagle Outfitters.      Online, it looked great but it was also worn by a model who could not have been older than 22—how would it fare with me?  Luckily, there is an American Eagle at the local mall and when I saw the shirt in real life, it looked surprisingly better than online.

The tee is soft and feels well-worn.  The V-neckline is extremely flattering.  The camo print is muted and not too much.  The shirt is relaxed and has a loose fit.  I ended up purchasing two. One in a small, that is slightly more fitted—it would make a great top for office casual wear.  The other, a medium runs looser and a bit larger and is great for weekend wear.

The tees I bought at Americal Eagle. They are so soft and comfortable with a loose fit. Got ’em in two sizes.  The sleeve length is great too because it’s a true short sleeve!

In fact, I wore the smaller camo tee today to work.  I paired it with olive green pants and a natural colored linen blend blazer.  The blazer offered a more polished look to an otherwise very casual vibe.  To add a bit more polish I wore pointy-toed flats.  The point was to bring everything together and have the camo item blend in rather than to stand out.

I wore the smaller of the two shirts today to the office.  Paired with my olive green pants from J. Crew Factory–it’s a very age-appropriate look. 

I’m hooked on that front tuck!  And the V-neckline is extremely flattering.  I don’t even care about my crepe-ish neck!

And the $7.00 thrifted J. Crew flats gave the ensemble some polish…

A lightweight schoolboy blazer from…..J. Crew Factory tied it all together for the office!

It was rainy today but this outfit will do well into the fall!

Since it’s summer, the camo tee also looks great with white jeans and will look just as good with a pair of white denim shorts.  I follow the K-I-S-S rule “Keep It Simple Simple” One camo item with solids.

I wore the shirt with white jeans this weekend and wore Rondini Tropezienne sandals for a super-casual vibe!

A closer look with the white jeans!

In the fall, a camo tee will suffice with darker jeans.

BTW, I purchased these AG jeans at Nordstrom Rack.  My “fall” purchase.  Check out Nordstrom Rack before heading to the Anniversary Sale–you’ll get a better deal!  I love the raw hem!

I’ll be honest. As much as I love these jeans, they are too heavy to wear in the summer.  I’ll be saving them for when the weather cools off–too bad because I love the fit. These AG jeans are very flattering to the mature body!

Not to stop there, I treated myself to a pair of camo jeans.  Here’s where it gets tricky and you have to know your body type.

These camo print Rockstar jeans from Old Navy are absolutely incredible. Light enough to wear now and they hug the curves.  As you can see from my hind quarters I got the hips and the skinny jeans are fine.  But–this camo print isn’t “in-your-face” loud. The darker colors blend in nicely.  It’s a great pair for the “over 50, 60, 70..” woman!

Camo pants come in a variety of styles.  Unless you are incredibly long and lean, the baggier camo pants can make you look squat, sloppy and add to any extra pounds you may have.

Off the bat, I know of two mature women who could carry these pants off and both are extremely lean and on the tall side…but for the woman with a bit of meat, these could be an unflattering fit..

..and although I love the sneakers, the tight knit cuffs ruin the long line of a skinnier pant.

Instead, if you have curves or don’t care for the baggy look, stick to a skinny pant style.  I found these Old Navy Rockstar jeans on sale and I’m thrilled with them.  The raw hem gives it a bit of an extra edge and, they are light enough to wear in the summer.

These lightweight camo jeans from Old Navy are another great way to incorporate camo into your wardrobe. And at $30, the price was right. I might wear these into New York City this weekend. 

Even this Violet wig by Estetica Designs in Caramel Kiss RT/4 goes so well with camo!

Here’s a close up of the print.  The darker camo is more subtle and that one item of camo can really make an outfit look sharp!

What other camo items would I wear?  Well, presently on my radar is the search for a camo pencil skirt.  This could be a great item for fall and winter.  Paired with a black turtleneck and black boots, I can see a very age-appropriate ensemble—and one that all mature women can rock.

Finding a skirt in this style but with a darker camo print would definitely be a plus in your winter/fall wardrobe!  Might I recommend different shoes though?

Also, on my Wishlist is a camo jacket, but I refuse to spend a ton of money.  Again, Old Navy (what is it with Old Navy lately?) has a great camo jacket—I’m just waiting for the right sale!  This jacket is perfect for fall-into-winter casual wear.  I think that for a more mature woman, a fitted camo jacket can also look fantastic!

Twill Field Jacket for Women – Army Camo

I am in lust with this camo jacket from Old Navy.  It isn’t expensive and is another wonderful way to incorporate camo as outerwear!

Another idea is a blazer like this one–it’s fitted and feminine without being twee!  I like this look!

Remember—the key is to keep it simple and not overdo it or not to overdo it!  If you’re unsure of the print, maybe starting off with a scarf would be a great choice.

If you don’t want to commit to camo clothing, accessories can do wonders to add that something-something extra.  A camo scarf is perfect!

Or pointy-toed ballet flats!

I can’t even with these shoes.  My eyes misted up with happy tears when I saw these shoes.  They are precious!!!!

Whatever your feeling is, I think camo will be sticking around for a while!  Have fun with it and remember, you can own the camo look!!!  For your shopping pleasure I created an idea list on my Amazon page for you.  Camo for the Mature Woman Print the page out, put it in your purse and take it out when you go shopping to get some ideas!!

And remember–don’t let anyone ever tell you that you’re too old to wear camo!  You can wear whatever you want!!!

Posted in american eagle outfitters, j. crew factory | Tagged , , , | 39 Comments

Handing the Blog Over to The Frenchman—A Review of Dr. Berland’s Tooth Products!

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Catherine

Just when I think that I’m so hip and cool and fabulous and completely outstanding in my field of blogging expertise, with visions of famous designers and brands banging at my door to review their goods, something will happen to bring me back down to earth.

I’m really not all that!  My ego needs re-adjusting! But I have all my teeth…..for now!

That something was an email I received from Dr. B Dental Solutions.  I was asked if I was interested in trying, for review and a giveaway, a couple of products made for………………………………………. dentures!!!

Hey. I’m older but I still have my teeth and am not ready to lose them to a turtle either!

My initial reaction, and I’m being truthful here, was “OMG!  How old does this brand think I am anyway?”

Then I thought “Hey, wait a minute!  I am older and over 60 and tons of people my age and younger do wear dentures—who do I think I am anyway?”  But the issue was this.  The only false tooth that I have is a capped tooth in the front of my mouth. It’s from opening a package of hot dogs with my teeth. The enamel peeled right off and the tooth had to be capped. It was the most expensive package of hot dogs that I ever bought.

Whether you have partial dentures or a full set.  The cleansing and care is very important–and many of us over the age of 50 DO have dentures! Care is key!

Then I realized something!  Bonaparte wears dentures!!  And the reason why is that when he was growing up in Paris it was right after the war—and with the rebuilding of the City of Lights, there was no fluoride in the water.  And so, his teeth were not as protected as ours can be.  But—would he be willing to try the products and review them?

He may not have been raised with flouride, but my Frenchman knew the value of a loaf of bread!

Yes, and Oui, he was! And he did!!  He’s now a total fanboy!

And so, today, I’m turning the blog over to my husband and his review.  But before we delve into his thoughts on the products, here’s a bit of information:

I never realized that with dentures came dry mouth.  This information is great for future reference!

  • Cleanadent Paste is the only cleansing paste that is gentle enough safely brush both the gums and oral appliances (all other pastes are too abrasive for dentures or increase the potential for Candida). It is great for removing adhesive off dentures and gums, and leaves the mouth feeling noticeably smooth & fresh. This is very important for oral hygiene and preventing “Denture-Breath”. It also reduces dry mouth to make eating better.
  • Adhesadentis the only denture adhesive available on the market that treats and reduces dry mouth, while providing a powerful, long-lasting hold. It contains vitamins (A, D & E) and aloe vera and is easy to clean off and reapply in between meals.

Cleanadent and Adhesadent—the two key products in keeping your dentures clean and in place!

The products were created by Dr. Lorin Berland DDS, and received the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance, so you know that the product is a great one of the ADA approves it!

This guy….yeah, he created quite the cleanser and adhesive for prosthetic teeth!

We did a Q & A because that was more comfortable for him so here goes:

Q.  Hey Bonaparte—what do you look for in a denture product?

A.  I look for ease of use and efficiency.  I also look to see if it works well enough.

Q.  How strongly do you expect a product to last throughout the day?

A.  I expect a product to last strongly enough that my dentures will not become loose. I            also expect the product to last through till late afternoon/early evening.

Q.  How does price play into what you are looking for?

A.   Not much. I will pay more for a quality product.

 Q.  What other brands have you used?

A.   Fixodent and Equate

Q.  How do you compare Dr. B’s products to the ones you have used in the past?

A.  The ones I’m using now by Dr. B  are much better. I would recommend this brand to    anyone who wears dentures.

Q.   Why do you recommend this?

A.  It seems I need a lesser amount of product to hold the denture in. The product is    easier to use—less thick.  The toothpaste tastes better and cleans the dentures much  better too.

Q. Are you happy with the products?

A. Yes. I am very happy with the products.  They are excellent and I highly recommend them.

My husband is a total fanboy of Dr. B!  And his dentures are too!

Ever the Frenchman, Bonaparte did have some constructive criticism….

Out of the boxes–both tubes!

NOTE:  I would suggest a different package for the products.  One has to clearly look at each tube to make sure one is not using the wrong product—the toothpaste v. the sticking product (He’s French–he means “adhesive”)!  Also, the name is somewhat difficult to say (My love, this is because you are French!)

 

Mon  Amour–I think you are having a hard time with the packaging because you are used to the French language!  But it’s all good because you know a great product when you try one!

And there you have it.  He’s been using the products for a month now and is very happy with the results.  If you have dentures—partial or full, or if you have a friend or loved one who wears prosthetic teeth, enter the giveaway!  Just comment below and add “Dentures” to your comment.  A winner will be chosen randomly and I’ll send the products out to you by the end of the week!!

Best of luck to everyone who enters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Posted in Dr. Berland's Adhesadent, Dr. Berland's Cleanadent, Oral care | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

In A Tent. Under the Stars. A Magical Evening!

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Catherine

If you are imagining me out in the wilderness camping in a tent—get the thought outta your head!   That isn’t me idea of a magical evening.

I’m not that kind of camping girl.  I’m afraid of fire and bugs.

I’m talking about real enchanting magic.  We went to Cirque du Soleil Tuesday night and it was beyond any spectacle I could ever imagine.

This is the tent I was talking about!

Let me tell you about our evening….

Bonaparte thought it would be a nice night out if we saw Cirque due Soleil. Neither of us had ever seen it and have heard great things about the many different performances and themes.  Of the two of us, I was the one who was ambivalent about going but the Frenchman insisted.  And he thought it would be a fun outing for us to take his granddaughter.

I think the Frenchman just wanted to see Cirque du Soleil because of the french roots!!

So, we made a true evening out of it.

The three of us sat down to a meal of my home-made mac & cheese—of which Miss Sophie had two healthy servings.  For dessert she also had two helpings of the frozen nougatine that I made.  It’s such a pleasure for me to see a child enjoying a meal!

This was a pound of macaroni,  three cheeses and a thick bechamel sauce.  Bonaparte who claims this is peasant food ate 3/4 of this….glad he left some for Sophie and me!

Here’s dessert. Nougatine drizzled with Chocolate sauce–because Sophie loves chocolate sauce!

We headed off for the four-minute drive.  Cirque du Soleil was supposed to be held in Philly—right in center city but there was some sort of issue with the space; and so, it was moved to Oaks, which is up the road.

This really exceeded any expectations that I had!

I pass this tent on the way to work every day.  And it doesn’t look as large from the road as it is IRL.  The tent was huge and thank God, air conditioned.  Our seats were incredible. Third row from the stage so we had a great view.

Here’s where the magic happens!

Sophie with Bon-papa!  Ever the Parisien, he was upset that she wore sneakers. She’s eight years old.  Was she supposed to wear heels?

As luck would have it, Sophie was seated behind a woman with a Marge Simpson updo; and as soon as Bonaparte was ready to switch seats with her, an usher showed up with a booster seat.  Talk about a child-friendly venue!  They thought of everything.

We had fantastic seats but this is like watching a ball game at Fenway–there ARE no bad seats!!  I wanna go again!

The show itself ran a total of around 2 ½ hours with a 25-minute intermission.  On a Tuesday night, it was mobbed, it was almost a sell-out. We were lucky to get the tickets that we did!

And during the intermission,  my gurl Basimah found the last blue slushie for Sophie.  If you go to see Volta in Oaks, you HAVE to go to the concession stand where Basimah works.  Her smile is infectious and she’s the best!!

Now—I really had no expectations other than thinking I would fall asleep because I’ve been working so hard at work.  That wasn’t the case.  I can’t even begin to tell you how spell-binding this Volta themed story of Cirque du Soeil was.  Since I don’t believe in spoilers, there is a theme to the story about freeing yourself.  And the way it was done was with such vibrant energy and entertainment.

Sophie told Bonaparte that she and I were “two peas in a pod”.  I think that ranks me as the cool granny!  I’m hip!1

Sadly, I wasn’t able to take photos once the show started but I did manage to copy some for you from the website.

The freespirits!  The costumes were so hippie-bright.  I must admit though, I wanted to run up on stage and put the long-haired guys hair in a man bun!

This was nothing compared to the four people that ended up doing all sorts of fun  double-dutching with the ropes!

I thought this was cool until it was outdone when she stood on his head while he unicycled!

A central part of the story this cutie on wheels was…

This guy ended up suspended in air..

There was a lot of air time..

As I used to be a baton twirler, the baton twirling dancer was crazy good–she worked four at a time!!

 (John Mahoney / MONTREAL GAZETTE) ORG XMIT: 58504 – 3135

Bonaparte and I considered this the showstopper.  Although this photo is from the Montreal show, the woman who did this ariel dance suspended by her HAIR in the air was mesmerizing.  I could have watched this for two hours! 

Another showstopper was the BMX portion of the show.  These guys were nuts–I can’t even with what these guys did!  Totally fearless!!!

The costumes.  The talent.  The excitement. The entertainment.  I would love to see this again and again.  But seating is very hard to come by during this stop of the tour. 

I want to be a member of the Cirque Club!

Overall, it was an A+ evening.  I’m not even going to ask my stepdaughter, Claire, what time Sophie went to sleep from all the sugar I let her have.  But that’s part of the fun of being a grandparent!!!!

Cotton Candy and…

Image result for blue slushie

A blue Slushie (shhh..my husband was not pleased to see this. Oops! My bad!)

All good things must come to an end…

Leaving the scene..

 

Well, perhaps there were no stars but it WAS the tent under the moon!

I got Sophie and me matching Volta bags!!

Here’s a video I found of our favorite part of the show!  She’s just so beautifully graceful. Enjoy!

 

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An Emotional Rollercoaster of a Weekend!

Posted on July 15, 2018 by Catherine

Dickens wrote that it was the best of times and the worst of times.  I kind of felt that way about this weekend.

I’ll start with the worst first.  One of my cousins, who religiously followed this blog and commented quite often, passed away yesterday.  She was 65.  She broke a leg while body surfing and in a freakish circumstance, suffered a pulmonary embolism.   When we were young, in our late teens to early twenties, we hung out quite often.  We, along with one of my sisters, took a road trip to Florida and we got into all sorts of adventures—both naughty and fun.

Always positive and always happy.  And a friend of this blog community–she was my cuz!! And I’ll miss her comments here!

Debbie–fourth from right and two away from me.  Cousins.  We may not agree with each other but we’re thick as thieves! Miss you Cuz!!

Debbie was a good person.  She was very spiritual too.  We didn’t agree politically and our last words on social media were of a political and argumentative nature.  Luckily, I ended the conversation with that fact that I still loved her.  She was my cuz.  And I’m still in a state of shock.   We saw each other at the Gorman Family Reunion in April and it was a true blessing.  And that is all I’ll say because it’s really difficult to process the fact she’s gone.

I’m also nursing a hangover today.  Between our Bastille Day dinner last night and drowning sorrows with half a bottle –ok—three quarters of a bottle of Côtes de Provence, I fell asleep at nine o’clock last night and am feeling a bit under the weather at the moment.  In fact, I just sent Bonaparte out to get me a can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup and a package of frozen peas.  My hangover food!  I managed to drink a tall glass of chocolate milk earlier!

I kid you not!  Wine does not agree with me.  I’m so sick today!

But I have to say, before this news of my cousin, the weekend started off great!

As a Nordstrom Card holder, I have early access to the Anniversary Sale.  But here’s the thing.  The past couple of years, the Anniversary Sale has left much to be desired.  And it’s getting worse.  The goods are getting shoddier and the selections are becoming a bit too trendy—which is fine for some but doesn’t ring my bell.  But—there’s always underwear and my husband mentioned in passing that I could use some new underwear.  I love my comfy granny panties but he was right—I mean, some of my drawers are like ten years old and that’s just nasty!

Trust me–you don’t need early access.  Nothing is spectacular!

So, I got in touch with one of my ex-Nordie’s co-workers and asked her to pick out some Hanky Panky panties for me, which she did. After all, I would rather see her get the commission.  And I’m not naming her because something happened that really got my goat.  When I stopped by to see her, I asked her to come up to the lingerie dept. with me because I also needed a bra.   She asked the other sales assistants if they would kindly assist the customers that she had and every one of them said “No”.  What bizitiches! And that is what I despised about working at Nordstrom!  My managers were fantastic. I loved Michael and Jamie so much and I still stop by to see Jamie but Michael is now in Seattle! But the commission sharks were vile!  Absolutely vile and I think Nordstrom upper management loves this sort of bad behavior.

Yes. I picked up nice panties and a bra.  And today I’m back in granny panties!

My friend is such a sweet woman and is just kind to everyone.  But there’s no way I would go to any of the women in the POV department at KOP besides her. Ugh. After witnessing that behavior, I’ll shop online!

Yesterday, we met my stepdaughter, Claire, and Bonaparte’s granddaughter, Sophie down the shore for some serious beaching at Wildwood Crest, where they have a summer place!  I frolicked in the ocean with Sophie, read a book, basked in the sun and frolicked some more and all the time, my wig stayed on, got wet and dried beautifully!

I got a new two piece from Swimwear for All.  So the tummy bulges but I don’t care.  This swimsuit is comfortable and allows me the freedom to frolick in the waves!

Not a cloud in the sky.  This street of nicely-lined homes is so picture-postcard perfect!

My bestie Sophie.  We hung out throwing those surfer toys into the ocean and hanging in the ocean.  She also entertained me with stories of summer camp!  I miss having kids around!

The lifeguards were on watch to protect my wig if it fell off and got carried away by a wave.  It  didn’t!!

And an extra was the huge sandbar!  I hadn’t seen a sandbar like that in years!

When we arrived at the beach, it was empty and filled up very quickly!

I love the feeling of scrunching my toes in damp sand–don’t you?

There was an abundance of seaweed too. I was tempted to bring some home for salad!

When we arrived home, I quickly showered, changed and got to work to prepare our Bastille Day Dinner out on the deck.  The Frenchman requested Béarnaise sauce to accompany the steak to which I complied.  I also made enough to dress up the asparagus spears. And we had a lovely dinner!

I cleaned up nice!  From the wig that dried fabulously from salted water to coming home, showering and putting on my French-girl hair that Bonaparte got me for my birthday and a Breton striped shirt to celebrate Bastille Day!

I set the table outside in French colors (actually Franco-American colors since we share the red, white, and blue )

We started out with Kir Royals and the Alain Ducasse Gougeres that I make..

From there it was the delicious Paoli tomatoes and Mozerella topped with fresh Basil..

On to Filet Mignon with Bearnaise sauce….

…and asparagus spears dressed with the same sauce and topped with grated Jarlsberg. And I wonder why the scale isn’t giving me lower numbers!

And here’s the cause of my hangover.  I can’t even look at this….

Waking up to rain was no pleasure today so we were both happy that we decided on yesterday as the beach day! I made my way downstairs to do some ironing.  My tee shirts needed to have wrinkles ironed out.  Ironing while hungover is not fun.

I was running on slo-mo! It took me an hour to iron four shirts. An hour!!!!

But—boy, what an exciting day today proved to be.  Yesterday being Bastille Day and today being the World Cup Finals with France v. Croatia!  Who would win?  Both teams are incredibly talented and it ended up to be a very French weekend!  France won 4-2.  And it was a nail-biter at times but France’s young team proved to be more adept at today’s game!

My World Cup ensemble.  Blue Salut Tee, white shorts and red toenails! Check out my lashes–that L’Oreal mascara is really good–they look fake!

I need a flag like this!  Allez les Bleus!  I’m so glad they won–and a certain Frenchman told me that despite my hangover, I will celebrate later with champagne!  Yeah. Ok!

We’re taking Sophie to see Cirque du Soleil Tuesday evening.  Luckily, we only have to drive up the street and she’ll be enjoying dinner with us.

Image result for cirque du soleil oaks pa

You can see this tent from Route 422, the road I take to work. And every morning the nosey rubbernecking adds ten minutes to my commute.  I can only hope that tent is fully air-conditioned!!!

To prepare ahead, I made a three-cheese Mac & Cheese earlier this afternoon.   I made a béchamel sauce and added Cheddar, Colby and Jarlsberg cheeses.  Then I added the cooked macaroni and blended it all together.  I allowed it to “set” in order for the pasta to soak up the cheesy sauce.  For dessert, I made a nougatine that is now in the freezer.

You have NO idea how tempting this was to me when I made it.  I wanted to dig a large spoon into it while gulping down chocolate milk.  But I didn’t.

Mac & Cheese stays well in the fridge for up to a week.  And it works because when I arrive home from work on Tuesday, I’ll only have to heat the food up and not have to worry about cooking.  It’s so much more enjoyable that way!

And now, I’m going to relax for a bit and take a bit of a well-needed rest!  Sometimes we have those weekends where one day it’s all good and then you’re hit with horrible news.  Life is certainly a roller-coaster of sorts—isn’t it?

Here’s what I wore this week to work.  We had a blood drive and due to the fact that I’m a universal donor I donated.  You lose a pound for every pint you donate and I’m sure I gained it back twofold after last night’s dinner!

Monday’s outfit was a simple tee shirt dress from Old Navy and my black Rondini Sahara sandals.  I went with my blonde Wren wig!  

Tuesday, I went with a “Blood Donor Friendly” outfit.  I had to get up and lay down on a table so I wore an old pair of J. Crew Minnie pants, an Old Navy top and ballet flats.  I kept my arms bare because….

It was easier to stick the needle into my arm!  I was so happy that Cranberry juice was offered because in case I had a UTI, it would be gone. I took two cans!

Wednesday was more pants because I was too lazy to shave my legs for two days in a row! 

Hands down. Thursday’s look was my absolute favorite!  Remember a few weeks back I tried on a tie-front dress at J. Crew factory in gray but I passed on it?  It was bothering me because I really liked the dress. I ended up ordering it for half-off in black. I freaking LOVE this dress!  And I wore it with my NEW Jamison wig!  I ordered another Jamison because it was on deep discount.  I just love this look.  

Just in case anyone would forget what day it was!  Guess what day I wore this?  With a white denim skirt and Jamison again!  I don’t wear this shirt enough!

And that was my week in clothing!  And to toast Bastille Day and the World Cup–here’s a toast–and you can listen to my Frenchman give the toast!!

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How to Make Aging Lips Big and Plump Without Injections!

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Catherine

Even though I’m a pro-ager, there are times when I realize the aging process has taken some fullness from certain places and deposited that fullness in other parts of my body that certainly do not need to be fuller.

For example—wouldn’t it be great if we could take the flab from our bellies and magically place it onto our face where the wrinkles are?  Better yet, it would be astounding if we could take that flab and put a bit of it into our lips to make them plump and youthful again!

Can I take this belly flab and move it to other parts of my body?  Like my neck and face please?

Seriously.  My lips haven’t aged as well as I would have wanted them to.  With all the non-stop talking I’ve done during my lifetime, it would occur that my lips would be full of strong muscle from that exercise.  But no.

My aging lips!  They’ve lost definition, they are uneven and the bottom lip has gotten substantially thinner!  Yikes!

They’ve not only lost fullness, but somewhere along the line, they became slightly downturned.  My upper lip is also uneven.  It would be great to have injections, but I don’t want those duck lips—and it seems that every woman who has had injections has a variable on the same mouth.  You can just tell.

I’m wary of injections because I’m afraid of this!!

So then—what to do?

While researching on YouTube and trying out various lip products, I’ve learned a way to bring the mature mouth to it’s youthful plumpness and fullness.

It’s all done with lip pencils for the most part.

Follow my step-by-step as we move along.  First, the lips should be exfoliated.  This can be done either with a scrub, a washcloth or your fingers.  Then a thin application of lip balm will help things along.

You don’t need to spend money on expensive exfoliators.  Chapstick has a very budget-friendly one and you can just use a regular washcloth or rub your fingers on your lips!I use NYX Wonder Pencil for the initial outlining.  And don’t mind my hair.  I’ve been wearing wigs all summer and haven’t colored my roots.  Maybe I’ll go gray simply because I’m lazy!

It looks crazy now but once you blend, you’ll see that this works

Now we’re ready. Get a nude-colored lip pencil.  NYX Wonder Stick is great for this.  Line your lips.  Outline them over the natural shape of your upper lip and under the line of your bottom lip.  It’s gonna be exaggerated but don’t worry because this will be blended.

Next, apply concealer all over your mouth.  This will turn your mouth into a canvas of sorts.  And it works very well especially if your lips are naturally heavily pigmented.

Any inexpensive concealer will do. I’m using Wet n’ Wild…

Blend the concealer in so that your lips almost disappear.

After the concealer is blended it’s time to line the mouth again.  Now I’m taking a slightly darker, nude colored-pencil, this is by Revlon and the color is “Natural”.   Although I’m not too fond of the wind-up pencils because they always seem to break on me, this one is decent and hasn’t broken……. yet.

Revlon’s Colorstay lipliner crayon in “natural” 

Next is a NYX lip pencil and forgive me but the pencil is down to the nub so I can’t see the color.  It’s a very natural nude-mauve.  I’m coloring my entire lip with this.  Even down below the natural lip on the bottom and above my natural lip on top.

Oops!  Time to repurchase!  I’ve had this for quite sometime and I’ll tell you, NYX makes a great lip pencil!  PS. The color of the dress is dirty because this is the rag I wear while getting ready for work in the morning!

Color the lips entirely with the pencil.

 

The key to this is to keep the pencils sharp.  You want an exact line and nothing blurred because you don’t want to look like Baby Jane.  E.l.f. has a very good sharpener for a buck!

Image result for baby jane

No Baby Jane lips!

Now I’m taking a darker pencil and lining my lips again.  I’m using Cabernet by NYX—NYX makes great lip pencils and at $3.50 each, they are very comparable to the MAC lip pencils.  After I blend the line in a bit to my mouth, I take powder and lightly apply the powder to my mouth.

Now a darker pencil.  Cabernet by NYX..

Looking fuller already!

Maybelline Fit Me powder. It multitasks!  I use this to enhance the parting space in my wigs!  It doubles to set my lips!

 

Next is Half Red by MAC, although pricier, the color glides on beautifully and is an incredibly flattering color.   I’m coloring my mouth in with this pencil and applying it a bit darker on the ends of my mouth to make my mouth look a bit wider.

An application of MAC Half-Red is next…and I’m gonna get dressed…

I’m back!  And the Half-Red is nicely blended!

No need for a lip brush because fingers work much better!

To make lips look really full, I take a white eye pencil and draw lines in the middle of my top lip and bottom lip then I blend.

I use a very inexpensive white pencil. I paid a buck for this Wet n’ Wild pencil.  When the tip gets color from the other pencils, just give it a quick sharpen…

The white pencil applied in the middle of the mouth really gives the illusion of plumped up lips!

Last step—I top it off with a coating of lip gloss but only in the middle.  NYX Butter Glosses are amazing!  I use either Merengue or Tiramisu.  Merengue is the most beautiful shade of pink and Tiramisu is a more nude color.  Both are wonderful.

Topped off with a bit of gloss and you are good to go!

The finished product!  Plump and full and no injections!

And there!  It’s all finished!  Does it last all day?  No—but it lasts quite a few hours.  And since I’m in the office all day, I don’t reapply.  But—I think for a special occasion or if you have a date night or just want your lips to look fuller, this is a great way to do it!

So whatya think?  I’m very pleased with this non-invasive way to make aging lips look plump and more youthful!

What do you think?  I’ve been doing this for a couple of weeks now and am very pleased with my pro-aging look!  I’ve created an Idea List with products that I’ve used–you can bring it when you go shopping or order online!  How To Make Your Lips Fuller Idea List

I’m trying to work on a post about music we grew up with and I’m currently listening to Blood, Sweat and Tears. I forgot how much I love them.  Remember “Spinning Wheel”?

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Wood You Believe……….A Wood Watch?????

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Catherine

….. or that I love wood?  It’s my favorite organic element.  Throughout our home there’s quite a bit of it.  From dressers to floors, antique chairs and other decorative elements—wood is pretty popular in the chateau.

This antique wooden dresser is in our living room and I keep table linens in it!

A vintage style wooden hutch and..

…a wooden basket filled with dried herbs hanging on the wall gives a feeling of nature indoors!

It can evoke a casual style, such as mine—or can bring on a more formal style. It all depends how you use it.  It’s durable and sturdy and lasts forever with minimal care.

Hardwood floors, an old wooden table with a Provencal tablecloth and antique chairs give a charming and welcoming vibe off the kitchen!

It’s welcoming and comfortable.  And the Frenchman and I want everyone who enters our home to feel that way.

So, you can just imagine my surprise when I was contacted by Jord Watches.  The watches, with the exception of the movement, and face, are made of wood.  Wood surrounds the face of the watch and the band is made of wood. As intrigued as I was by this, it was also quite mystifying.  Was the wood smooth?  How did the band curve around the wrist?  Wood I get a splinter?

Jord Olive and Agean Blue watch. Check out that wooden band and the wood surrounding the face!  Nice–eh??

Honestly, I couldn’t help but be a bit excited because I love watches.  I’ve got a decent collection going on and my watches are, along with my hoop earrings, the one accessory that I’m never without.  There’s nothing like a stellar timepiece. Whereas some load a plethora of accessories, I stick with a minimalist look.  The hoops. The watch. A couple of thin chains or a single strand of pearls.

A couple of my watches carry sentimental value for me.  The watch the kids gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago will remind me of them each day I wear it.  The watch my husband gave me when we started our relationship always manages to bring back days when we were new to each other.

I’m pretty basic as far as accessories go–I don’t overdo it and stick to what I love. The leather watch the kids gave me and the fancier watch that Bonaparte gave me!

My one regret is that I never saved the first watch I ever received—a Cinderella watch that my parents gave me when I received my First Holy Communion!

My Cinderella watch also came with a ceramic statue.  This started my love of watches!

And so, I agreed to have a watch sent to me in exchange for a review.  The people at Jord were very understanding when I told them that it would take me a couple of weeks before I could review because I really wanted to see how it wore and if it would be a good item to recommend.

Well—after three weeks of regular wear I can tell you that this is a beautiful timepiece!  Let’s take a look!

Quite the surprise came in this box!

The watch came very well-packaged.  And when I opened the non-descript box, a pleasant surprise awaited me.  You know that I’m a sucker for great packaging and this did not fail.  The watch was placed in a wooden box!

This is the wooden box the watch came in. It’s sitting on top of the dresser in the guest room where I put my makeup on in the morning!

The great thing about the wooden box is that you don’t have to stuff it in a drawer or a closet. It looks great on top of a dresser!

This is the way the watch was resting in the box! I can’t even…

And the watch came resting around a burlap cushion.  Presentation is everything and this tugged at my heart strings!

Jord thought of everything.  The watch also came packaged with a cleaning cloth, a little applicator of finishing oil to keep the wood conditioned and a couple of extra links.

… A beauty kit for the watch–is this great or what???

But let’s talk about the watch.  I ordered a men’s watch.  I happen to like oversized watches—they go very well with my larger-boned wrist.  Seriously—my bones aren’t petite and I love to keep things in proportion.  The model I have is Kosso & Gray from the Hyde Collection. When I ordered, I ordered in cm’s rather than inches.  At 17 cm’s, I gave myself some wiggle room because I love a loose-fitting watch.

My Jord Kosso & Gray watch. I love the oversized face and the wiggle-room allows for the watch to rest at the edge of my wrist.  This is a perfect fit for me!

The clasp is a deployment buckle with push buttons.  Snap the buckle to close and push the side steel buttons to unbuckle.  The band is Kosso wood and is held with thin steel holding the wooden links together.

The deployment buckle..

…snaps closed and stays that way!

Now—even though this is a guy’s watch (it’s not the first guy watch I’ve ever owned either), it is incredibly lightweight.  There is no heaviness on my wrist and it is a very comfortable watch.  The wood is polished and so smooth that there is no way in heaven one could get a splinter either!

It’s so lightweight!

The wood is polished and ever-s0-smooth!

The face of the watch is minimalist. No numbers except for the date in the small calendar window and for four numbers in the small second-hand movement at the bottom of the face.  It’s very sleek!

Sleek and minimalist face..

A look at the back.  Born in St. Louis means born in the USA!  And a reminder of no water!

When I wore it to the nail salon, Kim, the woman who does my nails kept telling me how much she loved it—in fact, she had me take it off and pass it around!  At the office, I’ve received quite a few compliments on the fact that the watch is so unique.  Everyone is fascinated by this wooden watch!

To me, it’s more than a watch—it’s a beautiful piece of jewelry and a go-to accessory.  Pretty versatile, I must say.

The wooden band really is like a piece of organic jewelry!

It’s also a bit delicate in the fact that even though the watch is splash proof, it cannot be submerged in water.  I take this baby off whenever I’m rinsing dishes or I’m cleaning. Like my other good watches, I will never wear this to the beach.  I’ll wear my seven-buck special to the shore!

And my Jord watch goes so well with my favorite Rondini sandals!!

It’s an excellent watch.  Keeps sharp time, looks and feels great and gets compliments galore!

We come from a generation that actually wore a watch every day.  Many of us go back before battery-powered watches became popular. We grew up winding watches.  Am I bringing some memories back?

Do you continue to wear a watch these days?  I’ll always wear a watch.  Looking at the time on my phone isn’t for me.  I love the process of bringing my wrist up to my chest and looking down at my watch to give someone the time!  It’s more personal.

Hold on!  Let me check the time on my watch!

And due to the fact that Christmas is only five months away, the Holiday shopping will soon begin and Jord has gorgeous watches that’ll make wonderful and unique gifts!

That’s right!  The Holidays will be here in five months!  I’m starting to winterize my poinsettias!  I’ll be cutting them down and putting them in the garage!  This watch could make a great Christmas or Holiday gift!

To give a head start, Jord is having a giveaway of $100 off any watch!

The winner will be contacted directly by Jord and entrants that do not win will receive a consolation 10% off directly to their email—the link is below and best of luck!!!! There will be additional chances to enter through my Instagram feed and this weekend I’ll be filming a video!

Enter here:  https://www.jordwatches.com/g/atypical60

Are you ready to add an organic watch to your collection?  Are you ready for a wood watch? If so, I highly recommend a Jord watch for your next timepiece!

Here I am wearing the Jord watch–it’s definitely a go-to for me these days and I highly recommend it!

Time is on my side—is it on yours?

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The Wigs for the Heat–Best of Summer 2018!

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Catherine

We’re into July already—where is the summer going anyway?  Before we know it, it’ll be Labor Day weekend and the weather will begin to change.

Ahhhh July. Shorter shorts and lightweight Tee shirts to make us a bit more comfy in the heat!

But that’s for later.

I want to talk about summer hair—or rather, summer fake hair–summer wigs!

And there’s always a beautiful surprise within these boxes!

For what it’s worth—I do have hot-weather preferences for wigs.  Where I enjoy a longer length in the winter, during the hotter months, I’m far more comfortable in a shorter wig.

Bobs are my main choice and the summer choices are wonderful.  I like a curl and a wave because it just seems more natural and a more relaxed look for the time between Memorial and Labor days!

The shorter lengths are also very hot-weather-friendly because there’s no sweating involved—and if you do sweat, the wig won’t get matted.

 

And might I add that a lighter weight wig will NOT cause your head to sweat.  I wear wigs in the hottest of weather and am never uncomfortable!

And the thing is, a wig for summer wear can be your best friend.  If your hair misbehaves and turns into a bundle of humidity-born frizz, a wig can disguise that steel-wool pad of tresses!

loop understand GIF

I cannot count the times I’ve said that!!!

Going on vacation and don’t want to spend precious time fussing with your hair?  Invest in a wig! You can go swimming, let the air dry your hair while you are getting ready for a dinner out then plop a wig on.  Much better time management than slaving over a blow dryer and curling iron!

blow dry makeup tips GIF by Redken 5th Avenue

Do you really want to spend vacation time doing this then as soon as you go outside it puffs up like a chia pet?

Let’s take a look at my choices for Best Summer Wigs of 2018!

Emery by Estetica Designs.  This shade is CaramelKissM.  Emery is a graduated bob –the back being so short it barely touches the collar and elongating in front to under the chin.  She’s a bob with an edge and I’ve gotten quite a bit of wear with her this summer. No shedding and she washes beautifully.  If you are looking for a more modern bob–this is it!

Violet by Estetica Designs.  I love Violet so much that I have four.  This is the newest in the shade R14/8H–Golden Brown with Dark Blonde Highlights on top!

Here’s Jamison–also by Estetica Designs.  A classic bob, she’s beautiful for all seasons but lends herself very well to the summer weather.  I wear her when I want a polished office look! Another member of the CaramelKiss family!

Lacey by Envy Wigs.  This is my beach wig!  She became drenched with salt water from the Atlantic last week.  I meant to wash her and I didn’t and she’s looking better than ever. I think the next beach trip, I’m filling a spray bottle with salt water to use on wigs!  The color is Toasted Sesame and the amazing thing is that this is not a lace front wig!  It’s crazy because she looks so natural….

Here’s Lacey in Amaretto & Cream, a bit darker but just as lovely.  This length is so perfect for the hot weather and I love the fullness and volume.  She’s very affordable due to the non-lace front!  

Another big summer favorite of mine is Isla by Tony of Beverly. I’m blown away by the hairline on this and this is just one of those wigs that gets a ton of compliments.  The color is Rooted Sandstone! The layering on this really softens a square and angular face!  Trust me. I know!!

A longer bob but still summer-worthy is Chloe by Envy Wigs.  Here she is in Frosted.  She’s another lightweight–but beware if you have a larger head (such as I do)–she’s a bit snug–she has the stretch but she is a bit on the snug side!

Here’s Chloe in Chocolate-Cherry.  This is the wig that my husband got me for my birthday!  I have not worn her during the summer–the color of more autumn to me.  But–I wanted to show you the same wig–different color!

And for the budget–minded–Lyna by Bobbi Boss is a fabulous summer wig!  A middle-parted bob, she’s under $40 and is incredibly well-constructed!  TT48613 is the shade.  Truth be told.  Bobbi Boss makes a sleeker version of Lyna and I like this one better because it looks more natural!

Thursday, I received two more gorgeous wigs from my friends at Estetica Designs which I’ve added to my “Best of Summer” listing.  The newest delight from Estetica, Wren.

She’s got cascading loose spiral curls a bit more of an intense beachy wave.  The softness factor is incredible–the hair fibers feel like freshly-washed hair!  I have to say–she’s summer in a wig!

Meet Wren in RH12/26RT4, Light Brown with Golden Blonde Highlights and Dark Brown Roots.  I feel like a California Girl that the Beach Boys sing about when I’m wearing this.  I’ve been wearing her all day and absolutely love her!

This is the back of the wig.  Look at that curl pattern!  The cascading waves are more separate and not as dense as other wigs but the layering keeps it full. This is a beauty!

She moves beautifully too…but there’s more…

Here’s Wren in R4/6 a Dark Brown and Chestnut brown Blend..

Isn’t she stunning?  She’s me with my natural waves…

I wore the darker Wren to work yesterday and received a ton of compliments.  My work girls who also wear wigs loved the way she felt so soft to the touch.  But there’s more–when I put this darker Wren on for the first time, I had a moment.  I got very emotional because it reminded me so much of my bio hair when it was cut into a bob and I wore it natural….take a look..

Me in my bio hair 1988.  I was 33 and my hair hadn’t started to fall out yet.  I was pulling but there was no damage. 

The color is a great match to the Wren wig and so is the curl pattern.  I’m telling you–I became very emotional! It’s as though Wren was made specially for me!

And those are my best wigs for the summer.  I made an idea list for you.  Jett, an adorable pixie is added.  I’m not a pixie person but I think Jett is so adorable.  And the stock photo of Isla is atrocious.  She’s so much better in person! Best Wigs of Summer 2018!!  

Wigs are a great way to change up your look and as we pro-age, our hair changes.  Even those of us with a full head of hair will notice that it isn’t as full as when we were younger.  It’s dry and brittle and in all honesty,  wigs can look better than bio hair at times and give us a more youthful vibe!

Here’s a new video review of Wren that I added to my YouTube channel.  Watch and have a few laughs on me!!

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