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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How to Beat the Heat Without Getting Naked!

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Catherine

Summer.  At long last it has arrived—and she’s packing some serious heat.  When I left the office yesterday and got into my car, the temperature hit 104.  Naturally, it’s because the car was parked out on tar parking lot, but as I basked in the comfort of my whip’s air-conditioning, the outside temperature held steady at 99 degrees.

I don’t know what was more upsetting to me–the fact that the outside temperature was 104 degrees or the fact that I’ve managed to put 575.6 miles on my new car in three weeks!

It still wasn’t hot enough to keep me and the Frenchman from enjoying dinner outside, but today, my heat-adoring devil of a husband said it was just too hot outside for even him to sit out on our deck and sunbathe.  Let’s face it, when the heat index climbs upwards of 100 and is married to humidity, it can be dangerous.  Heat stroke, sun poisoning and the like can affect us.

Image result for atypical 60 terrace

And sometimes when it’s too hot to cook–there’s always sushi!

And it is hot.  And when it’s this hot, the only place I want to be outdoors is at the beach, on a chair down by the ocean, reading a book.

Actually IN the water is better!

But most of us can’t be at the beach every day—especially for those of us who work 9 to 5!  So how can we beat the heat?

Fear not.  I came up with some ways that I beat the heat when I’m home on a summer’s day!  And none of them involve me running around buck naked either!

Although it would be rather nice to recline naked in a bed of roses….

Wear as little as possible.  Seriously.  When I’m home in the house, the bra is not an option.  The girls need some serious time to relax.  And even when going out, there are bra-free friendly clothes that will manage to work.  The off-the-shoulder dress and the off-the-shoulder top.  Granted, not every woman is comfortable going braless—and if you need to wear a bra, wear a lighter one with little to no padding.

Image result for atypical60 off the shoulder dress

No bra needed!  This off-the-shoulder shirt is one of my favorite’s for intense heat.  Here, I’m wearing it in Theoule last summer and I may wear it to work tomorrow if it’s as hot as today…

Image result for atypical60 off the shoulder dress

Perhaps I’ll just wear this off-the-shoulder dress to work instead.  It needs to be ironed and right now, I’m too lazy!

As I sit here writing this blog post, I’m dressed in a pareo that my son Jake brought back from Bali for me.  It makes a great dress.  I had a bathing suit on earlier but decided to wear pareo-as-halter-dress and it doesn’t get much cooler than this!

Shorts.  Yes. Now is not the time to say you are too old or the thighs are too flabby or crepey.  My thighs, close up look like crepe paper, and I don’t care because wearing jeans or long pants in this weather can make you feel so hot that you’re almost feverish.  Yeah. I know loose-fitting linen pants can be cool but the wrinkle factor bothers me to no end.

This was my first outfit of the day. I wore this when we ran errands early this morning.  I breathable shirt from Lilly Pulitzer,  short-shorts from Old Navy and sandals.  Notice I’m all decked out in red, white and blue for July 4th!

I couldn’t resist these Lilly Pulitzer Buttercup Shorts. The slight bit of stret

Put the shoes away.  Give the feet a break.  Treat your feet to sandals or flip flops.  Feet expand in the heat and shoes can feel tighter.  Sandals are such a necessary option.  But first—treat yourself to a pedicure!  Summer is the time to make your feet know how much you love them!

Barely-there sandals!  My feet love the newest pair of Rondini’s that I purchased last year!

They also love these Tory Burch flip-flops too!  Give you feet the freedom they deserve!

Makeup-free face!  Oh–the eye makeup is still on but with a sun-kissed glow (and plenty of sunscreen),  no foundation, highlighter, concealer, or contour needed!

I love the summer face!  Competely natural and it pays to give your face a break from all those products!

Prepare the dinner early.  This is if you have the time. Today is July Fourth!  A mid-week holiday.  And we’re spending it quietly.  Bonaparte went to play tennis and I’m working on the blog and other writings.  We went out earlier this morning to do some grocery shopping.  And I’ve already cooked the lobster!

It’s also a good thing to cook the lobster in advance because I don’t like the idea of this little guy waiting around for his final moments…

I’ll serve it cold—maybe with a bit of mayo.  Maybe just plain.  I boiled it and now it’s done.  And it’ll be so refreshing to have this cold!! A dish to beat the heat!

Egg salad has been prepared too!  All on the stovetop because it’s just too hot to use the oven.There’s absolutely nothing fancy about my egg salad. At all. And the whole family craves it!  I chop hard boiled eggs,  add salt and pepper and mayo.  That’s it. Bonaparte just ate a sandwich on rye!

A Caprese salad of sliced tomato, sliced egg, mozzarella cheese  and fresh basil will be the starter and all will add to a delightful dinner!

No hot foods on a heat-infested day!  And let me tell you something…

….2018 is a STELLAR crop year for tomatoes.  We haven’t had tomatoes this tasty in a few years!

If we feel like a sweet treat later on, there’s always cherries, bananas or fruit!

No booze till after five!  I don’t know about you, but wine or any mixed drink just isn’t my thing during the hot days.  The alcohol hits way too fast in the heat and is incredibly dehydrating.  Instead, opt for water, flavored water, sweet tea or lemonade!  Yum!

Hold off till evening for this.  Drink this during the day, and you’ll be passed out by two in the afternoon!

Opt for filtered tap water, flavored water, iced tea or lemonade!

Turn the lights off.  The AC in our home is regulated. It’s 80 degrees right now inside but feels cooler.  Because there’s quite a bit of natural light, I’ve shut all the lights off and drawn the blinds. By keeping the direct sunlight out, the house cools down quite a bit.

Better yet, if you have a basement or “downstairs” living area, that’s the place to be.  Downstairs can be even more of a cool place!

The lights are out but I’ll be headed downstairs to watch some TV in the coolness of this room!

Bring the outdoors in!  Yeah. It’s definitely one of those days to stay indoors when the weather gets to be this intensely hot.  But being inside means missing the beauty of summer foliage!  Now’s the time to either go outside for a few minutes and pick flowers or head to the store to buy a couple of bunches of flowers or an indoor plant and bring the outdoors in!

We bought these flowers earlier today…

And these two–it’s always nice to have fresh flowers at home.

Add some green plants to really bring the outdoors in!

Carry a fan.  Many discount stores carry small battery-powered fans. I’m more of a traditionalist and prefer a pretty Chinese-inspired fabric fan!

This fan is kept in my purse.  I got it at a local dollar store and it helps!

Spray Bottle filled with water is a great way to beat the heat!  Going outdoors?  Headed for a game or event—or party?  Fill ‘er up, put in the fridge and you’ll have a blast of cold!  Same goes for face toner.  Put it in the fridge and you’ll be nice and cool.

Filled with water, it’s also a way to cool Chippy down!!

Don’t forget a bit of eau de toilette.  A refreshing scent can always you feel a bit cooler!

Image result for atypical60 fleur d'oranger

Fleur d’Oranger. You KNOW it’s my favorite scent and it’s very cooling and refreshing!

One thing I’ve done since my kids were young is wet down facecloths, put them in plastic bags and placed them in the freezer.  These days, I only need one or two, since we’re empty nesters but if you have kids visiting or grandkids, invest in some inexpensive facecloths, wet ‘em down, plop ‘em in the freezer and when the kids start whining that they’re too hot, you know what to do.  They are also great coolants to place around your neck.

Face cloth–drenched with water, put in a plastic sandwich bag and…..

…into the freezer with ye! When this freezes and you get that cold sting, you’ll feel alive and awake!

And when all else fails, sit down and think about how you feel on the coldest, most frigid, windiest day of the winter. Picture leaving the warmth of your home to run outside in the dark to your car because you forgot to buy eggs.  Remember how it feels when your toes and fingers become numb from the sub-zero weather?

Hold that thought!!

Summer’s not that bad!!

I’ve also created a “Beat the Heat” Idea List from my Amazon site!  You can get ideas for the next time you head out to run errands!

Mongo Jerry:  In The Summertime! One of my favorite summer songs!

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That F*****g Scale—I’ll Wear That Bikini Anyway—and a Desperate Attempt to Eat Healthier!

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Catherine

Oh. Don’t get me started.  My weight has plateaued at 145.  The scale ain’t moving.  And I was kind of ok with that because I realize that those last few pounds can seemingly take forever to lose.

And the scale remains the same……

But something happened this week.  I had a doctor’s appointment—it was time for me to have a well-visit, and I was told to get on the scale.  With my clothing on no less!

The scale in the doctor’s office had me weighing five pounds heavier at 150.

What else could I do but turn to the nurse with a snarl and like an angry prizefighter I looked her in the eyes and said “Oh. And now after this surprise you’re gonna take my blood pressure?”  “Just gimme the chart so I can write “high” for blood pressure”!

She laughed at me. But it was no laughing matter.  My blood pressure was higher!

Hey Doctor!  Your scale raised my blood pressure!

My home scale still reads 145 as I write this and I chose to believe my home scale.  There’s a reason for this.

At the doctor’s office, just about every patient comes in and is weighted.  All sizes of people—from lightweights to heavyweights and the scale isn’t adjusted after every use.  Add to that, nobody is naked when they are getting weighed—how can the scale be accurate?

And I find myself obsessing over my next appointment in three weeks.  Hopefully, I’ll be a pound lighter—I’m not asking for miracles here.

The good thing is that all my clothing still fits. After a bit of a weight gain over the holidays and throughout the winter, I lost a few pounds that makes a difference.

My clothes look better and I feel better.  And that’s all that counts.

But more than that, those numbers aren’t making me try to hide my body at the beach!  We headed to the shore yesterday and I gleefully wore a bikini.

Stone Harbor, NJ!!!

When the mercury hits upwards of 97 degrees Fahrenheit—I’m wearing what makes me comfortable.

My “less-than-twenty-bucks” bikini from Amazon!  My new favorite mall!

I’m doing the same today, except after writing and working on a YouTube video, I’ll head outside on our deck with a good book, water and my bikini!  We can’t allow ourselves to feel as though we’re not supposed to wear certain swimwear after the age of 50, 60, or older.

Oh yeah, baby!  I’m wearing a bikini as I write this because it is hot as h-e-double-hockey sticks out there!

And guess what?  You don’t need a perfect body either!  My pouch from carrying three babies is still there because I’ve never hit the gym after birthing my children.  My thighs are soft because I’m too anxiety-ridden to walk the suburban streets and running makes me miserable. If I had a motor strapped to my body, I could, possibly spread my arms eagle-style and use the flab as airplane wings and fly across the Atlantic rather than spend money on an airline ticket.

That’s right. I’ve got the soft belly and thighs and it doesn’t matter. No woman should be made to feel she can’t wear a bikini because she doesn’t have the perfect model’s body.  Let’s be realistic. It’s HOT in the summer.  All women deserve to be comfortable!

Despite the scale, I’m A-OK with my body in swimwear.

And if you’re more comfy in a one-piece–go for it!

It’s summer for cryin’ out loud!

I don’t need much at the beach.  An old beach bag from J. Crew that I purchased around ten years ago is still going strong–and I’m a sucker for Madras!  Flip flops from Old Navy…the shade from an umbrella and a towel.

Speaking of which, when we were at the beach yesterday, I took my book, 32 Yolks down to the shoreline, sat in my new beach chair, allowed the small waves to hit my legs and feet while reading and a rather random large wave rolled up and broke at my waist, soaking my wig.

Took this new beach chair down to the shoreline. I love it because it’s low to the ground!

Full of sand in the bottom of my bathing suit, I headed out to the Atlantic to shake the sand out of my bottom when another wave came and almost knocked me over, soaking my wig even more.

And an amazing thing occurred.  The wig, conditioned with the saltiness and brine of the ocean, dried beautifully.  I have to wash the sea out of her but I decided to keep her the way she dried to show you!

In the car ready to go home and this is how my wig dried. I couldn’t believe it…

Here she is today still looking fabulous. I’ll wash her later!

For the wig-wearers who read this blog.  I ordered another Lacey from Wigoutlet.com.  At a total price point of $84, due to the discount, this wig was a great deal.  Since she isn’t a lace top, and was purchased at a lesser price, I figured it was a good beach choice.  I’m still amazed that she took so much abuse.  Lacey, by Envy Wigs is now my beach wig.

When we came home, I started to prepare dinner. Since summer meals are eaten on the deck, I wanted to prepare something relatively quick and opted for chicken breasts with tomato, olives and basil—one of my staple meals

Roma tomatoes cooked in a bit of olive oil and white wine, a can of black olives, two cloves of minced garlic, red pepper flakes,  and fresh basil make the chicken breasts absolutely delicious.  Save the olive juice–I add some to the mix!

But I wanted a side dish too.  And I thought about how much I love risotto.  But, it’s somewhat heavy for a summer meal—especially when it’s hot and humid.  I had to think.  What I came up with was a lighter risotto version that is healthier.  I made a mushroom/cauliflower rice risotto.

Here’s what I did:

I took cauliflower rice (I purchased mine at Wegman’s—most supermarkets now carry pre-made cauliflower rice.  If you would rather, you can purchase a head of cauliflower, cut the florets off and pulse them in the food processer until they are ground up like rice.)

Wegman’s cauliflower rice pre-packaged.  Pricier but when you’re lazy–it works fine!

And assorted mushrooms.

Image result for assorted mushrooms wegmans

An assortment of mushies adds depth!

I cooked the mushrooms in a pan with about ½ cup of chicken broth and ¼ cup of white wine.

When the mushrooms were cooked down, I added the cauliflower rice and lowered the heat.  I stirred the “rice” into the mushrooms until the “rice” absorbed the liquid—about five minutes.   I added salt, pepper and herbs de Provence and let it sit.  Then before serving I added Parmesan cheese and warmed it up.

Low-carb risotto!  And boy was it good!!!

Turned out so good that Bonaparte, who despises vegetables of any kind, loved it—and he ate quite a bit!

I’m having the leftovers tonight!!!!

I swear during this time of year, it’s easier to figure out what to wear to the beach than to the office. Summer dressing is a challenge because there aren’t as many options or mixing and matching layers.  I still love one-stop dressing of just throwing a dress on, sandals and heading into work.  Although this week I ended up wearing pants two days because I was too stinking lazy to bend down and shave my legs.

I haven’t been doing this for a while so let’s take a look at what I wore this week. Shall we?

On Monday, I did opt for a bright orange dress and with the office A/C I wore a scarf that matched very nicely!

Tuesday’s weather was unseasonably cool. I went with a skirt, a tee and a denim jacket.  I also wore my new Jord wooden watch which I’ll be writing about later this week!

Wednesday brought forth another cooler day and a surprise doctor’s visit–had I known in advance, I wouldn’t have worn this heavier weight skirt that I had to get on the scale with!!!!!!!

Thursday.  No Shave-a-the-legs so I wore the new pants from J. Crew factory. I loved these skinny cargo pants so much I ordered another pair.  I stuck to the neutrals!!

Still too lazy to put a razor to the legs, I wore elephant print pants to work on Friday…

Here’s a bit of the beach from me to you!  And if you’re interested in some summer reading…another Idea List from my Amazon store–GREAT SUMMER READS  LIST.  I’m currently reading Sharp Objects, a thriller by Gillian Flynn.  I will sit down and read it this afternoon even though I’m not at the beach!!!

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Do You Go Out to EAT or Do You Go Out to DINE?

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Catherine

I’ve been thinking about this all weekend.  Bonaparte and I went to our favorite restaurant Saturday evening—Spring Mill Café in Conshohocken.  We were celebrating his birthday in the best way we knew how—by dining. 

Our favorite place–Spring Mill Cafe!  Philly’s best and it’s BYOB!!

So, what was I thinking about?  I’ll tell you.

Back when I was working for the healthcare company in Wayne; the  one that closed the very last day in December of 2014 and started my bout with unemployment and, consequently, the birth of this blog, I worked with a co-worker who made a remark that stuck with me since she made it.

We were making office small talk about dinner.  It was no secret that she and her husband went “out to eat” at least three times a week.  The reason being that she was too tired to cook when she arrived home.  And due to her fatigue, she and her husband would get in the car, drive to a chain restaurant, have dinner and then go back home.

Night GIF

I’m so tired. I sat at a desk all day and pretended to work!

While we were having this conversation, I did mention that we, Bonaparte and I, rarely went out to dinner because I cooked at home. And when we did go out, it was because of a special occasion or event.

And the following remark that she made was the one that stuck with me.  She said “Oh—you’re just too cheap to go out to eat”

Yes.  Just call me a member of cheapskates anonymous–Bonaparte can only dream about that one with the way I spend!

There were quite the number of replies that I could have thrown back at her.  I could have mentioned that it is far healthier to cook at home rather than go to a cheap chain and eat fat-laden garbage.  Or I could have mentioned that when we do go out to dinner, we dine and spend quite a good amount of money for sustainable food.  But I didn’t want to go there because I would have sounded bitchy.

Yeah. I coulda talked some smack too–but then I would have been called into HR!

I just shrugged it off.  After all, living with a Frenchman was making me quite the expert on The French Shrug!

A “meh” and a shrug leaves more of an impact anyway!  Oui!

Then again, this was a woman who judged a restaurant by the quantity of food rather than the quality of food served. The more food on the plate meant a better restaurant.  Less food meant poor quality.

This is not how I rate a restaurant–trust me, I love a great cheeseburger and fries, but in human portions!

And it’s hard to judge because when my kids were young and with the running around that I did with their baseball, basketball, soccer, Irish Dance, field hockey, guitar lessons and various other activities crammed into an ever-changing schedule, there were those nights when we would head to a chain for a quick dinner.  My chain of choice was Pizza Hut—and I can’t stand pizza but the bread sticks with a salad were an ideal meal for me back then.

Hey man, if Pizza Hut was good enough for Ringo then it was good enough for me and my kids!!

There were also the nights that I would stop at White Castle on the way home from Oona’s dance lessons.  And the nights we went to Old Country Buffet.  Boston Market was my take-out of choice but I always had room for Taco Bell!

No–that would be ME during the middle of the night after Boston Market take out!

So, I really can’t come off as self-righteous here.

But what bothered me was being called “cheap”.  I love a bargain, but I dare say that declining to go out three times a week to a chain restaurant dinner is called cheap.

For all her fatigue from work and being too tired to cook, it takes more time and energy to get back into the car, drive to the restaurant, get a parking spot, wait for a table, sit down and wait to be served, wait for the food to come, eat, wait for the check, pay for the food, get back in the car and drive home.  Not to mention the cost.

How long does it take to open a box of pasta, heat up frozen broccoli and toss it together with the pasta and add a bit of olive oil and parmesan cheese?  How long does it take to grill a chicken breast and have a salad?  All in the comfort of your own home.

And if you don’t like broccoli there’s always cherry tomatoes! Less time to boil the water and throw the pasta in then to drive to a local chain for dinner!

Perhaps Bonaparte and I are frugal rather than downright cheap. 

And Saturday evening, we dined.  And we had a marvelous time!  Come along with me while I relive our dinner. OK?  You don’t even have to get dressed either!  I’m in my pajamas now!

The weather was gloomy on Saturday so I wore my favorite brocade pants from Old Navy!  They stretch so they are very meal-friendly if you know what I mean!

This is the “other” building at Spring Mill Cafe–little events and parties are held here-although we did have dinner here once and it is a charming little cottage!

We made our way to the restaurant…

…had the weather been nicer I would have been tempted to eat out on the patio.

Instead, we made our way to the restaurant via the front porch…

…where “our” table was waiting..

…and we enjoyed our Kir Royals...

…while the wine breathed!

We started off with our usual Country Pate Tasting.

The Birthday Man had his usual grass-fed steak..

While I went with Rack of Lamb and what a rack this was!

Bonaparte, who detests veggies, gagged when he saw the side of Kale that I ordered (and I ate the whole thing)!  It was delicious!

And for dessert, a cream and berry festooned Mousse au Chocolat!

What say you?  Do you prefer to dine or eat?  Have your tastes in restaurants changed as you’ve gotten older-I definitely know my tastes have.  I don’t like going to those places that I went to when the kids were young.

Well—one caveat.  Taco Bell is my weakness!

Yes I do.  I love me some Taco Bell and always will!

Here’s Fergie’s Glamoorous–the song where she sings about Taco Bell!

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I Got Some New “Stuff”

Posted on June 24, 2018 by Catherine

Yes I did!  And I’m gonna tell you all about that stuff I got!!

Yes I did.  But I paid mostly with cash!

I got another eyeshadow duo.  This one I purposely bought because I decided that I would make myself a “makeup bag” for work. (Which, by the way as I write this, I have not done) Now—I normally don’t do touch ups during the day but because I’m at the computer all day my eye makeup can sometimes get a bit wonky because I’ll rub my eyes without thinking.

I’m really hung up on the MAC eyeshadow refills. I need to stop this obsession!

It could be a good idea to perhaps do a bit of an eye touch up if I run errands after work. Know what I mean?

Anyway, I ordered Patina, a slightly shimmery neutral and, naturally, Quarry—my go-to shadow shade.

Patina on the right. It goes on so lightly that it looks like your eyes are shaded. And Quarry on the left is more of a taupe than the lavander hue the photo took on!

But I was really excited about the lip pencil that I ordered.  Half Red by Mac.  One of my favorite YouTube Beauty Gurus, Aly Art, loves this and her lips always look so beautiful so I decided to try it.

Half Red in the box….

Let me tell you something. I’m thrilled that I did.  I feel as though the purchase was an epiphany.  I don’t like a lipstick that feels “heavy” and some matte lipsticks have a texture that makes them feel dry and heavy on the mouth.  And I want staying power because during the day, I do not want to be constantly applying lip gloss or lipstick.  And if you use a lipstick/gloss that’s a bit on the more “colorful” side and not a neutral, as the color wears off it looks a bit “off”.

The one concern, though was that a pencil needs to be sharpened.  And my luck with pencil sharpeners isn’t exactly great.  Regardless, I still bit the bullet and bought it.

Half Red is a truly neutral type of red. It just blends into the natural lip so well!

And I couldn’t be any happier.  This goes on the lips so nicely.  I did prep by exfoliating my lips and adding a bit of concealer to tone down the natural pigmentation in my lips.  Then—I went to town!

Me, wearing Half Red to the office this week.  What the heck. I’m changing this to A+ anyway!

Overall, I have to give this an A.  I think as I get more used to wearing this, it will reach A+ status. But I’m relatively new to using a lip pencil as lipstick so we’ll see.

Mascara.  Yes. I did.  I bought another mascara. I couldn’t help it. I’ve been fondly reminiscing about the Bourgeois mascara that Oona and I loved back during her Irish Dance days.  The mascara was two-fold.  A white primer at one end and mascara at the other.  It was great.  Made the lashes long and lush and there was not one con about the product.

False advertising on the package.  My lashes did NOT look like the lashes on the package–but this does a very decent job with making the lashes look lovely!

When I saw this Voluminous Super Star mascara from L’Oréal, I dug deep into my wallet and made the buy.  I’ll say, this isn’t bad. It isn’t bad at all.  It isn’t perfect either.  The primer is good is coats the lashes evenly but, there isn’t a lot of actual product in the tube. That’s annoying to me.  I can imagine that the mascara end of the tube will outlast the primer.  The mascara isn’t bad either.  The wand is a good one because there’s decent separation and the bristles are a great size. Not too thick and not too thin. It reminds me of the old “The Falsies” by Maybelline wand before Maybelline changed the formula and packaging that now basically stink.

Primer on the left, mascara on the right.  The wands are very good ones.  My issue is that L’Oreal is stingy on the primer!

My only complaint about the mascara is that I wish it made the lashes a bit thicker.  It gives a nice length but I like a slightly clumpy look. and there wasn’t a good amount of lash primer!

Just in case you get confused, the primer is number 1 and the mascara number 2!

Overall, this gets a B+ to an A- simply because the primer end of the tube is stingy.

Eyelash Curler.  I had an eyelash curler that came with a little replacement rubber.  I had that little replacement rubber for about two years. And when I needed to replace the rubber that was in my eyelash curler—the replacement disappeared.  God knows where it went—it most likely either ended up where the odd socks from the dryer go or Chippy ate it.  And I never bothered to replace the eyelash curler or buy replacement rubbers.

So, while at Dollar Tree last Sunday, I spotted an eyelash curler and figured all they are worth is a buck anyway.  And I’ll be honest.  Don’t waste the buck on a dollar eyelash curler.  The size is weird—because it doesn’t “grab” the lashes the way the other lash curlers do.  But—for a buck, it’s worth it to keep in my travel case.  If you are at Dollar Tree or any other Dollar store, pass on this. Please.

This eyelash curler isn’t worth the dolla spent. In fact, notice that on my hand is a paper towel. That’s because I accidently stabbed my finger with the scissor that I opened the packaging with and bled for a half hour!  Ok–15 minutes.  Alright already–a good three minutes!

I also picked up a two-part cosmetic case.  This is actually a very good thing for me.  My lip products can go in the smaller case. I’m a lipstick/gloss slob and the glop gets everywhere.  By putting them in a separate case helps to keep things clean!

For a buck, I should have picked up a couple more of these to throw into various tote bags. I’m not big on expensive makeup/cosmetic bags because within six months (ok–make that a month for me) they get filthy inside.  These work for me. And I’ve yet to fill them with cosmetics..

I did pick up and placed in the larger bag this little mirror/brush combo.  I can use the brush for my wigs because the bristles are plastic and synthetic-wig friendly!

Who can pass up a pair of dollar flip flops?  Not I!!!  One pair can be kept in the car and one at the office for those days when the heels start to bother my dawgs!  A very handy item of footwear, I must say!

The flip flops with the anchors are right up my alley.  The white ones are July Fourth specials!

Now. Since we were at the beach on Saturday, and I got a bit of sun on my face, I decided to rummage through my old makeup case to see if there was any face tanning product that I could use as foundation.  I came across a sample of Tarte’s Brazilliance.  I don’t even know if it’s a face product because the printing on the sample tube was too small but I put it on my face anyway.

Well..the tube states this is a self-tanner but it washed right off at the end of the day!

Here’s how it  rolled!

The Tarte Brazilliance is a gel.  And it’s dark. Real dark. But when you apply it to your face, it blends.  And it blends so well that it ends up giving just a hint of color. This is a great product to use after you’ve gotten a decent color on your face from the sun or if you tan easily.  It isn’t hydrating nor is it dry-it just is what it is.  If I had a great tan, I would purchase this as an extra.  But due to the fact that I just turn red, I need something that’ll make me look slightly tanner… For those who tan easily and want a bit extra, I give this an A. For those like me who get red. It’s a B because despite the dark color of the gel, it could go on a bit darker.

This is how Brazilliance looks straight outta the tube. It’s dark!

But here’s how it looked on my face. Not bad but could be darker!

Albolene.  OK. Last night we went out to celebrate Bonaparte’s birthday (I’ll be writing a post later this week), when we arrived home and I went to remove my makeup, I realized that there was nothing left in the jar of Albolene that I have.  It didn’t surprise me either; in fact, I was pissed at myself for not searching enough for it.  I went to Walmart during the week but there was none to be had.  I did something so awful.  I ended up going to bed with my makeup on.

This was the empty jar last night.  I use a ton of this due to the amount of mascara that I plop on my lashes. For me to go to bed without removing my makeup is atrocious–but I did!

It all came out in the shower this morning!  So, earlier this afternoon I drove to Rite-Aid because I know the store sells it.  After searching through the shelves for five long minutes, I spotted it on the bottom shelf.  It pained me to shell out $13 bucks for it—I could have ordered it cheaper from Amazon but I needed it NOW!   After I write this post I’m heading to my Amazon store and ordering a backup.  This is, hands down, the best makeup remover ever and I’ve been using it for years and years and years.  It’s an A+++++ product!!

It just about killed me to spend over $13 (with tax) on this but I needed it so badly.  This is lard for the face. It moisturizes and cleanses and is THE BEST MAKEUP REMOVER OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!  I’m heading over to Amazon to price check after I write this post! Meet me at my store!

Last of all, I ordered another duplicate Goyard-inspired tote from Amazon.  Amazon sent me a rewards card and I used it to order the tote.  And a sincere thank you to all who have ordered from my Amazon store because I would not have received the card if it were not for you.  Seriously.  I’m filled with gratitude because, as you know, Like to Know It refused me four times but Amazon has taken me on and I’m thrilled.  I’ve started to monetize which inspires me—so again.  Thank you!!!

My “replica” tote.  My sister paid over a hundred bucks for this on the streets of NYC and my niece has the real thing.  Not much of a difference at all!!

Anyway, this tote is an all-around great item.  My step daughter ordered one and loves it. I think she uses it as a beach tote.  It’s totes ma goats!!

The humidity has crept up and I don’t care because I can just plop a wig on my head!  I’m telling you, the beauty of wigs is that you don’t get a bad hair day in the summer! I received my third Violet this past week in the mail. I paid a deep discount on Wigoutlet.com.  I freaking love this wig by Estetica Designs!

Violet’s looking mighty fine, she is!!!  

More items have been added to my idea list:  Let’s Make Up.  Have a looksee and I filmed a Sunday Chat video on my YouTube channel this morning.

Please enjoy my little chat and let me know what you think of the cosmetics packaging that I rant about!

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How To Wear Sneakers When You Are Over 50. Or 60. Or 70!!

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Catherine

Sneakers.  So much has been written about them over the years.  And sneaker styles have changed over the decades.  I’m gonna bet that if you are a regular reader of this blog you wore P.F. Flyers when you were a child.

Watch this carefully because they weren’t even called sneakers. They were called “Canvas Shoes”.   

Or Keds.

Keds have pretty-much remained the same, but these days, I like a thicker sole–the one in the middle is my choice. I like the way it can blend into a wardrobe.

They have been praised for comfort and dissed for lack of fashion and style.  Come on now.  How many articles have you seen about not wearing sneakers to European cities for fear of looking like a tourist?

And I have to say,  we Americans can look a bit too casual when we visit European cities. I’ve seen worse than this in Paris. And if you take the time out to look for a good-looking and comfortable sneaker or street shoe, you CAN find something very flattering!

But—it depends on the style of sneaker that’ll make or break a look.

Going back to my “mom” days in the 90’s, my summer footwear consisted of either flip-flops or those leather classic-style Keds.  And I wore the Kids only with shorts because they looked better!  Add to that I was always traipsing through baseball fields, soccer fields, and outdoor Irish Dance competitions—canvas would have gotten filthy.

I’m not kidding. THESE were my go-to’s for sports events, running errands and just being mom!  And the leather was a more pragmatic choice because it cleaned easier. And they always looked good.

And as I aged, I noticed something.  There was a stereotype sneaker for the more mature and pro-aging woman.  Now please realize something.  For those who need orthopedic sneakers and shoes—I completely understand—but this post is more of a style one.  So, I’m not dissing anyone or shaming.

This particular sneaker is marketed toward seniors—and not the seniors in high school.  They are marketed to the over 60 crowd and I think it’s absolutely horrible.  Not all of us prefer or want to wear those clunky, Velcro shiny white articles of footwear.

This sneaker is actually marketed for “senior citizens”. It’s hideous.  If I was a nurse working in a hospital I would wear these at work and that’s it.  Velcro?  Velcro?  What?  We can’t tie a lace when we are over 50? 

We want our sneakers to be as hip and cool as we are!! Let’s hope that marketers and advertising people for once, start to include the pro-aging demographic in their ads.  And moving on to how to wear sneakers….with a modern vibe….

For me, the most versatile sneakers are Chuck Taylor Shoreline low tops by Converse.  I’m a very lazy woman and therefore don’t like to tie my sneakers in a bow.  I prefer the little knots in the laces as shown in the pic below. And these sneakers slide right on, making them even better for the laziest of the lazy!

I LOVE these sneakers. And for those who may not be able to bend down to tie a lace, these slide on.  The back is elastized and still remains pleasing to the eye!

Image result for chuck taylor shoreline white sneaker

The elasticized back is perfect for sliding these babies on and off!

Like how I made the laces lazy-friendly?  Me too!

I also like the traditional boat sneaker.   With both, the thicker sole gives a nice finished look with summer clothing and is more in proportion with how you wear them.

I love a good boat sneaker too.  I’m more of a streamlined person. Very basic. No bells and whistles..

I dig these too. In fact, I think I’ll buy a pair.

With jeans, I like to fold the cuff up a bit. It gives a fun and casual vibe that we all strive for.

True dat. I’m a sucker for cuffed jeans with sneakers!

The trend with sneakers and dresses is also a fun one—but beware. Not all dresses were meant for that sneaker/dress combo.

This young woman nailed the sneaker/dress look. AND, this is a very “mature” woman ensemble!  The sneakers are ever-so-slightly-thicker without being downright clunky looking and that dress.  Yeah.  I love this look!

A short skirt/sneaker team is one of the best for a fun summer look and the more casual, the better.   A casual dress also makes for a great pairing.

A maxi/sneaker look can be just fine but you need to keep things in proportion.  A too-long maxi looks better with a higher heeled sandal—but a maxi that cuts above the ankle is great!

Let’s look a bit more—shall we?

Here’s the cuffed-jeans/sneaker look.  I don’t wear jeans much in the summer due to the heat and my seat sweats so I don’t want to be stinkin’ like a swamp if you get my drift. But during the cooler months, I love this casual look!

A rather elegant look with my bra straps hanging out–don’tja think?  Actually, I like this knit maxi with sneakers because the dress is just so basic and….

….the hemline falls just above the ankle.  Anything longer I wear with sandals.

This Lacoste polo shirtdress is a GREAT match for sneakers.  It’s got a fun vibe…and yes, you CAN wear a mini when you are over 50!

Fabric is a factor.  A flowing material or knit works better with a sneaker–it’s more casual-friendly…

A white tee + a flowy skirt + sneakers = a winning combination

An exception to that fabric rule is denim.  A demin skirt and sneakers were meant to be worn together!

I don’t even remember when I bought this skirt but I love the movement and the polka dots!

When I tried this dress on at J. Crew Factory last year, I was wearing these sneakers.  I loved the look so much that I purchased the dress–and nine out of ten times, I wear this dress with those sneaks.

More dressing room looks.  I tried this dress on earlier today and passed because of the fit on top–but I love the way it looks with the sneakers.  The pants.  I cuffed the hem as shown in the photo with the striped shirt.  That was the win. And I purchased them! I’m really pissed about that dress though because I really did love it!

And the shorts!  For me, again–it’s proportion. I don’t like my shorts to be long because I don’t have long legs.  Long shorts on short legs can look squat.  A shorter pair of shorts can make your legs appear longer–but that means you have to shave your entire leg. And I’m a fan of the sneaker/short combo. It’s a nice crisp look..

This is what I’m wearing now.  A classic summer look…and..

…it can be dressed up a bit with a blazer. I wore this ensemble shopping today. And let me tell you this is a very fun look for we women over 50 and 60 and upwards!

Even with a dressier pair of shorts–sneakers can work….

This is a look that I wore to work but I’m telling you–we’re going to NYC for a weekend next month and I’ll bring this ensemble along–and I will wear my sneakers instead of the heels because it’ll be a great city look!

 

I also want to point something out.  I’m bowl-legged.  The thing is, I know how to position my legs when I take photos.  My knees are also knocked and I’ve got crepey skin but it doesn’t stop me from wearing all the above-combinations.  We’re aging.  But we need to be PRO-aging and not let the veins or the discoloration or the crepey skin keep us from wearing what we want.  You can wear sneakers and rock on!

I created an idea list on my Amazon page  for you to look at.  Take a look at some of the dresses and sneakers and make a mental image of what you like–then when you go shopping, you’ll have a visual of the look you are going for!   HOW TO WEAR SNEAKERS

Elvis. Hi Heel Sneakers. Is there anything else?

 

 

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