I’ve Got All My Marbles!! Do You???

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Catherine

I’m not talking about those marbles—Lord knows, I’ve lost the marbles between my ears many years ago.  That’s why I march to the beat of my own drum.  Right now, I’m talking about a different set of marbles—and a quite beautiful set at that.

Have a seat.  Grab a cup of tea or coffee and I’m going to tell you about one of our very own Atypical60 neighbors–Vickie Jernigan. Vickie is the mastermind and owner/designer of the company allmymarbles,llc.  She is also a blogger and shares great DIY projects and other cool things like making your own wrapping paper on her blog Surf2create.

Hi Everyone!  Meet Vickie–friend of Atypical60 and an incredibly talented woman!

But I’ll tell you, she had me at the scarfs that she posted on her Instagram feed.  I was fascinated, intrigued and mesmerized.  And I asked her about the process.  One thing led to another and she sent me a scarf to review.

The scarf–when it arrived I was very excited!  Bonaparte was home and LOVED it as well.  He said the scarf is very “chic”!!

The scarf, marbled, is a gorgeous blend of white, robin’s egg blue, lavender and a light violet.  These colors are universally flattering and the beauty of the scarf is that it can be worn in a variety of ways.

The scarf was packaged so nicely with glittery tissue paper and these little tags! 

I could not wait to get to what was nestled under this tissue!!!

The light weight of the  silk fabric lends itself to be worn all year long.  In fact, I wore the scarf on a day when I needed a bit of luck—and it brought me the good.  I’ll tell you about that next week.

The length, 60 Inches by 11 Inches, makes it easy to wear it in a number of ways!

A variety of ways this versatile and beautifully marbled scarf can be worn.  I can’t wait to wear it as a headband during the summer.  Isn’t it beautiful?

Well, I was so curious about Vickie and how she started her company and how she went about learning this procedure of Turkish marbling that I needed to ask a few questions.   I present to you, Vickie Jernigan!

Tell us a bit about yourself.  Where did you grow up?  Your life journey….I grew up in Montgomery, Ala., where I lived after the age of two. I had no idea what I was going to study in college as I approached my senior year of high school until my school piloted a computer programming course for seniors. I absolutely fell in love with programming. I was the only girl in the class! And, when I was in school, boys didn’t take typing. The boys would peck on the keyboard forever to finish their work. There was only one computer, which connected to a computer network at a local college. Because I wanted more time to learn the computer language and play on the computer, I encouraged the boys to let me type their code. They were delighted to give me the opportunity because they despised typing! I continued my studies in computer science through college.  Prior to graduating high school, I met my future husband, Mike Jernigan.  We married in 1979 and I joined him in Auburn, Ala., where he was attending Auburn University. I worked in technology at Auburn until my early retirement in 1994, when my husband and our daughter, then age 10, sold everything we owned and moved to Grand Cayman, BWI. A technology support job provided us a way to move to the Caribbean. Just three short weeks after we moved to Cayman, the island was hit with a devastating category five hurricane, Ivan. The effects of the hurricane made things difficult for the next year, so reluctantly, my family and I moved back to Auburn. We loved the warm weather, the friends we made there from all over the world, and the outdoor lifestyle. We hope to move further south again one day.

Were you always creative?  Did you sew when you were younger?Yes, I had an aunt who was a seamstress by trade. She always had the most beautiful clothes. And, I admired her greatly. She is why I had such an interest in learning to sew. I learned to sew when I was in Home Economics during middle school. I very much enjoyed making my clothes at a very young age, always altering the pattern to do something just a little different. Instead of having someone else make my practice uniforms for school, I made them and saved hundreds of dollars throughout my majorette career. But, that was just the beginning of my sewing and interest in crafts. Through my young adult life I always had some type of craft project going, from cross-stitching to ceramics, and of course, I continued my sewing, especially while my daughter was growing up.

How did you get into making THIS Turkish type of marbling?  Was it an easy process to learn?As you see, I have always been a person who loved to create, even though my long-term career has been in technology. After my daughter moved out for college, with her permission I took over her bedroom as my craft room because I had always had converted closets or small utility rooms as my space to create. Everyone kept telling me I needed to start a blog so they could see all my creations. So, I started a craft blog, which can still be found at surf2create.com, even though it is in a state of hiatus at the moment. I enjoyed creating my crafts in my new space–mosaics, jewelry making, sewing, etc.

I was always surfing the Internet looking for different ideas for crafting to write about on my blog. I don’t even recall where I saw marbling, on Facebook, Pinterest, or just searching the Internet. But, wherever it was, I was just mesmerized with the process, the paints floating on the water, and the beautiful patterns that could be created.

Here’s a nautical piece–a marbled wooden anchor!! 

I watched several YouTube videos on the process and gave it a try. I didn’t receive the results I wanted so I found an online class where I could learn all the techniques and processes. Marbling is an amazing process. It is actually an ancient Turkish art form called Ebru. There is a lot of preparation before and after you actual throw paints on the bath. There are a lot of elements involved. And the atmosphere can cause havoc when working in a tank—in the bath mixture. I have marbled on paper, fabrics, and wood.

Marbled paper that Vickie has out for drying.

First is the bath. This is the water mixture I use as my canvas. The water has to be thick enough to allow the paints to float on top of the bath, but light enough so the paints spread when they hit the bath. This process is where the southern humidity changes the elements, which requires manipulating the bath to the proper consistency. Whether I’m marbling on paper, wood, or fabric designates which type of bath mixture I mix. Carrageenan, which is actually powdered down seaweed, I use mostly when marbling paper or wood. The other bath mixture I use for my larger tanks when marbling fabrics is made with methyl cellulose (MC).

Prep work–the paper tank.

Next, I must prepare what is to be marbled. I use aluminum sulfate, known as ‘alum’, mixed with water. It’s not the kind you purchase at the grocery store for making pickles because that spice has other fillers. I use a sponge to apply alum to paper or wood. But, with fabrics, you must soak them in the alum solution and hang them to dry.

Third, I mix my paints. There are different types of paints for this process, but I love acrylics. The process requires different acrylics that have the right consistency to float. Most of these paints require me to add water when mixing up the paints.

Look at all these paint jars!!!

And all these acrylic paints.  And you thought acrylics were just for manicures!

Now is the fun part, dropping paints one after another on the bath, my canvas. The paints expand and float one on top of the other. I use tools called rakes, combs, and a stylus to make detailed patterns. The paper, fabric or wood is then carefully placed on top of the bath and lifted off, bringing with it the beautiful patterns.

The beautiful Phoebe-Mae, in the tank…she’s having her spa bath…

And here she is–ready to be worn!

Fabrics must be cured by ironing, storing in a dark area, and then given a final washing to secure the integrity of the design on the fabrics. This last process takes a week while the fabric cures.

Do you have a studio—do you make the scarves at home?
Yes, my studio is located in the lower level of my home.  A pool table is where my tanks are set up. So sorry, no more pool playing at my house! And, I still use my craft room for preparing the products and handling my business affairs.

Another piece in the tank!

What do you absolutely love about this process?
That every single piece I design out of the tank is unique. No two pieces are the same. And, to see the paints float on the water. Again, it is mesmerizing!

Another pic of the paper tank!

What made you go into business for yourself!
Well, I don’t have enough closet space to store all the scarves I want to make! And, I want others to enjoy them. Marbling is not a well-known art form either. Having a business, selling my products and talking about marbling is a way to educate others on this amazing art form.

An assortment of finished scarves.  They are gorgeous!

When you design—do you have the “mature woman” in mind—or do you just let your creativity flow?I do let my creativity flow and sometimes the paints have a mind of their own and send me in another direction. But, the greatest thing about my scarves is they are conducive to any style and any age, depending on the colors and pattern! I have had women of all different styles and ages show interest in my scarves – from preppy, vintage, or bohemian to chic and business. And the colors! Wow! You can have bold and bright to soft and pastel. Plus, tell me colors you need for any outfit, and I can custom make exactly what you need in any pattern to fit your unique style.

More scarves!! Click on the link to Vickie’s Etsy shop below!

Tell us a bit more about your Etsy shop!!!!!!!!I just opened my Etsy shop at the end of January. Currently I am offering scarves in 9×54 inches and 11×60 inches, but I will be offering larger sizes in the near future. I plan on developing other product lines as well, from wood bangles to other fabric products. All kinds of fabrics can be marbled. So I’m playing with white denim currently that will eventually become bright, fun pillows! And, just like when I started sewing, always changing a pattern to be just a little different, I will be developing products that will be just a little bit different from the norm. My newest design is the double dip. It is a scarf, which is marbled twice. This process gives the scarf a lot more depth and makes it look multi-dimensional. They are just gorgeous and I can’t wait to design more of the double dips in the tank!

 What do you think of this bracelet?  It has such a “mod” 1960’s vibe! I’m looking forward to seeing these bracelets on the Etsy shop!

I’ve been wearing this beautifully marbled silk scarf quite often!  It’s great to have a unique and one-of-a-kind accessory that nobody else has!!

_______________________________________

Aren’t these Q & A’s fun?  I love sharing the talents of Atypical60’s neighborhood!  Take a stroll to Vickie’s allmymarbles, llc Etsy shop and let your fingers do the shopping!

It’s nice to support each other in all that we do.  Thanks for reading this and I hope you enjoyed learning about Vickie and her craft!

And thanks to Vickie for also sending me these great photographs!

 

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The Beauty of Being “The Ugly Girl” –You Age More Realistically

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Catherine

The other day, I saw a saying that someone posted on Instagram.  It was to the effect that we see ourselves as five times more attractive than we really are.  Apparently, there are articles based on this scientific assumption and this is fact!!!!  My life began to flash before me.  And I remembered that I was that “ugly” girl.  Oh yes.  I was.

Yes I am and yes I am!  Or am I?  Maybe I’ve finally woke up to reality in my elder age!

I was also that sister. You know, the one who was just a bit “off” in looks.  My two sisters were blessed with great hair texture.  My youngest sister had straight and shiny hair.  It was freaking shiny!!!  My other sister had thick hair that fell into the perfect wave pattern.  And she never had to blow dry her hair to get it to fall so perfectly.

Hell just froze over because I thought I would never have anything in common with a Kardashian.  But I do.  I’ve even been called “sir”!

On the other hand, I had a kinky, coarse, thick but unmanageable mane.  And in hindsight, it was only unmanageable because my mother had no idea how to care for this type of hair.  When I was younger, she would set it so that it either flipped out or so that it would fall into banana curls.

You have no idea how well I could relate to the pre-makeover part of The Princess Diaries!!

During those younger childhood days, I could get away with being on the edge of cute.  That was because my mother dressed me nicely!

Cute due to the beautiful dress and  somewhat manageable curls–but it doesn’t last too long!

And as soon as the pre-teen years hit, it all went to Hell. That’s right.  Any minute chance of my becoming even close to average looking hit rock bottom during puberty.  I think that possibly my genetic makeup may have been confused as to what gender I was supposed to be.

The two brows that grew above my misshapen and crossed eyes turned into one massive uni-brow.  My upper lip was suddenly a garden of rooted unsightly hair—and enough of it that in certain light, even with the assistance of Jolene Cream Bleach, looked like a full-on mustache!

And of being of equal proportions,  I had a matching line of hair above my upper lip!

Add to the fact that my mother cut my hair super short did nothing to feminize my now masculine looks.

Ugh. Sr. Mary Josephita. THE meanest nun of all time–and I had to get stuck with her.  The only GOOD thing about my mother cutting my hair super-short was that this witch wasn’t able to pull it.  She did slap me across the face though.  I’m in the second from top row. LOL–it doesn’t get worse than that—or does it..

Sr. Kathleen Marie.  God was good to me. He knew how much I suffered in sixth grade with Sr. Mary Josephita so he gifted me with this beauty of a nun–and she was kind too! I had a growth spurt that placed me in the top row–still on the end and the hair is still so disgustingly short. I swear my mother hated me! Tee-hee! You can see where my love of plaid and blazers stem from. I wish I still had that blazer!

I want to thank my childhood friend and classmate Linda Fay for sending these pictures to me when I requested them.  We Saint Pat’s kids stick together for life!  Thank you Linda!

I was miserable.  I was made fun of.  Timmy Schmidt told me to my face I was the ugliest girl he had ever seen.  That’s so mean! He wasn’t very pretty either!

My feelings were hurt–but in that hurt, I gained strength and a more realistic view of how I appeared to others!

When people told me I “had a face only a mother could love” they lied.  My mother  couldn’t stand the sight of it.  She would refer to my sisters’ good looks then stop when it came to describing me.

 

Hmmmm.  You mean to tell me I could’a been a muse for Picasso perhaps???

Things started to improve slowly as I took control of my looks.  I let my hair grow.  I learned how to make it as smooth as I could with the ammunition of large rollers, setting gel and, thankfully, the primitive blow dryers that started popping up on the market.

And although I did hold on to my flesh-toned Clearasil, I discovered makeup.  And added a touch of blush and mascara and lip gloss.

Phew!  Finally out of that awkward stage.  Here I am at 23 at a wedding.  As you can see, I was fine with my hair–it was tamed that day.  I’m only wearing a bit of eyeshadow, mascara and lip gloss.  The uni-brow was plucked and how I wish I had those natural brows back!!  And that dress. It was one of my favorites. Too bad I never saved it!

But it wasn’t until I began to really age that I came into my own and accepted the way I look.  With aging comes changes.  My eyelids were drooping. My skin wasn’t even-toned anymore. My face started getting blotchy patches with the lines and wrinkles.  I was asking myself “Are those large freckles or age spots?”.   My face wasn’t looking as dewy or luminous as it was some years ago.

I know–it looks like a ton of makeup.  It sort of is–but it’s fun–and is a ton of confidence!

I started to experiment.  Shading a bit here, highlighting and contouring a bit there.  Different lip colors.  Sticking only to what eye shadows worked for me.  Finding the right foundation.

That was the finished look.  A long way from that awkward “ugly” stage!

It’s a journey—but a fun one!

The hair—well, it’s no surprise to anyone that I lost most of it and I write about the journey often.  But the flip side is that wigs have brought me a new confidence.  Finally—in my sixties, I no longer have to worry about a thick, unmanageable mop of hair.  Now I have to worry if my husband will be home when the mail delivery comes with more wigs for me to wear!

I can rock red, black, multi-toned and blonde hair—and do it in a matter of seconds!

Yesterday I wore CAR-A-MEL hair (Yes–I emphasized the correct pronunciation!)

Today I’m rockin’ the 613 blonde!

And as a blogger who has a very small but fantastic group of regular readers, I know which angles to aim my phone when I’m taking photos.  I can’t afford a photographer but I sure know what side to selfie myself from!  Perhaps it’s the control freak in me—but I know how to photograph myself so that I don’t look like that ugly girl from years ago.  Or do I?  Maybe I still do appear unattractive to others.  And that’s quite alright because I look fine to me.  And after over fifty years of feeling hideous and unattractive, I can’t look any worse than I did in those school photos!

 

Hey, I may look like dog waste to others, but to me, I’m just fine!

Those awkward looking years.  Most of us go through them.  Only a choice few do not.  Those years when we are ugly.  Let’s be realistic about this.  Please.  Those ugly years shape us and mold us into who we are now.  But the sad fact is that we still tend to see ourselves as we did back then.

We need to stop that. We need to start feeling great about our looks—even if we are the only ones who think so.  What others think no longer matters.   And to that I say….

I, of the former unattractive and ugly duckling stage, have never been able to get by with my looks.  I’ve never been the one who’s beauty stood out in the crowd.  I’ve never been the one young men fought for.  Nobody has ever come up to me to comment on my looks except to tell me my eyes are crossed or that I’m the ugliest girl.  And because of this, I’m able to accept my aging face—and I’ve grown into it and love it!

My aging face.  Lines, wrinkles, jowls–it’s all okay because I’m no longer awkward about it!

Take a lesson from Jane Birkin.  She gets it!!

I LOVE Jane Birkin.  You know I don’t idolize anyone but boy–she comes close to it for me!  Read this article where she tells it like it is :  Jane Birkin–What I See In The Mirror.

There is beauty in growing up unattractive–but it comes much later. And it comes when you treasure it both inside and out!

 

 

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The Intriguing Force of Magnetic Lashes

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Catherine

If you have an Instagram account or if you are on Facebook, I’m sure that you’ve seen the many ads for magnetic eyelashes.

Well, this ISN’T an Instagram ad–its one of my posts.  And I’m glad I purchased Ardell  magnetic lashes!

The ads are annoying—and the price point is even more annoying.  I’ve seen them advertised for $89 USD, $69 USD and around fifty bucks.  Sorry not sorry. I’m not spending that amount for magnetic lashes.

These are on sale for $69.99.  Allure awarded them.  Mine were $12.99.  I awarded Ardell!

But—while at Ulta yesterday in the lower-end cosmetics area, I noticed that Ardell lashes now has magnetic lashes in their false eyelash collection.

Truth be told.  I am not a regular user of false lashes. And—the unfortunate reason is that the glue irritates my sensitive eyes.  However, on the occasion where I want to look very va-va-voom, I’ll allow for some irritation and go with the Ardell Wispie lashes.  The two brands that I wear are Ardell and Salon Perfect.

Anyway, when I saw these magnetic lashes, I figured “Why not”.  at $12.99, if these could work, I could reuse them many times and not have to worry about irritated eyes.

This morning I decided to wear them.

I took the lashes out of the package and made a vain attempt to apply these little magnetic hairy nuggets.  First of all, the set contains on pair of upper lashes and a pair of lower lashes. Your natural lashes will be sandwiched between the upper and lowers.

Here are the magnetic lashes.  Upper and Under!  Looks easy peasy to apply. It wasn’t!

It wasn’t easy.

I tired applying them with a tweezer and almost, like Ralphie in a Christmas Story, almost knocked my eye out!

I lost a set of uppers and lowers.

Here I am in my PJ’s.  I had to stand up and shake because I thought perhaps the lashes landed on my clothing..

And when I couldn’t find them on my person,  I got down on all fours and searched this rug.  A nearly impossible feat…

I shook the little rug out and later found the lashes on the carpeting under the vanity.

But I kept at it.  An hour later. (Yes. One. Hour) they were in place.

Well, they were sort of in place..

They still needed some tweaking but at least they were ON!!!

Oh. And before they were in place, I had to trim them.

I’ll tell you, these are very lush—they are like little wigs for eye lashes.  There’s a lot of lash here!

Sorry Bonaparte–but I likey!!!!

Bonaparte wasn’t crazy about them, but to tell you the truth, I loved them.

They stayed on while we went to Nordstrom to pick up the Boots from Hell.

These goddam Tory Burch boots from hell!  But my lashes were still on!!

They stayed on while we went to have my rings cleaned.  And we left with only my wedding band.  The engagement ring stayed at Bailey, Banks and Biddle because one of the prongs holding the diamond was loose.  I was asked if I banged my ring into anything.  Bonaparte was sweating because he thought I would end up telling the sales assistant about my debacle with the laptop that turned me into a monster.

I must’ve messed up the prong as I slammed my hand and bruised it.  I didn’t mention it.

Two rings to clean. One ring back. One ring will cost $120 USD to repair.  I hate my laptop!  But my lashes stayed on!!

My lashes stayed on while I took the boots from hell to a local shoe repair to see if he could fix them.  Just my luck.  He didn’t want to touch them. He said the best thing was to have the company fix them.  He validated to me that Tory Burch boots, shoes and bags are absolute $hit!

Mr. Shoe Repair saw this and told me to have the company repair them!  Fat chance!  Tory Burch brick and mortar wanted nothing to do with me.  Never again!

My lashes also stayed on while we did some grocery shopping.

I was so excited about these lashes that upon arriving home, I decided to do a YouTube video to review these wonderful little hairy bundles.

My thumbnail for the lash video!  And then a set fell off!

And as I began the video, one of the lashes shifted.  And then, the set fell off.  On camera!  It kind of made things not look too good.  But—I digress!  I was able to show one eye without the lashes and one eye with—all with a bit of humor.

Overall, I rate these lashes a B+.  I liked them, but they took a while to figure out.  And I think the one set fell off because it wasn’t on too securely in the first place.  Who knows.  I will be wearing them again and again and hopefully they won’t fall off!!!

Here’s the video—have a few laughs on me!!! When I played it back, I actually started laughing!

Have you tried the magnetic lashes yet?  Thoughts please!

 

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I’m Becoming a Morphe Addict! I Need My Fix—-of Eye Shadows!

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Catherine

Sometimes I wonder why I even bother to purchase additional eye shadow palettes.  There are quite a few in my collection. And they are, for the most part, neutrals.

Well, that just about sums it up as to why I’ll keep purchasing more neutral eye shadow palettes!!  I’m weak. In fact, I AM the weakest link!

The first pricey eye shadow palette I ever purchased was Urban Decay’s Naked 2. This was, and still remains one of my favorites—but after receiving a pandering and condescending email from Urban Decay after I inquired why they don’t use older women in their ads, I divorced myself from further purchases of the brand.  Too bad because their eye makeup is great.  But I’m stubborn. Urban Decay no longer gets my Benjamins.

I’ve hit pan on most of these shadows and I’m so ticked off that Urban Decay was so condescending to me. I’m no longer a customer.  It goes against my ethics to buy product from a company that is clearly not mature woman friendly!  But the shadows are so beautiful!

My favorite palette is Mally’s Nude Attitude. I have a backup-in-waiting, just as the royal women have ladies-in-waiting.  I’ve hit pan on so many of the shadows that I will be reaching for that backup in the very near future. Again—a palette of beautiful neutrals.

My Nude Attitude.  I have a backup and am thinking of purchasing another backup for the backup because I know this baby will be discontinued. The story of my life!!! And since this photo was taken, I’ve hit pan on about five more shadows in this palette!

I’m telling you, there are too many neutral eye shadows in my home!!!!!

So then, what would have me purchasing yet another eye shadow palette?

I’ll tell you what would—I was looking for a few peach-colored tones. I figured since I’m wearing lighter fake hair these days, perhaps I should add a bit of warmth to my eyes.

And off I went in search of the Too-Faced Sweet Peach palette.  This palette has gotten a lot of love with reviewers—I figured it would be a decent buy.  Until I got to Ulta and saw the price.

I’m sorry but $49 for an eyeshadow palette doesn’t do it for me anymore.  Not for the paltry amount of shadow product.  Still—the colors in the palette were so pretty and shimmery and tempting.  Like Jesus in the desert during Lent, I had to walk away from that temptation.

Yeah. I know. This IS a beautiful palette.  Truth be told, I’m not spending forty-nine bucks for it.  Sorry not sorry!

I walked over to the “drug store” brand cosmetics at Ulta. It’s so funny.  Ulta’s middle aisle is the railroad track of the store’s cosmetics neighborhood. That middle  aisle divides the cosmetics house into the “good” side of town, being the higher end cosmetics; and the “bad” side of town, being the lower-end cosmetics.  I happen to like the bad side of town—just call me the tramp of Ulta’s wrong side of the tracks.

And then I spotted it.  An end display with an opened palette.  The palette was loaded with peach shadows and browns and coppers.  Oh. It was a display of Morphe cosmetics’ eye shadow palettes!

I passed on the Jacklyn Hill palette and went straight to the Morphe 350 Nature Glow palette.  It spoke to me.  It said. “Hey–lady, buy me”  and I did!

Now—I don’t know how familiar you are with Morphe cosmetics but for some time now, every “big” reviewer on YouTube pontificates the greatness of this brand. I honestly don’t know if its because they are getting free booty or because the brand actually has good stuff.

A while back I ordered an inexpensive set of brushes from Morphe and I wasn’t very impressed.  The brushes were good but they weren’t Holy Grail status.  Don’t get me wrong, I use them but the way some of these vloggers were talking about the brushes, I thought they were multi-tasking and using them as vibrators or something!

I think I may have paid about twelve dollars for this brush set. I can’t remember.  They are good.  Not the greatest but they are good.

The eyeshadow palette was intriguing because compared to the hefty $49 price tag on the Too Faced Sweet Peach palette, this Number 350 Palette was a bargain at $23!!  Besides—Tati, my favorite YouTube beauty guru loves this palette. And I love Tati.  Let’s just say Tati made me buy it!

The palette is “Tati” approved. Need I say more?  Look at her makeup. It’s perfect!

Not only did I purchase the palette, but I also spent an extra six bucks on a brush for blending shadows in the crease of the eyelid.  Why not—right??

Morphe’s M441 Brush. It is excellent!

This brush is excellent!!  Fluffy and soft, it feels like a little pillow almost tickling the eyelid while doing a stellar job of blending without erasing!

My expectations were not high when I decided to use the palette. I didn’t expect good pigmentation and I was very, very surprised when my low expectations were proven wrong.

Here’s how it rolled on the day I was trying to achieve a golden look for my eyes!

Here’s the palette.  The shadows don’t have any cute names like “president orange” or “gimme that copper penny” or “lets taupe about it” (wouldn’t I be great at naming eye shadows?). But–the selection is a great one of coppers, browns, and oranges.

I started off with a light color over the entire lid and up to the brow bone..

Then I went with an orange over the lids..

A brighter orange in the middle of my lids ….

And a lighter brown in the crease and I lightly lined my bottom lids with the same brown.

The oranges look nice, don’t they?

Another look at the finished eye.

Finished look.  A nice eye look!

Another look from the palette.  This was the day I went to Estetica.–Monday.  I wanted to look pretty!

 have to say—I’ve been using this palette all week and it’s great.  This morning, I went with a very neutral look and a bit of shimmer.

I love the shadows I used today!  I’m telling you, this palette is fun!!!

Here’s my casual look for today.  I love the shimmer and the underplayed look. And I love the way the warm shadow tones go so well with my lighter fake hair!

My overall grade on this palette is A+.  Thirty-five shadows are in this palette. All are a decent size. The shadows that I’ve used so far have all been very pigmented.  There was no fallout on my eyes.  The shadows stay put all day—and I don’t use an eye primer.  At $23 USD, this is a great, great value.

If you find yourself at an Ulta that sells this or if you are on the Morphe website, check this palette out.  Number 350 Nature Glow!

My grade for the fluffy blending brush is also A+.  I know it sounds weird but as a non-makeup application expert, my blending skills basically suck and this brush has done a great job for me and at six bucks I may get another for my travel kit!!

And YES!!!  Older women CAN wear shimmery eye shadow!!!!!!  I said so. Listen to me!

If you want to “see” my review you can watch it below. I made a YouTube video. If you like it, please subscribe.  If I get more subscribers, I’ll be motivated to make more videos. Tee Hee!!!

 

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Oh No! Not ANOTHER Foundation Review! (Um. Yes. It Is!)

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Catherine

I don’t know what it is about foundation that makes me such an addict.  Oh wait. I do know.  I’m always searching for a foundation that’ll be an asset to my collection.

And when I find a foundation that makes the cut–it is welcomed into my universe!!

Seriously.  I’m big on rotating my cosmetics—whether it’s seasonal or the fact I don’t want to overuse—there’s always room for another foundation to rotate.

Today I’m reviewing a foundation that I purchased at Sally Beauty.  It seems that there’s always something at Sally that I find and like.   The foundation is from the Sally Beauty Col-Lab brand and is getting a lot of love in reviews except from me.

It’s tough to find a foundation that works on mature skin and that is affordable.  And when I say affordable, I’m talking more about price per use.  My Fenty foundation may have cost $34, but such a small amount needs to be used that the price point is a great value.

And for the price, you would THINK the name of the shade would be SOMEWHERE on the bottle. It isn’t!  So I can’t even tell you for sure which shade I purchased!

The Col-Lab foundation comes in at $14.99—I think I paid $14.29 with my Sally discount.  Regardless, I think that’s a high price for a foundation that is more akin to a drug store brand.

There are two formulas.  The “Meet Your Matte” foundation and the more dewy “Bright Spark Radiant” Foundation.  I purchased the Bright Spark.

First of all, I had a bit of an issue with the range of shades.  This is why I prefer to buy some foundations at Sephora—you can try before you buy and see what the color looks like rather than play the guessing game.  Since I’m fair skinned, it is a challenge because the choice is either the palest shade, which is ghostly looking or a shade that ends up being too dark. I’m pretty sure I went with Sand, Number 3. Seriously–for $14.99 they can’t put the name of the shade on the bottle?

 

Here’s the range of shades.  There are no in-store testers either so it’s a complete gamble.

Before reviewing, I wanted to give this foundation a few tries before getting down to the nitty -gritty.  I wore this foundation three times before placing fingers to keyboard. So here goes.

When I opened the bottle, and pumped a small amount on my wrist, I noticed it was a bit “yellow”—and that’s why I can’t wear MAC or Bobbi Brown foundations.  The yellow washes me out.  But hey, I bought it, so let me use it. Besides, with color corrector, concealer, contour and highlighter, this could work.

This is the first time I used the Col-lab Foundation.  The lighting is weird but it looked yellow.

Again–from the first time I wore this foundation. Applied on my forehead. It’s very yellow

I applied the foundation on one side with a dampened beauty sponge and the other with a brush so that I could get a feel for it.  The sponge worked better.  Now—this particular foundation is low-to medium coverage and is buildable.  But—there’s something to remember when it comes to aging skin and “buildable”.  The more you build—the more the chance of foundation settling into the lines and creases on our faces.  That’s why I try to look for full-coverage foundation.

First time after applying to my entire face. I’m just not impressed …

…but with the contour, concealer, highlighter, blush, it was doable.  I don’t WANT to settle for doable.

Many of the reviews were giving this foundation love for the hydration factor. I’m sorry.  I didn’t notice any hydrating at all.  The finish had a very, very slight and subtle dewiness but not enough to “wow” me.

Here’s how it went on my third day of wearing this–actually Wednesday!

Good morning!  Hope I didn’t scare you!

Now you can REALLY see how yellow this shade looks when I apply it…

All blended into my skin and I’m still not impressed.  I ended up spraying water three times and blotting the foundation that settled into my many lines!

These were my assistants to try to make this foundation look decent.  Fenty Match Stix in Amber for contour.  Benefit’s Girl Meets Pearl, a nice and very creamy highlighting cream, Chanel concealer,  I also used Nars Universal stick for blush and the Laura Geller highlighting powder to add a bit of extra highlights.

This photo was taken in the room where I apply my makeup.   I’m just not wowed by this foundation.  It is not hydrating at all..

In the light of my kitchen.  This is after two applications of the foundation. You can see the freckles on my forehead. I dared not apply a third time because it would have looked very caked upon. The lipstick and brighter eye shadow brighten up my face more than the foundation does.

I mean, it ended up not looking bad—but it just wasn’t great.

And for the price of $14.99—for less than six bucks I can get two bottles of Wet n’ Wild’s fabulous PhotoFocus foundation that has amazing coverage!

I love the Wet n’ Wild PhotoFocus—as you can see, below are three bottles that I have. I blend two of them and the darker shade, I use for my YouTube videos. (when I remember to apply it).

I mix the Soft Beige with the Nude Ivory to get a nice shade. This is a matte foundation and is, hands down, fabulous!!!  I use the Peach Natural for the YouTube videos.  But the darker foundation will work well during the summer when I’m fake tanned!  At less than six dollars a bottle, this is the best buy ever!

e.l.f. Foundation, at six bucks still remains one of my go-to foundations.  My love/hate relationship with e.l.f. continues, but as long as this foundation is not discontinued, I’ll use it.

This color–Porcelain–it works.  And I like this for traveling because it’s so inexpensive, if I leave it behind I won’t freak out!

The Ordinary.  I have both the foundations and one of each that is on reserve.  This foundation is second skin!

Well-worth the less than eight bucks each, a little goes a long way!  This foundation IS truly like a second skin!

Fenty Pro Filt’r foundation.  At $34, this is the most expensive foundation in my collection and is worth every cent and more.  When and if I ever become hired again, I’ll be wearing this to the office every day!

This–I love the Fenty foundation tons.  And the selection of shades–everyone can find their shade and if you go to Sephora, you can try before you buy!

Laura Geller’s Baked foundation is the only powder foundation I’ll use. It is so finely-milled and gives a gorgeous finish.  You can always find a good deal on QVC or on Geller’s site.

This Balance-n-Brighten Foundation is a fantastic summer foundation. Man–I love this!!!

Marc Jacobs Genius Gel foundation.  Don’t get me started. This was an absolute favorite of mine and it was discontinued.  I’m not sure if it has been rebranded as Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate, but I know I’ll most likely end up making the purchase and comparing it to the Genius Gel.

Image result for marc jacobs foundation

Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate. At $55, this better be full coverage. And I don’t know why the brand discontinued the Genius Gel–it was the best higher end foundation I ever had!!

Finding that “right” foundation is a challenge and I was looking forward to Col-lab’s foundation being one of those “right” ones that I could put into rotation with the others.   I’ll use the rest of the bottle but I won’t be repurchasing.

I just cannot, for the life of me, recommend this foundation.  There is nothing spectacular about it and the shades are just not fair-skinned friendly nor darker-skinned friendly.  The shades are just somewhere in the middle and are too yellow.

Let me know if you’ve tried this foundation and your thoughts. You know—I could be wrong.  This could work for others.  We all don’t have the same skin type.

Sally Beauty just missed with this—I may try something else from the line, but at this point, I’m not sure.

My grade would be a C Minus.  And that is because it does give a subtle dewy finish.

I’m curious–and not curious yellow like the foundation. I’m curious to find out if any of you have tried the new Marc Jacobs foundation. I’m so upset that the gel foundation was discontinued.  But if you’ve tried the Col-lab foundation, please comment on your thoughts!

Thanks!! Let’s discuss!!!

Here’s my YouTube review!

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Here’s How An Older Woman Makes It Age Appropriate!

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Catherine

Let me sigh and shake my head before I continue. 

Seriously, man.  If one more “expert” tells me what’s “age” appropriate, I’ll be using some very naughty words–and worse!

A recycled study from 2016, that was recently featured on a  recent CBS news clip,  states that women should stop wearing jeans at age 53—and the reasoning behind this is that as we get older jeans that fit are harder to find.  Ummm…I’m knocking on the door to 63 and let me tell you something—I find more and more jeans that fit me these days.

Umm. I hate to burst your bubble, but I’ll be 63 in about 10 weeks.  My jeans ain’t going anywhere except over my thighs! And my wigs aren’t going anywhere except on my head!

I’m tired of all the “age” remarks.  I’m becoming both bored and angered when I read about what “women of a certain age” should and shouldn’t wear.  I flip the bird to you.

Clothing is an expression of how we feel.  And just like the Lennon/McCartney lyrics from the song “I Feel Fine”—my wardrobe can be singing that very song when I enter my closet in the morning.  “She’s in love with me and I feel fine”—that’s because I love my clothes and I won’t change my style of dressing as I age.

I happen to like a youthful vibe.  Now—that’s not saying I want to dress like a sixteen-year old.  It is merely saying that I like to dress the way I think and feel.  As an “elder” I am not set in my ways of thinking—we change, we evolve, we are open.  And that means open to welcoming dressing how we want and not listening to those vicious, pandering, and ageist words written—for the most part, by writers who have not even hit the age of thirty yet.

And yes.  I would 100 percent wear this outfit I created on Polyvore–with the white boots too!  It’s very age appropriate for me! Wanna shag?

So, let’s talk about dressing. OK?

A couple of months back, I received an email asking me if I would be interested in reviewing a dress of my choice from an online e-commerce store.  The store?  Top Tier Style. 

banner

This couple welcomes you to the Top Tier Style site.  I could’ve birthed them in my late thirties! OK–so my early forties–but who’s counting????

When I went online to check out the site, my initial reaction was “Oh, shit.  This company must think I’m a millennial.”  Then, as I perused the offerings, I realized something—that even though the models were in fact, of millennial age, many of the clothing, shoes, and accessories would work well for all ages!  Yes.  All ages!  And that includes our mature demographic.

Top Tier also won my respect when I replied that I would be happy to review any item but that I’m also in the “mature” demographic.  It didn’t matter to them.  I picked out a dress, waited for it, and it was delivered yesterday.

Now—the dress I chose was the Long Sleeve Loose Fitting Dress.  It’s a nice, everyday dress that can be worn during the Fall, Winter, and Spring.  The lighter weight lends itself well to layering during the cooler seasons and as a stand-alone with sandals or sneakers during the warmer weather. At $31, it’s a decent price for a dress that is  multi-season friendly and versatile.  I wouldn’t wear this during the summer due to the long sleeves—but that’s just me.

Going outside the “color” box for me, I decided upon the green dress.  Green isn’t one of the colors that works for me, but I liked the lighter hue and figured I could make it work!

I chose the green dress.  I love the way it looks.  Might I add, though, that this model is a few inches taller than my just-under 5’6″ so the dress is slightly longer on me.   I also love the asymmetrical cut of the dress. It’s shorter on the sides. It’s just adorable!

The dress was delivered in a parcel envelope, in a plastic bag.  When I took the dress out of the bag, the only “con”  was immediately apparent.  The dress was very wrinkled.  No problem since you all know that ironing is my “Zen”.  The poly/cotton blend made ironing the wrinkles a cinch.  And if you have a cloths steamer, you are also in luck!

Let’s have a look—shall we?

Like the models, I wore this with a big textured plaid scarf. It’s freezing today and this toasty look is very comfy!

As you can see, the dress falls about two inches above the knee. I’m wearing knee-length boots and boot socks with this.  The color is surprisingly  warm and blends well with my auburn wig!

Another look at how the dress falls above the knees.

Here you can get a better view of the sleeve. I LOVE the long sleeve and the snug fit. The stitching is reinforced too, which makes the hem of the sleeve stay put.

You can see the “flare” or swing of the way the dress drapes. It really drapes nicely.  This dress is extremely comfortable.

I wasn’t sure of the sizing so I went with a Large and  the Medium would have been a better fit through the shoulders.  It’s not an issue though because the rest of the dress fits fine.

Another added feature is the higher cut of the neckline.  It’s “turkey neck” friendly!

I‘m a fan of this neckline.  It’s a good diversion from Turkey Neck!!  

…especially if the scarf causes hot flashes!

When it comes to laundering, I would wash on a low setting in cold water and air dry! This dress will also dry in no time!  It’s also a great choice for a travel wardrobe.  It can be rolled up to prevent wrinkles but is so light that you can pack a dress for every day of the week and store in your carry on luggage!

Look—I realize that many women don’t like shorter dresses and that’s cool.  I’ve also styled this dress with leggings which I think looks absolutely adorable.

Changed up the scarf, added black leggings and black Repetto ballet flats.  A rather toasty look and for those who like more of a tunic ensemble–this dress works!

I’m glad that my husband stopped by the chateau so he could snap this pic! Ugh. I shouldn’t have worn a heavily-padded bra with this dress!  Sorry about that!

Another view.  This is an “any-age-can-wear-this”  dress!  I’m pleased!

And another thing—anything that I wear is age appropriate because I said so! So, don’t tell me how to dress or how to stop dressing!

So yeah!  Don’t tell ME not to wear jeans!  In fact, the way I wear jeans is marvelous AF.  That’s right–AF!!!

In fact, I’ll also wear Bardot hair!

And Off-the-Shoulder tops!!

“Age-appropriate” is just another term for “Of-All-Ages”!

I really want to thank Top Tier for looking past age and sending this dress to me!

The Long Sleeve Loose Fitting Dress in this review was provided by Top Tier Style. If you would like to purchase your own use the coupon code BLOG15 for 15% OFF everything on their store!

What’s your choice for dresses?  Are you a maxi?  A mini?  A midi?  Let’s talk about it!

And yes—my clothes do feel fine.  John, Paul, George and Ringo even say so!

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The Esthetics of Wigging Out—My Visit to Estetica!

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Catherine

Yesterday I had the opportunity to follow through on an invite to Estetica Designs!  You have no idea how happy I was.  It was a chance to give feedback on the types of wigs I like, what I look for in a wig, styles I like and it was the chance to meet great people!!

Classique Collection - Pure Stretch Cap Wigs

The Pure Stretch Cap wigs ARE comfortable!

In addition, I was also looking forward to gaining some education about wigs.  That’s right—education.  My hair loss journey has been an ongoing one for years.  From combing over thicker hair to the thin areas, then using Toppik and other fiber enhancers, then toppers and finally to full-on wigs!  It’s been a process.

And I’m no expert.  Everything I’ve “learned” about wigs has been from either watching YouTube videos, hours of perusing the many online wig vendors and reading about different textures and types of wigs. There’s been a window of trial and error for me.  I’ve learned that the lace front wigs are the ones I prefer and I have a strong tendency to stick to wigs that aren’t shiny and are very much like my bio-hair in texture.

And it also comes down to finding the styles that best flatter your face, coloring and features!

My big decision yesterday morning was what wig to wear to the wig experts? It was easy.  I settled on my FreeTress Equal Swami wig—a shoulder-length “lob” (long bob) that is one of my favorites.  And off I went!

Swami, by FreeTress.  A longer bob in a lighter color was perfect for my visit to Estetica Designs!

The headquarters is tucked behind the hustle and bustle of Conshohocken’s business district. This was a dream to me because it meant that I didn’t have to look for a parking space and I gleefully drove into the company’s parking lot.

Estetica Designs.  Here’s where the fun happens!

Be comfortable. Be Beautiful. Be You.  Nice words to remember–at all times!!

This unassuming brick building has the trademark sign in the robin’s egg blue—the Tiffany and Company of hair!  I entered and didn’t even wait a minute to meet Grace, the Director of Marketing and Development.  She’s a bundle of cuteness and energy and immediately I felt as though we were old friends!

We sat and chatted for a while and I was able to look around the showroom at the wigs which looked so much better IRL than you could ever imagine.

Here’s the Orchid Model, which I had been eyeing!

Mackenzie is another style, similar to Orchid that I thought was very pretty as well!

 

Hey!  Gray haired readers–click on the name of this wig, Emma, and check out the great grayness of colors!!  This is the perfect gray wig, IMHO!!

And before we went into a room for some wig try-ons, I met Erin, Estetica’s Graphic Designer and Tae who is in Research and Development!

Erin, (left), left, Estetica’s Graphic Designer, and Grace,  Director of Marketing and Development!  Look at those adorable faces–we should all be so lucky to be as happy as they are at work!!!

Did you know that it takes quite a bit of time to create a wig?  A design will be drawn up with detailed specifications and then sent to the factory that produces the wigs.  They’ll send one or two models back.  The tweaking will begin.  Then when perfected, the order will be placed.  And it’ll take a few months to create and ship.  It’s just like a fashion collection with the seasonal clothing!  I was fascinated by that!

It felt really good to give my honest feedback of wigs in general.  Questions were asked and I answered them honestly.  I explained that my biggest challenge was finding wigs that match my bio-hair’s texture of dull, wiry, coarse and porous.  I also explained that’s why I gravitate towards Yaki-Texture wigs. And I also gave my honest opinion of the wigs I do wear.  I went on to explain that after a while, on some of the wigs, the ends get super dry, the texture changes when you apply heat and some of the wigs I purchase need to be trashed after washing because they don’t dry the way they should.  But I also explained that the affordability was also a key point—especially with older women on a budget.

I also added that it would be great if all wig companies could produce units with different textures.  Grace, Erin and Tae listened to every word I said.  They were very interested in the feedback I gave.  It was also nice to hear that my Swami wig was a well-made one!!

When the subject of styles was broached, I almost floated off my feet when Tae knew very well about the most beautiful, iconic bob of all time.  The one Vidal Sassoon created for Nancy Kwan!  I’m telling you, ever since I was a child with that unmanageable mane of mine, I coveted that infamous bob!

Tae made a friend for life just knowing about this iconic bob.  I swear, Nancy Kwan’s bob has been on my mind since childhood!

And, knowing my fondness for longer hair, the Orchid model was brought out and I tried a few colors on.

Me in the many faces of Orchid!   Top Row l. to r.  Color RT330RT4–getting my Julia Roberts on; R48, a nice deep brown; Carmel Kiss–my favorite!  Bottom Row–these colors were my least favorite but Bonaparte liked the darker the best on me (I texted him pics!) Color: Left to Right R1B; I think this was RT613/27–I can’t remember but it was too shiny.

This color–Caramel Kiss, was outstanding.  The blend was perfect and the wig looked dense and not shiny like the blond.  If you are looking for a long and blended look, might I suggest Orchid!

It’s funny because the blonde wig was way shinier than the others—and the density of the blonde gave a lighter appearance than the darker colored wigs.

The wigs with the blending of colors—they were my favorites!  The texture wasn’t doll-shiny and appeared to be denser.

The cap construction of  Estetica’s wigs really blew me away.  There’ are no combs and yet, the stretch factor of the caps fit so well that the wigs are completely secure.  Yesterday I wore a wig grip, which was insurance for the wig to stay put. But, today, as I write this, I’m not wearing a wig grip and the wig that I’m wearing (which I’ll tell you about later on in the post) isn’t slipping at all!

Inside out. The lace front is cut so meticulously!

And the comfort stretch cap.  It literally feels like nothing! Light as a feather!

The wig cap is ridiculously comfortable. As snug as the fit on the wigs I tried on was, not once did I feel as though I was wearing a wig.  The other incredible feature is the ear tabs.  Ain’t gonna lie.  The ear tabs on a good number of the wigs I do have are large and hard—and sometimes getting my glasses to “fit” right can be a challenge to the point I’ve had to cut a portion of the ear tabs. Not so with these Estetica wigs.  I did bring up the point that the wigs were very eyeglass friendly.

Feedback also included how synthetic hair behaves when rubbed against various textures of fabric and shedding and tangling.  It felt so good to be able to contribute a little something something!

Let’s look at some of the other wigs I tried on. Okay?

Sky—I saw this layered bob online and featured in YouTube reviews. This is truly a gorgeous unit.  A more layered and edgy medium-length bob. But, it looks better on women with a longer neck.

Sky looks gorgeous both online and on a few of the reviewers I saw…

Here I am wearing Sky in the color  R4/6. This is proof that not every style is for every person.  I think Sky is far more beautiful in the lighter colors or in the blended colors.  My neck is too short and the effect of the edginess is for naught on me.  Trust me–I do NOT do this unit justice by any means!

Violet.  Now—the cut of this is adorable! It’s such a great wavy bob—and much like my own hair when it was bobbed and not blown out.   I would wear this in a blended, highlighted color and would wear it all summer if I owned Violet!  It’s so beachy and “summer fun” looking!  I also think this is a great wig for women of all ages!

Violet–a cute wavy bob with a beachy and summer vibe!

Violet on me. This is  the color  “Vogue”.  This isn’t my color and I would love to see this in a more blended  color like Caramel Kiss–I honestly loved this style!! It was a fun summer look!

And then came Jamison.  I’m gonna tell you something.  I’ve seen this wig reviewed many, many times.  Here’s where you never know what a wig will look like until you try it on.  From the reviews I’ve watched and read, Jamison is one of those wigs that either looks off-the-charts great……or it doesn’t.  It depends on who is wearing her.

Jamison in Caramel Kiss.  Hmmmmmm.  She was very intriguing to me!

When I saw Jamison on the mannequin, I was very intrigued because she looked beautiful IRL.  So, when Grace brought her out to me, knowing I love bobs, I was a bit excited while at the same time wondering how she would look.  I tried the color CKISSRT4, Golden Brown with Copper Blonde Highlights and Dark Brown Roots.  She’s a front lace line wig.

Shove over  ladies–Jamison was made for me!!

The heavens opened when I tried Jamison on.  In the first place, the Estetica front lace line wigs don’t need any trimming. The lace is so finely cut to the hairline that it’s nearly impossible to see where the wig begins.

Back to Jamison.  When I tried her on I was floored!  First of all, this color combo was so well-blended it looked like a salon job.  Secondly, the actual cut of the bob was very natural—it wasn’t a “done” look. In fact, it was more like what a cut looks like after about two or three weeks—it falls very naturally. I swear I thought the wig would be so thin and sparse but it wasn’t.  Jamison had a great amount of volume and with a flick of the fingers, could be changed into a more tousled look.

 

This wig.  I was bowled over!! She’s so natural and gorgeous!

The best part—I was gifted with this wig!  And boy, do I wish I had a backup.  Let me tell you about the rest of my visit.

We chatted some more—and had quite a few laughs!  It’s always more comfortable when you are with people that have a sense of humor! And these guys did! I even expressed my love of dirty hair—and dirty wigs! (i.e., hair looks better when it’s gone a few days without washing—many wigs also look better if they aren’t washed often!)

Fun times with Grace and Tae!  Look at the unit from the side–it’s so natural looking and Jamison is nice and full!!!!!  Just what I love!!!

The day wasn’t over yet.  Grace, Erin and I went to a local café for lunch and you know, I haven’t had such a great girly time in a while.  It felt like I was with my daughter Oona and her friends.  Lunch is grand when you are in the company of women who enjoy each other and we had a blast.

And when we returned, I was given a Goodie bag. Who doesn’t love a Goodie bag?????  Boy was this one chock-full of goodies.

Best Goodie bag I’ve ever received!

My morning coffee was enjoyed in this mug today.  And Erin and Grace must have read the blog post about my laptop turning me into a monster!  Remember the planner that I threw and broke?  Well—I got another one.  This one shall not be thrown.

This morning’s coffee was enjoyed from this mug I received…

This lovely planner/datebook will replace the one I destroyed while angry with my laptop’s printer…

I’ve already started to fill in the dates…

I also received a stand-up calendar—both of which are next to my computer on the dining room table/my office!

…a sturdy stand up calendar that won’t keep falling over is well-needed.

And a handy color chart and catalog!  I’ve been studying!

The planner, pen, calendar are placed upon my LaRamade menu-as-mousepad.  I’m very classy with the Sriracha sauce in the background!

Overall, I had such a wonderful time. I also learned something.  You don’t have to stick to one particular texture in a wig.  The right style for your face and the most flattering and realistic cuts matter too.  It was a great day of give and take suggestions and feedback.  And I welcome the chance to return to give more feedback and to visit with Grace, Erin and Tae!!!

Here’s today’s looks at Jamison!

Look at that parting space and hairline.  I didn’t even have to manipulate..

…a little tousle from the fingers and she’s looking mighty fine!  This color though!!!!

Sleeked down a bit with the fingers–look how natural she is!!!

Ohhhhh the more I look at Jamison the more she is my favorite bob!  She doesn’t look “done” or like a helmet.  She moves beautifully and the color!!!!!!

And Bonaparte LOVES the style. I think he may be coming around to the color too!

So, ladies, in my mission to attempt to normalize wigs, I hope you enjoyed my visit as much as I did.  Remember, wigs are confidence and esteem builders for women who suffer hair loss.  They put the “pro” into pro-aging!

But they are also a fun and easy way to change up your look. And for vacations—they should be a necessity. After all, who wants to spend precious time spending on your hair when you are away?  Plop on a wig and you are off for some exciting touring without worrying about the tresses!

I’m off to take Chippy out in the snow!  And it’s a wet, heavy snow. I’ll need a hat to cover this beautiful head of hair of mine!!! XOXOXOXO

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Question And Answer Session. A Visit to The BrightenBar!

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Catherine

Nestled within the town of West Chester, about a half-hour outside Philly’s center city, is a building.  It’s off the beaten path, on a little lane—a mews actually.  The building is small and cute. And The BrightenBar is such a cozy and unpretentious place–I could have stayed all day!!!

Welcome to The BrightenBar ladies!!!

Look how cute it is!

The view from Rima’s chair!!!

And Dr. Laurene also performs SculpSure for the neck!

And in this building, is a dentist, Dr. Laurene and her practice.  There is also The BrightenBar™ (click link to find out more!), a girly, fabulous place to offer all things facial and skin care! The BrightenBar is owned and operated by Rima Vanhill-Seal, one of the most beautiful and interesting women I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.

Trust me, it IS her passion!!!!

Rima, her exotic looks from her Greek/Lebanese roots and her lovely accent from being educated in London, can make one feel a bit intimidated.  But her down-to-earth demeanor and vibrant personality make you realize early on, that you can really have a great time with her and ask her anything about skin care related topics!  She loves to discuss all things beauty!

Ladies!  Meet Rima, owner of The BrightenBar!  Look. At. That. Skin. I’m telling you, IRL her skin is even more beautiful.  I was so jealous of  her skin!!!  And she’s every bit as beautiful!!!

And—get this; she left a career in law to become an aesthetician!  What’ not to love about that???

How did I find out about Rima and the BrightenBar™?  Well, do you remember the Buzzfeed article from a few months back?  Not the Fenty one but the one that showcased mature women and the makeup they wore?   This one:  24 Photos Of Women Over 40 In Makeup That Will Make You Smile Uncontrollably.  I was featured and so was Rima.  (I’m Number 19. Rima is Number 24)  She’s on Instagram as @aliveinheels. We’ve started following each and I’m always astounded at how beautiful her skin is.  It’s perfect.  She’s definitely worth following!!

From the Buzzfeed article!!

Anyway…. because I’ve always shared skin care products with you that I use, I reached out to Rima with a few questions that I, and I know you, would love to have answered.  I’m no expert—and I can review, but I’m in no position to advise.  And I thought it would be a great idea to have a Q & A session for you!!

Here’s some Questions and the answers—both answered by Rima and Dr. Laurene:

Q. Fillers are always a great topic but the choices are so confusing. It used to be that Botox was the only filler.  With Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane…how do you know which filler is right for you?  And which fillers are best for lips, around the eyes, cheeks?

A. In fact, Botox is not a filler, it is a botulinum toxin. Botox was the first botulinum toxin, although it is no longer the only one. Xeomin and Dysport are other examples.  All three products do the same thing. Namely, decrease the contraction of muscle movement. Use is determined based on provider and/or client preference.  some people say that one works better than another for them.  Our preference for filler around the lips are Belotero, and Juvederm.  Radiesse works well in the nasolabial folds, particularly in older person, and is a great cheek enhancement for mid face volume loss.  Restylane is interchangeable with Juvederm and Belotero as to where it can be used on the face.  All three can be used to fill lips, marionette lines, nasolabial folds, and fine lines around the mouth and lip.

Q. Are there any studies of long-term effects on fillers—health related?A. Given that this is a medical FDA-approved treatment, there have been many studies described in the medical literature. Although there have been reported allergies and responses, all well documented in the medical literature, because fillers are reversible (via a product called Hyaluronidase can be injected to reverse the Hylaronic Acid), it is quite a safe treatment.

Q. I’m obsessed with fillers—what fillers can a woman take so she won’t have those duck lips? And which fillers are best for those lines above the mouth?

A.Duck lips are generally caused by either too much filler, and/or improper placement of the filler. In Dr. Laurene’s opinion, Belotero and Juvederm do the best job in and around the lips. Going to an experienced provider with extensive experience and expertise working with muscles, nerves of the face (such as Dr. Laurene) is the best way to avoid duck lips.

Q. Is microdermabrasion another way to go for the mature woman? Just what exactly is microdermabrasion?

A. Microdermabrasion is a non-chemical, non-invasive procedure that uses a spray of microcrystals to remove (aka exfoliate) the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells and reveal younger, healthier-looking skin. Although I am great believer in exfoliation, I’m not a huge fan of traditional microdermabrasion treatments and we don’t offer it at the BrightenBar primarily because it is an older technology and there are many more effective ways in which to achieve the same or superior benefits, particularly for mature skin.

Q.  OK. We’ve all read and seen tons about “shaving” for women.  And many of us lose hair on the top of our heads only to have it grow back on our chins.  So, is shaving okay or should we just wax?

A.  As someone who also suffers from female pattern balding, the irony of it is not lost on me! Even as I began to suddenly sprout dark hairs from my chin, I could see my scalp for the first time in my life. My most requested service is a Dermaplane.   Dermaplaning is a safe and highly effective physical exfoliation procedure. It requires the use of a sterile, surgical scalpel to gently “shave” the skin’s surface, removing the top-most layer of dead skin along with fine, vellus hair (aka peach fuzz).  My younger clients love it because they are left with a smooth surface on to which to pile on the foundation they don’t need.  As for the rest of us, it’s a good way in which to help product penetration of skin care and anti-aging treatments.

Q.  I look at all the products that I have for skin care and sometimes I’m overwhelmed. There are oils, creams, serums. How many products do we really need?  And which ones are better applied in the morning—and which ones in the evening?

A.  Skin care marketing and advertising is complicated. Sorting through the hype is overwhelming. The fact is, whilst a complex organ, skin and its care are relatively straight forward and can be quite simple. What skin needs at age 20 is vastly different that what one needs at 60.  Nevertheless, a few principles apply regards:  am and pm you need to cleanse, stimulate and protect.  There is a short list of key active ingredients skin needs to achieve optimal health.  What percentage or the best formulation is more specific to the individual; generally, you should apply products from thinner to thicker consistency.  It’s worth it to pay a knowledgeable skin care expert who is going to put together a skin care regimen and treatment plan based on your skin needs, your lifestyle and your budget rather than what they sell.  Once you have the base plan in place, you only need to ‘tweak’ periodically.

Q.  How can you a find a reputable administrator of fillers should she decide to go that route? And what is the average price?

A. How can you tell if you are being overpriced? A good way to find a provider is to look on the American Academy of Facial Esthetics website. https://www.facialesthetics.org/ Doctors trained by them have received extensive training. The average cost of a syringe of filler is $500-800, depending on the brand. Be wary of Groupons for Botox.  Sometimes they are selling a unit of Botox for less than it costs the provider to buy.  The only way they can do this is to over dilute the Botox, which means you are not getting what you think you are.  Remember, when things are too good to be true, they probably are.

Q.  Should we change up our routines with the seasons—and how?

A.  Tweaking is important. The fundamentals may stay the same – after all, Cleopatra was using Alpha Hydroy Acids (Lactic) centuries ago (Lactic Acid), technology and science of skin care and the mechanisms to deliver key actives has improved and continues to involve. Periodically reviewing your skin care and treatments is important to maximize effectiveness.

Q.  Hydration. I think that’s the biggest gripe with women in the over 50 demographic. It is so hard to get the skin hydrated.  So many of us drink tons of water but does all that water really help us?

A.  What else can we do to plump up our skin. There is internal hydration and external hydration. Drinking a lot of water is good for overall health but it does not guarantee that your skin will be very moisturized.  Often, women who complain of dry skin are in fact dehydrated because they are using the wrong products.  According to the World-famous Dr. Zein Obagi, we have gotten our skin cells so used to be hydrated by overapply moisturizers and occulusive products, our cells aren’t able to work as effectively as they should because of this.  If you stimulate the cells, wake them up, they will likely begin to again do what they we meant to be doing and hydrate your skin.  Back to the principles I mentioned above:  cleanse, stimulate, protect and clean skin so it can accept the moisture from above and within.  Stimulate cells to regenerate by exfoliating, by increasing blood circulation and therefore nourishment (from within and by accepting topically applied products). And protect skin (from the sun and free radicals) so it is healthy and can function.

My pet peeves are over moisturizing and over protecting.  Similar to the problems we are facing now thanks to the over use of gluten and in over use of anti-bacterial products, we are starting to see problems with overly dry skin and vitamin d deficiency.

Q.  OK. My husband is European and he is always amazed at how American women don’t get facials on a regular basis (I think he means me—lol). With all the DIY products available and the facial masks that are sold in drug and beauty stores, what are your thoughts on this? Do you think the home facials are a good bet?

A.  Yes! Although there are certain treatments you really need to get from a professional, there is so much we could be doing at home. Apart from having the right skin care regimen, the most antiaging and stimulating thing you can do for yourself at home is a facial massage.   DIY is like everything else these days.  Lots out there but overwhelming to try to sort through what’s rubbish vs. What’s good.

Less than 2 years ago I left a very lucrative corporate legal career to become an aesthetician in part because I was so infuriated at all the crap we are being fed every day — the marketing hype, the endless amounts of money we spend only to turn 50 and realize the miracle serum that was supposed to prevent the frown lines did nothing but occlude my face and turn my skin cells into lazy bones.  Why, by now, I could have paid for a half face lift!  I wanted to share what I had been discovering on my own aging journey with others.  I wanted to establish the kind of place I wanted to go to but couldn’t find – good effective non-invasive, low downtime services, at a reasonable price.  A place where advise was based on knowledge and expertise independent of whether or not they sold the product/service I needed.  That is what I hoped to do with the BrightenBar.

*************************************************************************

And I’m going to add a few things here.  When Rima spoke of over-hydration, I listened intently because I have a gazillion moisturizing products and I’m applying then in the morning at night they way a baker applies frosting to a cake.

Over the past week, I stopped and pared down to rotating two of my Ordinary products (Rima is a fan!) and a serum that Rima gave me.  When I was at the nail salon yesterday having my lip and chin waxed, Kim, who does my nails and face said that my skin was looking great!  I noticed an improvement in my skin as well—and in only a week’s time.

Over the past week, I’ve pared down to this….

…and this.  And I’ve been told my skin is looking good!!!!

In addition, Rima suggested rubbing my lips vigorously up to five times a day.  Exfoliating in this manner will lead to breaking the lip balm habit.  I’ve been doing this and it works.  I’ll still keep my Chapstick but I find I’m not reaching for it every 15 minutes like I was doing!

My bare naked chapped-free lips after exfoliation!

Also, Rima is a big advocate for Breast Cancer awareness.  In her office, rather than tips, she has a little box for donations to the cause which is a  great way to be an advocate for women!

Take a visit to theBrightenBar to have Rima take good care of you!

I hope you enjoyed this informative session!  And as this blog evolves, please let me know if you would enjoy more posts like this.  Now—I’m going upstairs to get ready for the day and I’m following Rima’s advice!!!

..from the BrightenBar!!!!  I’ll be back!!!!

XOXOXOXO

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My Laptop Turned Me Into a Monster Today. And I Am Not Ashamed!

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Catherine

Oh yes.  This is the true confession of how my laptop turned me into a monster, how my poor husband had to deal with my tantrums, and how Chippy still remains, at 6:02 PM, petrified of the sound of my voice!

He’s not moving.  His ears are still in pain from the sound of my screeching, Banshee, Long Island accented wails!

It all started out somewhat innocently.  About two months ago, Bonaparte purchased a printer for my laptop.  It was a very nice gesture and one that was well-needed.  I’ve been emailing him documents to print and I am sure he was hoping that I would stop bothering him and use a printer of my own.

The printer stood on the floor, in his office, for quite some time.  I didn’t want to install the it during the holidays because there was too much going on.

The printer that really belongs in the trash!

And so, last week, Saturday to be exact, we decided to configure the printer with my computer.

Things didn’t work out too well.  Apparently, the HP printer could not be configured with my laptop.  I did some troubleshooting and a message popped up stating that the printer could NOT be configured with my laptop.

I told Bonaparte to take the piece of $hit computer back to Best Buy.

Image result for best buy

For me, it’s more like Best Bye Bye!

Alas, Monsieur is just as stubborn as I am, and he insisted that we bring the printer, along with my laptop to Best Buy so that The Geek Squad could set up the printer to my laptop. BTW, the *——-ing printer is wireless.

We pay a fee to have Geek Squad service whatever issues we have so it was no big deal.

Or was it?

I had a bad feeling about this.  Seriously—I wanted that printer out of my domain. But, to comply with the Frenchman’s wishes, we went off to Best Buy.  And I missed the second half of “Ellen” to do this. OK?

Yeah. My pretend best friend Ellen had a great show today. She gave away $10,000.  I coulda been a contenda!!

Luckily, there was no wait as we went up to the Geek Squad counter.  Bonaparte explained that we needed to configure the wireless printer to the laptop.  I explained that the printer wasn’t compatible with the laptop.  Nobody paid attention to me.

All the while, I felt something would go wrong.  I was told the printer was now installed and working—the test paper produced a printed product—but I still didn’t feel quite right about this process.

And then, we arrived home.  I plugged the laptop in, confident that my feelings of wrath were wrong.

My Google Chrome page wasn’t opening.  In fact, nothing was opening.  I tried to gain access to my blog to no avail.  No email.  No internet. No documents that could be opened. No nuthin’ –and I went into such an incredible emotional state that even Linda Blair’s Regan MacNeil character from The Exorcist would have been running for cover from me.

Seriously, had Regan MacNeil witnessed ME, the devil inside her would have been stunned!

Bonaparte, seeing the horrific state that I was in, quickly called The Geek Squad.  And he tried, in vain, to tell the technical support staff member what happened.

And I, just 10 weeks shy of my 63rd birthday, had a bona fide temper tantrum.

This is nothing compared to what I was doing in our house!

Words spewed out of my mouth that even I never heard before. I may have been either shouting in tongues or perhaps I truly was a Polyglot in my ability to curse multi-lingual!

I started to throw things.  Yeah. I did.

Well, what I threw were books and one of my journal binders ripped in half, papers flying all over.

My little binder journal literally broke in two–and I hurt my finger!

And these papers–they were strewn all over the house.

It was at this point that Chippy ran upstairs in terror and hid under our bed.

I had turned into a monster.  All because of a laptop and a printer!

Yeah–this was me–with a wig!

Bonaparte and the Geek Squad tech could not resolve the issue by phone.  We had to drive back to Best Buy.

Now—you must realize, that when we arrived home from Best Buy the first time, it was just after five and I hastily took off my clothes and put my pajamas on.  Going back to Best Buy, I quickly threw on a pair of jeans, loafers and threw a coat on.  Luckily, I hadn’t taken my wig off!

I kept the top on–I should have just gone back in my PJ’s, but it would have given Bonaparte a heart attack!

Also, luckily, upon arriving at Best Buy, the Geek Squad guy who originally helped us was still there.

Bonaparte, carrying the printer from hell, followed me as I marched up to the counter and placed my laptop upon it.  Shouting in my most high-pitched, nasal, Long Island Accent “My Laptop isn’t working!!!!!”  “What did you dooooooooooooo?”.

I was seething!

The look of fear in Bonaparte’s eyes was intense. He knew what I was capable of.  Even in public for I have no shame.  The Geek Squad guy opened the computer while I literally jumped up and down flailing my arms, fake hair moving to and fro, chanting rhythmically “It’s not working!”  “It’s not working!!!”

I didn’t say that, but boy, don’t be surprised if someone took a video of my, jumping up and down and rotating–yes, rotating while whining that my computer wasn’t working.  I know it’s going to show up somewhere!  And I will take credit for my bad behavior!

Under normal circumstances, I love an audience.  But this wasn’t the time as others in the store started walking over to see what the commotion was.    And it was me! Yes.  I was the commotion.

In the end, it turned out that I was correct.  The printer was not compatible with the laptop.  And Bonaparte was unable to return it because he left the receipt home.

Thankfully, upon arriving home and plugging my laptop in, it worked like a charm and I am, therefore, able to confess to you, once again, of my very naughty behavior!

Back to work and always willing to entertain!!!

Tomorrow the printer will be returned, with the receipt, for a refund.  Bonaparte has already told me that I do not have to accompany him.

Well, at least my Frenchman is taking this back by himself!  Perhaps then, I will be able to watch Ellen’s Birthday show????!!!

My finger hurts, my voice is hoarse but we had a few laughs about this debacle over dinner!

And Bonaparte was secretly relieved that I went incognito–as a blonde!  

So, ladies—when was the last time you had a great emotional meltdown or tantrum. I know that I’m not the only one!!!  Spill the beans and make yourself feel better!!!!

And to pat myself on the back, I’m listening to Spin Doctors “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong”!

 

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The Age of Enlightenment. For Hair, That Is!

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Catherine

Far be it from me to tell anyone what to do with their hair—but, I’ve been doing quite a bit of research lately.   And sometimes that can either be a good thing or a very bad thing!

Anyway, it seems that at our age—or as we age, the experts suggest that we go lighter with our hair color.  Now—my natural hair color is black.  In fact, the black tresses that I was born with were so pitch that when certain lighting hit it, my hair took on a blueish tint—like Veronica from the Archie comics.

OK–So my eyes were crossed back then too–but only my hair looked like Veronica’s!

And before I started to lose my hair, the deep, dark blackness gradually started to change.  In my late twenties, I noticed a few gray hairs popping up. And when you have dark hair, those grays stick out like flies on a wedding cake!

The thing is, I wasn’t ready for gray hair.  And as more grays invaded, I noticed that my part looked kind of “off” and the gray made it appear wider.  It was during this time that I started coloring my hair a deep auburn—and it was a gorgeous shade.  I loved it.

“Hair” I am back in NYC with Roman.  My naturally curly hair and natural auburn dye job! Jeez–it seems like yesterday. I can even remember having that picture taken!

But—as my luck would have it, as my hair went deeper into the loss of natural color, the auburn roots would start to fade into a pink color that really didn’t match my personality.  So, I went back to dying my hair black.

When younger, it was fine—the black didn’t really look harsh.  But as I entered my late forties and early fifties, not only was my hair falling out, but the black dye began to look a little rough.

Still, I continued to color my hair.  I was born with dark hair and wanted what hair I still had to remain dark. And through the loss and the Toppik and the other products I used to disguise the loss, black remained my hair color of choice.

Then came the wigs.  And my journey of fake hair!

One of my fave dark-haired wigs–Outre Perm Yaki 18″!

Now—for those of you who are regulars of this fun blog, you are well-aware of my many dark wigs.

But—after reading so many articles about aging and going lighter with hair, I’ve decided to play around with lighter colors.  Let’s take a look:

My first foray into a different but not really intentionally lighter color was this wig, Konis in the color TT99J/530. This deep burgundy shade is extremely popular with older French women. They cut their hair very, very short and dye it burgundy. Like Red wine!

Lighter with my most favored wig, Carrie Lace Front from UniWig’s LaVivid Collection. This Brown Spice color is just beautiful!

Another absolute favorite is Storm by Model Model wigs. This is a Number 4–a lighter brown.

The darker wigs on the bottom all look fine-but I’m thinking that the lighter ones just may be a tad more flattering.  Clary, top right, is actually a soft black with brown highlights–color number 1B/30. I’m quite fond of that color combo but Bonaparte is not!

I’m a bit obsessed at the moment with lighter hair.  And I know that there are quite a few women out in the blogosphere who are very passionate about going gray.   That’s cool—but I’m still not ready.

This wig, Swami, by Freetress Equal was the straw that broke the camel-colored hair’s back for me.  This color is TS-Mocha, a dark brown base with golden and auburn highlights throughout. I love this so much I purchased another one.  I love this color..

Lighter with Justine by “It’s A Wig” in color P4/27/30.  A lovely blend of honey browns and golden blondes!

The experts write that “cool” colors for aging women are not the best choice—I think that could be debatable in some cases but I have to admit, I’m finding that warmer colors are softening my face a bit—so I think there’s something there. Maybe we should think about going lighter.

And lookie, lookie, lookie!  Here I am in Carrie (not the lace front) from LaVivid Collection. @kathleenryanart on Instagram won this wig and generously gave her winning to me.  I love this color.  I do need to spray some dry shampoo on it to get the shine down a bit, but, boy, is it fun being blonde!

This wig is a blast!  I’m really loving it in a messy updo. Very Bardot!

This is a great way to go lighter!

And that’s another reason that wigs are so wonderful.  If you are thinking about going lighter and don’t want the bother of bleaching your hair or dying your hair with harsh chemicals, then maybe buying an inexpensive wig can be a good solution.   I’m having so much fun with lighter colors!  It really brightens my personality!!

WAIT!!  I went even lighter!  This wig, April by Bobbi Boss. I ordered it from GoBeautyNY .  The site is having a 25% off sale through the end of the month. I paid $19.45 including shipping for this unit. It was delivered in two days and they are now sold out of this wig!   This is a great wig for a look that isn’t completely blonde.  I dig it!

Same thing with hair loss and gray.  I’ve received quite a few emails asking me about wig sites that A. have gray wigs and B. have a silkier texture.

Mind you—my own hair is dull, coarse and wiry. And I want to apologize for being so self-centered and only posting videos that showcase wigs that are similar to my own hair.  I don’t want to be exclusive.

So, if you are thinking of going lighter, or if you are thinking of wigs—you’ve got to check out wig videos by Taz.  She’s so adorable and her reviews are incredibly detailed and educational.  She goes into every nuance of the wigs she reviews.

This is Taz. Her channel, Taz’s Wig Closet has excellent and very detailed wig reviews–and she’s cuter than a speckle-eared puppy!

And for the gray-haired ladies—chick out IvyMUA.  She loves gray wigs, gives fun and entertaining reviews and she’s a makeup wiz!

IvyMUA’s YouTube videos are also great. She rock’s the gray and she has a great sense of humor. I also love her makeup tutorials!!!  

You also might want to check out http://esteticadesigns.com.  This wig company has an entire page devoted to their wigs shades.  Lots of lighter shades and lots of gray shades.  And the brand’s Sky wig is freaking gorgeous.

For a much better view, check out the Estetica website…

And this Sky wig is a gorgeous choice for those who don’t want to go too short or longer than shoulder length!  

Ladies—we’re never to old to go lighter with our hair or to go shorter or longer—and with wigs we don’t even need a scissor! I’m telling you—this gray thing—so many young women are turning gray into a trend. ( Something I find fascinating–who started that anyway?) Maybe real soon, I’ll jump on the bandwagon! I’ll stick to blonding in the meantime!

Oh…I uploaded a video on the blonde  April wig I ordered a few days ago.  Here you go—and Chippy makes an appearance!!!

From me to you.  I have a long way to go before I get anywhere near as good as Taz and Ivy but I’m trying!

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