Atypical 60

The Old Bag is Tawking To Ya!

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Catherine

No sillies. Not me! I’m not the old bag I write of this time! I’m talking old bags—the handbag kind. The ones sitting on a shelf in your closet. A whole bunch of ’em!

Some of the old bags resting on my closet shelf. I think they are tired of being there and want to come out to play!

First, I’ll tell you about my week—then I’ll continue the bag tawk. Training started for me this past Tuesday at the “high-end department store” where I am now employed. As I have a blog, HR explained to me that I cannot name the store on my blog, nor can I be an affiliate. It’s cool—trust me, after all the shit I’ve been through in trying to find a job at my age of —-61 in two weeks, I’m feeling good that this high-end retail corporation decided to make me part of the team!

Wait—I was under the assumption that I would be working full time. I’m not. I was hired part time—and part time enough that I fall short of being eligible for any medical benefits. So my search for a full-time position continues. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy what I will be doing.

Once again, I made an ass out of me when I assumed I would be working full-time! Oops!

Selling handbags!

Believe me, I know bags. Goddess knows, I’ve got enough. And here’s the thing. I don’t rotate my bags often as I should. My bag collection is pretty old—I just don’t update a lot. I don’t run out and purchase bags every season. In fact, my lack of rotation is not making my old bags very happy.

Why? Well…it’s because I’m too damned lazy. That’s it. And it’s also because I like a big bag. Basically a bag big, large enormous enough to carry all my stuff will suit me just fine.

But—we all know all too well what not keeping bags in rotation does. It all but ruins that one bag you keep using every day. The bag I’m currently carrying is a J. Crew Brompton bag. I received it years ago as a Christmas gift from Oona. Not only does it do the job of carrying all my garbage items that are so important to me because I’m a bag stuffer-into hoarder, but I love the look of the Brompton.

The Brompton Bag ( discontinued, naturally!) from J. Crew is my go-to bag. It is enormous. The bag has a removable shoulder strap, but the handles are large enough to throw this over my shoulder anyway. The inside has the capacity to hold a small city. I stuff everything into this bag!

I simply love the look of an unstructured bag. I may be old and my bags may be aged as well. Even so, I don’t like bags that shout “Old Lady”! I don’t like a bag that whispers “I’m matronly”. I’m quite serious about this.

I’m not fond of matronly bags like this. Believe me, I LOVED my grandmother so much, but she carried this style and this style only. And in it was nothing more than Pep-O-Mint Life Savers, a ton of tissues and an old black leather change purse. We need to put these bags to rest!

And once again, the industry equates older women with matronly bags. Leave the matronly bags to Queen Elizabeth. Please! We modern mature women want a more fun bag. Even at the office, our serious bags can still have a bit of an edge. OK?

God save the Queen, but please get rid of that bag. Give her a less matronly look. I think she would do well with a Tory Burch Small York bag!

My bag of choice is a big ol’ bag. I’ll show you what I mean. It’s about time I rotate my bag so let’s look at some pics of a few of my old bags!

Tawk about OLD! This bag is a hand-me-down from Oona’s college days at Coach! This bag has to be at least six years old but I love it and I should rotate it more often. It looks good and has plenty of room inside…

OK–so the interior fabric is a bit dirty from years of use but the bag has a phone pocket, an additional pocket next to it and a zippered pocket across…

…and this “tote” also zips closed. It is a bit more structured than my usual bag, but the shape of the bag is more relaxed. I also like the color–a deep rich brownish burgundy!

My Longchamp collection. The “le Pliage” folds nicely for storage purposes. If you don’t want all leather, these nylon PVC coated bags are incredibly durable. If you are looking for interior organization, this bag doesn’t have it–and the little pocket inside barely holds a phone, but the durability trumps organization. I also multi-task the le Pliage as a beach bag! The Longchamp “Planetes”, which I have in orange, in the back, and the small black bag next to it, it a tad more structured and the nylon PVC coating is much thicker. These bags do not fold. Next to the black bag is a small canvas Longchamp bag I picked up in France–its one of the limited editions. And–in front is my prized Longchamp leather bag. I picked this up at Nordstrom Rack a few years back for about $100 USD. It was a steal and although it looks a bit on the small side, this bag holds a TON of stuff. There is an extra pocket in the front of the bag, the bag has both handles and a shoulder strap and…

The interior is beautifully lined in silk Longchamp logo and has zippered compartments as well as pockets. The bag also has a little clasp to place your keys so they don’t get “lost” at the bottom!

My first “expensive” bag. My Kooba “Sloane” bag. I love the look of this bag so much and I wish Kooba would bring this bag back. I would love to own it in black. It doesn’t hold as much as you would think, but regardless, this bag does hold quite a bit. Of all the bags I own, this one has gotten a great number of compliments. It’s also sturdy. On a flight back from France, a little girl threw up all over it and the bag cleaned so well! I can’t part with this bag at all! She’s a sentimental old bag for me!

I want you to take a CLOSE look at this Nat & Nin bag. First of all, I love Nat & Nin bags because the leather is just so incredibly buttery soft–and the bags have lots of nooks and crannies. BUT–I’ve learned that I need to treat this bags and to be careful with what I wear when carrying them. See how dirty the bag is? It’s dye. From my dark wash jeans. I wore her with a new pair of jeans and the dye from the jeans got all over the bag. Two years later, the dye hasn’t faded. It’s a shame because I did get a lot of compliments on this bag before it became ruined. Also, look at the photo on the left. Chippy chewed the leather. This bag now comes out of rotation in the worst of weather because it is already ruined! Lesson learned-do NOT carry a light-colored bag when you are wearing dark wash jeans!!

The same Nat & Nin bag in raspberry. I definitely take better care of THIS bag. I like to bring her out when I’m wearing my raspberry and navy maxi or when I’m dressed in neutrals and want a splash of color!

And yet, another Nat & Nin Carrie bag. I stinkin’ LOVE this bag. I love the color, I love the shape, I love all the straps and compartments. And this bag can also be folded over. I also wear her when I’m wearing lighter colored and color-fast clothing!

Another favorite of mine is this vintage Texier bag I got on eBay about ten years ago. I think I paid about ten bucks and it also holds a ton of stuff. The design is incredibly simple and timeless. I’ve worn her on and off for the past ten years and this Texier looks better with age!

This red faux leather clutch was purchased at TJ Maxx a few years back. It doesn’t hold much at all, but for a night out, it serves the purpose–bags such as this don’t need to cost a lot of money. Save the big bucks for a bag you will use on a regular basis!

Just for fun, I decided to empty out my bags before taking photos. Can you believe the random items I had? I discovered Euros mixed up with my change, samples of face cream, a Weight Watchers calculator, hair stuff, chopsticks–a Delta Gamma beer can kozzie (OK-Oona) and half an almond! Half an almond–WTF????? Why would I eat HALF an almond. Chippy finished that half off!

Because a bag reflects your personality, you really have to love that bag. The bag becomes a part of you. Yesterday I assisted a woman who was mulling over the most beautiful tote. All Saints Pearl Hobo bag. The second I felt that leather, I wanted it for myself. I’m telling you, this bag was great. A tote that was timeless, simple, chic and incredibly multi-tasking. After a lengthy search, she kept coming back to this one bag—and finally made the purchase. I’ll tell you, I was so happy for both the woman and the bag. I knew that bag found a great home and I knew the woman would treasure the bag and take great care of it! Come to think of it, I want an All Saints bag. All Saints clothing has a young vibe—and so do the bags. But the bags are so simple and classic that they seem to span generations.

I am in love with this All Saints Pearl Hobo Bag. She is a beauty! I mean it–All Saints bags speak to me! I’m praying back to the Saints!

I plan to use make a purchase at some point!

Another bag that I especially have my eye on is the Tory Burch York Buckle Tote. This is a more structured bag, but not structured to the point where the leather is as hard as plywood. There is a nice softness to the leather and the design is incredibly simple—the uniqueness of the straps is the small buckles. I like that a lot.

This is a nicely structured bag without looking matronly. Tory Burch is so hit or miss for me, but I do like many of her bags. This is a great office tote!

It’s weird because Tory Burch is such a hit or miss for me. I love my Reva flats, but I find many of her other shoes hideous. Same with her bags—a small number of them are adorable and many are just downright fugly or matronly. Don’t even get me started on her clothing line. I have a tunic that is so beautiful but the fit is horrific. That’s for another day though. Back to the bags.

I’m going to place my Brompton bag on the shelf in my closet for a while and use my Longchamp leather bag. And in a few weeks, I’ll try to bring out a more summery bag—perhaps my tan Nat & Nin.

I’ve stuffed most of my necessities *subjective* into the Longchamp bag! Time to rotate the old bag!!!

Some points to remember when searching for your next bag.

Find a bag that suits your personality.
Ask yourself what the purpose is. If you are a professional and want a bag for work, you will need one to fit a laptop and other office essentials. Look for a more structured leather tote.
Keep it in proportion. If you are five feet tall, an oversized bag will overpower you.
Stay within budget. If you are going to purchase an everyday bag, you may want to spend a bit more money for a great quality. On the other hand, if you are looking for a small clutch or a bag to match an outfit for a special occasion, you can go with an inexpensive bag.
Feel the bag. Personally, I cannot stand the feel of pebbled leather. I like smooth leather.
Try the bag. Carry it on your shoulder for a few moments. Do the straps stay on your shoulder? Are the straps comfortable? How will the bag feel when it is chock full of your stuff? If the bag is a satchel how does the handle feel? Is it comfortable in your hand? Do the handles feel heavy or cheap?
Are you concerned with leather becoming scratched? Perhaps you need a different material.
Do you like a bag that will look better with age and better as it gets more worn in? A leather that wears well will be good for you.
Are you concerned with the brand or are you willing to go slightly out of your brand loyalty comfort zone?
Is look more important to you than the interior structure? Do you want the pockets for your phone, pens, money, etc? Or are you ok to search for your phone at the bottom of your massive bag? (Guilty!!)

These are all things to be considered when purchasing a bag. And moving forward, I’m going to practice what I preach and take all of the above into consideration.

Enjoy the weekend! It’s raining here! Here’s a rainy day song that I used to sing to the kids all the time when they were younger. From Sesame Street! A Rainy Day! XOXOXO!!

Posted in All Saints, All Saints Handbags, Dressing the "mature" woman, J. Crew, Longchamp, Nat & Nin, Old Handbags, Rotating Handbags, The Right Handbag for you, Tory Burch | Tagged Fashion, Fashion for older women, Handbags | 42 Comments

Organizing At A Snail’s Pace–But I Found THE Perfect Way To House My Makeup!

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Catherine

I’m moving at an incredibly slow pace today. I am pretty sure it has to do with my fear of starting a new job tomorrow. I’ll be selling handbags (Is this perfect for me or what?) at a high-end department store. My experiences will definitely be a future post–lol!

But–I have to tell you about the little gem of an organizer I found today. My makeup desk is a chaotic mess and my attempts to organize my cosmetics and beauty products always manage to go awry. And so, I’m constantly shoving shit around and getting nowhere.

Until today! I had to stop at Sally Beauty to replenish my supply of Toppik. If I want to look good while selling bags, I better cover up my bald spots and you know how much I love me my Toppik!

Anyway, there’s a Five Below discount store at the strip mall where Sally is located. So I went in. You never know what treasures lurk at Five Below! While checking out the cosmetics aisle, I came across an eye shadow palette by Colormates. At three bucks, it looked like a decent palette to throw into my purse if I needed a quick touch up.

Not a bad choice of shadows. The only color I would bypass is the blue. But this is a decent palette to keep in your purse or to take along on an overnight trip! Right?

I was actually surprised at how pigmented these colors are. They feel nice and don’t seem to be ashy–they are aren’t the most finely milled and there can be a bit of fallout, but overall, it isn’t bad at all!

There’s also quite a bit of shimmer, but overall the pigmentation is decent for a three dollar item!

And I’m cruising the other aisles but nothing strikes my fancy. And then I spot it–a little gem for organizing! A hanging jewelry organizer. Upon inspection, I noticed the pockets were a good size. A little light bulb went off in my head! I could use this to house some of my makeup!

Isn’t this great? Not only are some of my cosmetics no longer stuffed in drawers or boxes, but they are easy to find! I have to go back and position the cosmetics so that the labels are facing the same way! I’m so happy!

I’m liking this so much that an additional trip to Five Below is needed. At five bucks, this is a great little gem of an organizer! When I’m getting ready in the morning, I can take this out of the closet and hang it over the closet door knob within reach. I’m also glad that the black & white color combo was available!

Here’s a closer view.

So what do you think? Anyone have cool DIY organizing ideas that they want to share? God knows that I could surely use them!!

Hey lads and lassies–I’m sorry that today’s post is a short one–it’s just that I’m getting all nervous about tomorrow! It’s time for a girly-girl bubble bath, facial mask and some fake tanning on the legs!

And so I leave you with this beautiful version of Nessun Dorma, an aria from Puccini’s opera Turandot performed by Paul Potts. My wonderful blogger buddy, Lady Calen of Impromptu Promptlings, linked this video of him and it gave me major goosebumps and tiny tears! Enjoy! XOXOXOXOX

Posted in Beauty, Cosmetics, DIY Organizing, Eyeshadow palettes, Organizing, Paul Potts | Tagged Beauty for Older Women. More Shit Old Ladies do, Organizing Beauty Products | 35 Comments

On “Marguerite”, Catherine Frot, and Older French Actresses

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Catherine

Bonaparte and I drove into Philly yesterday to see a film I’ve wanted to see for quite some time. “Marguerite”, a film directed by Xavier Giannoli, written by Giannoli and Marcia Romano. This film is very loosely based on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, an American woman whose inheritance allowed her to live through her dream of being an operatic singer.

This poster shows one of the film’s crucial moments. Honestly, if you get the chance, you need to see this movie!

It stars the great actress, Catherine Frot. It is also a French language film with subtitles.

Catherine Frot with director Giannoli. Looks like she is having a great time with him!

There is so much to love about this film. It takes place during the 1920’s– in and just outside of Paris. Frot plays Baroness Marguerite Dumont, a naïve, lonely and delusional woman. Her husband, Georges, played by André Marcon, is more protective of her and doesn’t really come to terms with his love for her until later in the film.

Marcon, as Baron Georges Dumont, spends an awful lot of time making sure his car breaks down whenever Marguerite sings.

Marguerite sees herself as a talented operatic singer who, in reality, is tone deaf, off pitch and screeches like a pained alley cat in order to reach the high notes. Bascially, she sucks but nobody will tell her the truth.

Singing to an audience in her home, this scene pretty much gives you an idea of her “unique” voice!

Too many people either sponge off her generosity or see her as an opportunity for their own benefit. Even so, these are the very same people who come to love and want to shield her.

Among the opportunists are Lucien Beaumont, a music critic played by Sylvain Dieuaide; Kyrill Von Priest, a douchey anarchist, played by Aubert Fenoy and a young opera singer, Hazel, beautifully played by Christa Theret. Lucien and Hazel ultimately come to love and protect Marguerite.

Marguerite believes herself to be such a great talent that she has her driver, who is also her photographer, snap images of her as great operatic characters.

Denis M’Punga, who plays Maldelbos, Marguerite’s photographer and driver, is another protector and admirer of Marguerite’s. Or is he using her for his own agenda?

Throughout all this, Frot doesn’t portray Marguerite as narcissistic at all. Marguerite is well-aware of her wealth and privilege but isn’t snobby or arrogant about it.

The photos of Marguerite as operatic divas are comical and incredibly sad at the same time…

Giannoli has done a clever job in presenting the story as a visual book with the movie being divided into chapters. He’s also done a great, great job in making a film that runs the emotional gamut. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud comedic moments but there are also many moments where you want to run up to the screen and just take the character of Marguerite into your arms and hug her and hold her. You also may need a tissue or two.

Frot tells it all without words. She is so incredibly expressive–look at the sadness and loneliness in her eyes.

But there’s more to it than that. Marguerite is not the story of an ingénue. It is the story of a middle-aged woman. A woman who has lived.

I’m not going to give any spoilers but as the story unfolds, Madame Dumont finally hires a voice teacher. And you can be the judge as to whether her voice improves or not.

Atos Pezzini, a has-been opera singer, played by Michel Fau (he was also nominated for a Cesar for this role), is Marguerite’s opportunist voice teacher–and even he comes to feel for Marguerite and becomes one of her protectors.

This tragi-comedy should have been nominated for an Oscar and Frot was robbed of that same nomination.

For me, the most incredible part of the movie was Catherine Frot’s portrayal of Marguerite. Frot’s been around for a while and you may recognize her from the film “Haute Cuisine” in which she plays the chef for the French President. She’s also well known for a series of comedy/mystery series films she starred in with Andrè Dussollier as a husband and wife team who solve crimes, among many other roles. I’m truly happy that she won a Cesar for her performance of Marguerite!

Frot accepting the Cesar for her portrayal as Marguerite

Frot’s talent also lies in her expressive face. Her eyes tell it all. Loneliness, sadness—she’s just incredible.

A face this expressive has not been ruined with fillers or bad plastic surgery!

And she’s adorable. Frot has a face that hasn’t been marred by plastic surgery or needles. She is a mature and naturally beautiful woman who will be turning 60 this year and isn’t trying desperately to hold on to her youth.

She’s so cute. I wanna be besties with her! Bonaparte’s sister had the pleasure of meeting her a few times and said she was an incredibly nice woman–it shows!

Which brings me to this–French actresses (well—most of them) show their age. Not in a bad way either. It’s just that they aren’t injected with Botox and other fillers and their faces are able to convey emotion. When they smile, their faces light up. You can see lines when they frown. Their eyes move. Their lids droop. You can see life in those faces. They rock what gravity has dropped!

Look how beautiful Fanny Ardant is at 67. And she can move her facial features! She’s one of my favorite actresses.

Isabelle Hubbert is 63. I want to know what her secret to great hair and skin is–and her career ain’t slowing down due to her age!

Nathalie Baye is Bonaparte’s longtime crush. He always says she is one of the sexiest women he’s ever seen. Oh..and she is a great actress as well. She’s 67!!

BERLIN, GERMANY – DECEMBER 07: Kristin Scott Thomas attends the European Film Awards 2013 on December 7, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Clemens Bilan/Getty Images)

Kristin Scott Thomas may be British, but she has starred in many French films. She’s totally bilingual. Ohhh look-Kristin isn’t Botox smooth! She has lots of character in that talented face of hers! She’s practically a teenager at 55 years!

CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 11: Actress Catherine Deneuve attends the premiere for the film “Lemming” at Le Palais de Festival on the opening night of the 58th International Cannes Film Festival May 11, 2005 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

and then there’s Deneuve! Ok..so she may have had a bit too many fillers on her mouth–but then again, she probably had a ton of over-the-lip lines from all the cigarette’s she’s smoked over the years. Still–at 72, she looks damned good!

Foreign filmmakers seem to respect, love and admire older actresses. And they write for more mature female characters whereas American filmmakers just do not. Take the film “Joy”. The real Joy Mangano will be 60 this year. Why then, was 25 year-old Jennifer Lawrence cast as Joy? Mangano created the infamous prototype for her Miracle Mop when she was 34 years old, couldn’t a woman older than Lawrence had been cast?

Joy Mangano, who is now 60 years old. She’s had the plastic surgery but I’ll tell you, her surgeon did a great job! I think it’s ridiculous that a 25 year old actress would portray her. But–that’s Hollywood!

If Marguerite was made in the USA, I’m sure the story would have been altered to fit a much younger actress. Why can’t the entertainment industry in the USA show the love to older women in a way that embraces our age???

Enjoy the rest of this quiet Easter Sunday. Here’s a beautiful duet by Delibes from Lakmé, Duo des Fleurs. Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne perform. It is also included in the soundtrack of Marguerite by different performers. This gives me chills and I hope you love it as much as I do! XOXOXOXO

Posted in ageism, Beauty, Catherine Deneuve, Catherine Frot, Fanny Ardant, Isabelle Huppert, Kristin Scott Thomas, Marguerite, Mature Beauty, Nathalie Baye, Older French Actresses | Tagged Beauty, French Actresses, French Film., Marguerite, Older actresses | 21 Comments

My Kids Ate The Easter Bunny And I Helped. Bad Mommy Easter Tales.

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Catherine

It started out innocently enough. I thought it would be a good idea to make an Easter basket for Bonaparte to give to his granddaughter. I miss the days when my own children were young and I would put extreme care into the contents of each of their baskets.

A candy-filled basket for Bonaparte’s granddaughter.

I would make sure that each of them had a different color basket so as not to cause any confusion. Each child received a very large chocolate bunny. I would stuff plastic eggs with various little chocolates. Also sitting upon the annoying plastic green grass would be smaller bunnies, little chicks wrapped in foil and surrounding the chocolate animals would be foil covered chocolate eggs. In keeping with the religious aspect of Easter, each child would have a chocolate cross in their Easter basket too.

My kids ate their Easter Bunnies made of the waxiest chocolate I could find. And I joyously helped them devour those cute little bunnies and chicks and any other chocolate that could be found.

That’s right! My kids ate the Easter Bunny and I helped! I’m kissing you now, and tomorrow I’ll be eating you!

And so, my mission was to fill a basket filled with Bunnies and a cross and all candies chocolate that I could gather so that Bonaparte’s granddaughter could partake in the same ritual that my children enjoyed.

It was the same ritual my siblings and I repeated year after year on Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday 1959, Ozone Park, Queens, NY. My mother pregnant with my brother. Even though there were only two kids, I had the appetite of five or six kids when it came to the Easter basket of chocolate filled treasures!

We ate candy all day. We would stop to have dinner, but were usually full from all the candy that we consumed beforehand. Then we would polish the rest of the candy off later in the day.

Two great candy days a year. Easter and Halloween.

This was a thrilling little project for me. Since my kids are now grown, I could make another child glow with delight at the amount of processed cocoa and sugar that was about to be bestowed upon her—and ingested into her six-year-old body!

I noticed something incredibly odd upon arrival at Walmart. Shelves of Easter baskets galore in front of me.

I thought it especially odd since it was four days before Easter and there seemed to be a surplus of baskets!

But I didn’t see candy!

Also on the shelves were boxes embellished with the words “Basket Stuffers”. In these boxes were tacky little games, stuffed bunnies and baby chicks and other little toys.

These boxes labeled “Basket Stuffers” were almost emptied of the small toys and other pieces of plastic and fuzzy garbage that housed them.

But no candy.

I saw in another aisle tons of plastic eggs that one would fill with little candy. But where was the damned candy???

Look at this “eggs-travaganza”–why aren’t people buying these and stuffing little candy surprises into them?

Mouth rinse for children in bubblegum flavor was on the shelves—but no candy was to be found!

WTF? Kids don’t want THIS is their Easter baskets! What is going on?

Finally, I spotted bags of pastel colored M & M’s and foil covered chocolate eggs, but where were the chocolate bunnies and chocolate crosses.

As a Walmart staffer approached, I asked where all the good Easter candy was. He explained that people are buying toys and other items for Easter instead of candy. He further explained that the Easter candy was now placed in the grocery department.

Huh?

Then I thought about what an awful, horrible, abusive mommy I must have been.

Preparing for Easter meant buying dozens of eggs to hard boil and dye. My kids invited their friends to the house and we would have a dye party. The parties were routine. I would place the dyes on the kitchen island, have the eggs at the ready and a house full of kids would start dipping and spilling.

I was completely shocked at the loads of egg dye that was still available. Man–I would purchase about five or six of these boxes a year to keep all the kids happy dying eggs! Do parents not dye eggs with their children anymore?

Usually ten minutes later they would be bored and would find other activities. I would be left to finish the dye job—and it was fun! One year I bought a bunch of inexpensive white tee shirts and let all the kids tie dye the shirts with the remaining egg color! My mad mommy ways were certainly awful!

Easter NYC Roman with a hard boiled egg. The only healthy easter eating

Roman looking confused at a REAL egg. It was the healthiest food item he ever ate on Easter!

Oh yes. And my horrible mommy ways got worse. Because I allowed them to eat every bit of candy in the baskets. If they wanted to eat it all on Easter Sunday, so be it. School was closed the next day so if they got sick it was no big deal.

The worst thing about this Easter wasn’t the amount of chocolate the boys ate to give them maddening rushes of sugar. The worst thing was that I allowed my husband to take my oldest son to get his haircut. It was the first and LAST time he went with his dad to the barber. It was the worst haircut of all time–he looks like an Eastern European refugee. I still bring this up to my now ex-husband!

Sugar rush? Yeah. But my children also ate three full meals a day. Exceptions being Christmas when you just eat all day, birthdays when you eat what you want—and then have a shitload of cake, Halloween, when pizza is the healthiest thing you consume before OD’ing on the candy you receive from door-to-door begging, and, of course, Easter.

Easter and birthdays always bring out the best for a sugared stupor! Oona looks like she could fall over at any second. Don’t worry, I would catch her. Bad mommy CAN be good!

Back to the shopping. When I arrived in the grocery area I was shocked at the amount of candy that hadn’t been purchased. And it was four days before Easter. I can remember having to buy candy weeks before Easter in fear that the supplies would be wiped out. And here there was an overabundance.

I managed to pick up quite a bit of candy—and some for me. And, added a box of colored pencils and a drawing pad because Bonaparte’s granddaughter loves to draw.

I managed to find the candy, but I’ll tell you, the selection wasn’t that great. I had to hunt down chocolate bunnies!

I also picked up some colored pencils and a sketch pad–which is appropriate. Save the big stuff for Christmas!

Further errands had me going to Target. On a whim, I decided to do some candy sleuthing. Same thing. Easter’s candy was tucked away in the grocery area with shelves full of candy that went ignored.

Easter Sunday fast approaching and all this candy sits on the shelf? Something is not right!

What happened to Easter? Look. I get that it’s an important religious day. It’s the day that my buddy, Hipster Jesus rose from the dead. It is also the day when you can stop those forty days of Lenten sacrifice. And what better way to end that fast than by consuming mass quantities of sweet, luxurious chocolate. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate. It’s all good!

Now we have toys and other objects as “basket stuffers”. What happens when those toys aren’t good enough or expensive enough or big enough? Is Easter going to turn into an excessive gifting holiday similar to Christmas?

These stuffed little dust mite collectors are the new Easter candy. At least the candy is gone in a matter of hours or a day or two. These things linger around getting dirty!

I’m glad that I had my children when I did. I’m glad I am of the generation that didn’t look at a chocolate bunny as something bad and unhealthy. I’m glad to have allowed my kids to taste and appreciate those chocolate bunnies the way a fine connoisseur of food would have dined on Paul Bocuse’s “Hare a la Royale”

The mother of all Easter dishes! Paul Bocuse’s “Hare a la Royale”. A hair drenched in a sauce of it’s own juices so dark that it looks like a chocolate bunny. This is ONE Easter Bunny I would love to devour!

Are parents these days so politically correct and coddling of their offspring that they are afraid to traumatize their children into thinking they will be eating Peter Cottontail?

He isn’t real! He’s make believe. It’s OK to eat a chocolate bunny–Peter Cottontail said so!

I’m especially glad that I was a bad mommy at Easter time. I allowed them to indulge. They didn’t get a mouthful of cavities, nor did they become obese. They celebrated a tradition and had fun. And moreso, I did too!

Easter NYC The first and last time I allowed my ex to get jake's hair cut

More Easter throwback. I couldn’t find more pictures from Easters past because I was so traumatized by that haircut. I have a renewed anger toward my ex-husband as I look at that haircut…

Jake, left, with better hair. I think he was traumatized by that haircut too. Roman, right, changed his bowl-cut into a more adult look!

This is MY hidden stash. I don’t like the way the chocolate bunny on the left is eyeballing my M & M’s and Robin’s Eggs! I’ll have to eat him first!

Regardless–candy or not. Go out and enjoy this weekend! Happy Easter all!

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The REAL Peter Cottontail!

Posted in Easter fun, Easter candy, Let them eat candy!, Uncategorized | Tagged Easter, Easter Candy, What happened to Easter fun | 17 Comments

Bits and Pieces for the Old Girls! Accessories and Beauty Tawk for Friday!

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Catherine

Hi Girls. Happy Friday. Whether you are having a hectic Easter or a laid back one, or whether you don’t celebrate—have a great, great weekend.

Earlier this morning Bonaparte and I ventured out to run some errands on a cloudy and rainy morning. The weather was gray and cool and I wanted a bit of warm and a bit of bright.

I warmed myself up by wearing a scarf over a sleeveless maxi and topped it off with a denim jacket. I hadn’t worn the scarf in a long time. In fact, it’s been well over a year that I’ve worn it. But the scarf has a nice boho vibe. And just enough boho to be age-appropriate for the “older woman” without appearing costumulicious.

My Antik Batik scarf worn with a black maxi dress and denim jacket!

But there is something about this scarf that is special. It’s about 11 years old. It was a gift from Bonaparte’s aunt, Danièle. The first time I met her, we went shopping at Galeries Lafayette. She insisted on purchasing this scarf for me—I was almost taken aback at her generosity. The scarf cost over 150 euros—and that was quite some time ago. It was my first of many visits to Paris and to be with her.

Here’s a better photo of the scarf. It’s 100% wool–but it is sooooo light and sheer. If you look closely, you can see how sheer it is. The wool isn’t itchy either. As great as wool is, if it itches, I can’t wear it. How about you?

The brand, Antik Batik has been around since 1992 and definitely has a bohemian vibe! They have some pretty cool stuff! Since then, I’ve gone seasons where I’ve worn it a lot. Other seasons had this scarf in my drawer, cozy and comfy surrounded by other scarves. I can wear it now and have crystal clear memories of Danièle, her larger-than-life personality, and all the great times we shared together!

I’ll miss visiting Daniele in her office and miss the photos that graced the bulletin board across from her desk.

We had a lot of fun together! Three oldsters being wild and crazy in the streets of Paris!

Remember to keep accessories—especially if they were given to you by someone special. Those pieces that have a history are the best ones!

That was my warmth today. Having the lightweight wool around my neck also gave me a feeling of comfort and the little metallic discs brightened things up.

Speaking of brightening things up….I decided to go with a bright lip color today!

After prepping my lips with my beloved Chapstick, I lined them with this teriffic liner by Mally. Lip Fence. This is a clear waxy stick that prevents bleeding. It really does! I received this couple of weeks ago when I had my Mally makeover.

Mally Lip Fence. This lip liner can also double to keep brows in place. I’ve been getting a ton of use out of this!

To tell you the truth-I have a funny story for you.

I thought this was eyebrow wax and I was using it after I penciled in my brows with my Mally 24/7 brow pencil and powder. After penciling, I would go over the brow with the Lip Fence and then dab the powder over it. What can I say except this Lip Fence is a great multitasker! I found out it was for lips when I went on Mally’s website! Who knew?? But I love when stuff like that happens—don’t you?

As I was saying, I wanted a brighter lip. I decided to use a lipstick that I recently purchased by Wet ‘n Wild. At ninety-nine cents, this lipstick is a find! The color is 503C, Will You Be With Me? It’s also got a name in French on the label: Seras-tu mon chéri?

This Wet’nWild lipstick is a great find. The color is a beautiful bright pink. Not neon, but truly pink!

This lipstick glides on nicely. It’s creamy and not dry. A good choice for a more mature mouth! The finish is a bit of a cross between matte and satin.

Since I was in the mood for a bit of a shine, I applied iT Cosmetics Vitality Gloss Stain over the lipstick. The color is the sheer “Je Ne Sais Quoi” and I like this because it looks like a very pale, pale pinky white in the tube but goes on very sheer and changes to a brighter pink tint.

I’m a fan of the iT cosmetics lip products and this one in particular! Je Ne Sais Quoi is a great color. I have this in stick form as well. Very hydrating.

I’ll tell you, it takes a village of lip products to make those older lips look pretty—but it works!

See how nice the lip colors all look? Bright but not neon bright. I think this is a great color for we older ladies. See how the Lip Fence keeps the color where it is supposed to stay?

Well, that’s about it for today! I’m going to try to organize around the house. It’s a chore!

Oh! I almost forgot! Old Navy has discontinued THE greatest tee on the face of the earth. The Fitted Tee, short sleeved and crew necked is no longer available in the stores. They are selling the remaining ones online. Let me tell you how pissed I am about this. I wrote a review asking why the hell they discontinued a perfectly great tee. Well, the review wasn’t published but I did receive an email from customer service telling me that they are looking into the matter with the merchant. The drama continues!

The packaging was fine. I’m glad ON sent this in plastic upon plastic–I would not want a wet cardboard box due to all the rain. For an even better fit, order down a size! Old Navy has these shirts on their site for $7.00.

This tee is a blend of 60% cotton and 40% polyester, giving it a nice fit that doesn’t lose shape–even after multiple washings. I ordered a few and received them yesterday.

I’m telling you, this IS a perfect fit!!

When it comes to memories of people you love, I always thing of this song by Simon and Garfunkel: Old Friends—it’s very sweet. XOXOXOXOXOXOXO!!!

Posted in Accessorizing, Antik Batik, Baby Boomers, Beauty for Baby Boomers, Beauty for Older Women, Daniele Delorme, Denim Jackets. Kut From The Kloth, Dressing for Mature Women, Dressing for older women, Fashion, Fashion for older women, France, Galeries Lafayette, humor, It Cosmetics, Makeup for Older Women, Mally Cosmetics, Mally Roncal, Old Navy Fitted T Shirts, Over 50 Fashions, Wet n Wild cosmetics | Tagged Beauty, Beauty for Older Women, Fashion, Fashion for older women | 14 Comments

What The Hell Is That Disagreeable Odor? Is it—-FEET??????

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Catherine

Are you as sensitive to scents, smells, odors and fragrances as I am? I mean it. Factors other than a lifetime of allergies and sinus issues have added to my “Scents-it-ivity”.

Hypochondria is a factor. It started when I was about ten years old. I read a biography of a famous person. Damned if I can remember the person I read about, but he died of a brain tumor. And the symptom that leads to the drastic finding was that he smelled odors that weren’t there.

It affected me. If I smell something unusual I will ask Bonaparte or anyone within my space if they smell the same odor. If they do, I feel much better. If not; I panic.

My reaction to many disagreeable odors is usually something like this.

When I’m in my car driving on the highway or any road, the disagreeable odor of exhaust or gas or rubber will waft through to my nasal passages. I will freak out because I will oftentimes think something is wrong with my car or me—only to find out that a massive truck up ahead is polluting the area with the black cloud of poisonous fumes exiting its exhaust pipe. Believe it or not, it gives me great comfort that the stink is not coming from my car. It gives me greater comfort to find that the odor is real and not imagined.

During the holidays I cannot walk into many stores—especially craft stores, because of the goddam cinnamon scent emanating from those piles of pine cones. Pine cones are not supposed to reek of artificial cinnamon. Otherwise they would be called “cinnamon” cones. Pine cones are supposed to smell like pine. And the scent of pine is pleasant and clean. WTF is it with the cinnamon scent anyway? It causes such awful headaches for me that I need to be in bed with the lights off.

These cinnamon scented pine cones are the most vile, disagreeable and offensive odor of all time. My head aches just looking at this!

I’m also that person who shies runs away from perfume counters. Certain perfumes give me horrific headaches. That is why I limit myself to very few scents.

These three scents are the ONLY ones I can wear without getting a headache. From left: L’Instant by Guerlain; La Petite Robe Noire also by Guerlain; Fleur d’Oranger by Fragonard. All other perfumes are merely disagreeable odors to me.

Some people aren’t as scents-it-ive. Example: When we lived in New Jersey, I had the unfortunate event of a dryer fire. (Remember to clean out the MOTOR of your dryer once a year. Cleaning out the lint isn’t enough. I learned the hard way).

Luckily my home was saved but the washer and dryer had to be replaced. The house had extensive smoke damage and I’ll never forget that awful burning scent. However, my son Roman didn’t appear to be bothered by the smell.

The day after the fire, Roman, who was in high school at the time, got dressed and headed off to school. Since I was starting to tackle some of the clean up, I wasn’t paying much attention to his choice of clothing.

A couple of hours later, I received a phone call from the high school office. Mrs. Baker, the greatest high school office secretary of all time, requested that I come to the school immediately with a change of clothing for Roman. This was confusing. I knew that he was far too old to have had made a “mistake” and I explained that I was waiting for the cleanup crew to arrive at my home due to a fire.

Mrs. Baker knew about the fire and proceeded to explain to me that the clothes Roman was wearing were taken out of the burnt dryer. He tried to disguise the burnt smell with an overabundance of cologne and that the classrooms and corridors he had been in—well, they smelled bad.

Dryer+fire+burnt clothing+Curve men’s cologne = One very bad smell!

I got one of my neighbors to wait for the cleaning crew and high tailed it down to the school with a change of clothing that, luckily, hadn’t fallen victim to the fire or to the scent of smoke.

When I arrived at the school, Roman was waiting in the office without a care in the world or any concern of the disagreeable odor surrounding his person. The conversation went something like this:

Me: “OMG. Roman! ” What did you DO?” Why did you wear those clothes? What did you spray on them?” “Ugh!” “It’s awful”.

Roman: “Um. These corduroy’s are new and I didn’t want to get rid of them” “I took them out of the dryer and tried to make them smell good so I sprayed Curve on them” “They don’t smell bad”

Me: “Change into these. I’ll take your other clothes with me and throw them in the trash”

Roman: “Don’t throw them out. They’re new” “I love those corduroys”

Maybe it’s a teenaged boy thing.

Anyway. I’m the one who isn’t sensitive to the scent of a clean detergent. Nor does the scent of a laundry spray bother me—if it’s not too floral. Lately I’m into those scent pellets for the dryer!

I love the very agreeable scent of clean clothing!

And I always have a scented spray in the bathrooms to mask some otherwise offensive odors that come with certain bodily eliminations.

My bestie Mary Beth DiBiase gifted me with these. The beads are great for eliminating kitchen odors–and the Sage & Citrus spray is great for eliminating the odor of food that has exited one’s body through waste!

My purse is filled with flavored gum, Violet candies, and little breath fresheners. You never know when that garlic you ate the night before will seek revenge and leave your body as the worth breath on earth!

I especially have a fondness for Violets. Not only do these little candies smell good but they taste soapy–giving me memories of all those times my mother washed my gutter mouth out!

A spare stick of deodorant has always been kept in my desk at the office (when I had a job), because sometimes stress attacks, not in a pit like a trench, but in the arm pit.

Which brings me to this:

Yesterday I rediscovered a very attractive pair of ballet flats. These shoes were purchased on sale at Banana Republic quite some time ago. Years ago, in fact. When I put them on, I pondered as to why they were sitting in a box and not worn very much.

These shoes really are very flattering to the foot–but it ends there! Read on!

It was only a couple of hours later when I realized just why these were not worn often.

I went to the mall to make a bra purchase at Victoria’s Secret. VS was having a sale and I’m a fan of the brand’s bras. Also needing exercise, I decided to “walk the mall”—stopping every now and then to try on clothing or perhaps shoes.

This bra is not only perfect for under a tee or knit shirt, but the support it gives to women with saggy girls is incredible! I highly recommend!

As I approached J. Crew, I noticed a 25% off sale in progress. I entered and went straight to the shoe area. I’ve been admiring the Gemma, a pointy-toed flat that I would never pay full price for. And as much as I am not a fan of J. Crew’s most uncomfortable heels, the flats are pretty comfortable. (Even though they stretch out like crazy…..)

Aren’t these Gemma flats adorable? Another addition to my love/hate relationship with J. Crew!

The shoe area was empty and I saw that the pair on display was my size so I slipped my Banana Republic ballet flat off. As soon as the shoe came off, I noticed an odor. This odor was not pleasant. It was downright disagreeable!

I sniffed a bit—like a dog sniffing the air outside on a cool day.

Actually, I sniffed more like this!

I smelled the tartness of vinegar—but nobody was eating a salad with vinaigrette dressing. In that mix, I could detect the slight scent of sweat—but it was apparent that none of the shoppers in the store had come from a taxing workout. This horrible vinegar/sweat smell was incredibly close to me.

The scent was more like red wine vinegar–not as sweet as balsamic!

Then it hit me like my momma’s slap! The odor was coming from my feet. You have never seen anyone put shoes back on and leave an area so quickly! In fact, when I was over by the sale rack, a sales assistant approached me and asked me if I needed help. I asked for the Gemma flats in black, in size 8 1/2. When she asked if I wanted to try them on, I explained, fibbed, lied and told her I had two pairs in other colors. God forbig she should be subjected to the odor from my feet! I should be ashamed for lying during Lent—but I’m not!

And it dawned on me as to why I hadn’t worn those Banana Republic shoes. They are not leather. I should have known! Further proof of this was that there was no indication of the shoe’s material to be found. If the shoe is leather, “leather upper” or some indication of leather will be printed either inside the shoe or on the sole.

At least J. Crew will let the consumer be aware that the shoe is genuine leather. Banana Republic didn’t do this–a clear indication the shoes are synthetic!

This odor issue has only happened twice before and both times the shoes were not leather. They were synthetic materials. And both times I ended up with the humiliating symptom of stinky feet!

Now, I am not one to wear socks with shoes. I’ll wear socks with boots only for comfort reasons. But shoes. No. I like my feet to breathe. And since all my shoes are leather, I don’t feel the need for socks.

But yesterday was different. While I was mortified that the most disagreeable odor was coming from my feet, I later broke down and purchased sheer foot liners. These foot liners have been placed in the box where the Banana Republic flats have been put to rest.

I’m comparing these foot liners to a condom because of the protection they offer!

Fact is, I really love the way these shoes look—but if I dare adorn my narrow feet with them in the future, I’ll need protection. I’ll wear my foot ~~condoms~~ liners!

See–they are cute! And with the liners, I won’t have to deal with stinky feet syndrome!

I wonder if my Vegan friends suffer from stinky feet. I wonder if Vegans suffer from body odor issues if they wear pleather pants or a pleather jacket instead of natural leather.

What say you? Do you have any disagreeable odors that you want to tawk about? It’s ok. We’re friends. Do confess—and you can have a good laugh. After all, we need a fun and silly topic of discussion after the most recent events.

My heart and spirit are with the people of Belgium.

We need laughter to help us heal.

Oh. Before I leave, remember my post from a few days ago about bringing real fashion back? Have a look at this post from my friend Trudy who writes the blog “Rendezvous En New York”. It’s a post about a very fashionable exhibit at the Met in NYC from last year! It’s good read!

What better song than this for today? “That Smell”! XOXOXOXO

Posted in disagreeable odors, humor, Smelly feet, Stinky shoes | Tagged Fashion, Humor about Aging, Odd Scents and disagreeable Odors | 24 Comments

How to Wear a Maxi For Women Over 50. Maxi-mizing Your Potential!

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Catherine

Last Friday lent itself well for running errands. It was sunny and warm but cool air was still dominant. And I was too lazy to shave my legs. In addition, I didn’t feel like wearing jeans or pants. Basically, I just wanted to be wallowing in extreme comfort.

And so, with Spring looming overhead, I threw on a gray maxi dress that I bought on sale last year at Loft. I love this dress because the cut is both different and flattering. It’s sleeveless, has a high neck and a waistline that falls just below empire.

My apologies for the quality of the pictures. I buckled and tied the belt at the high waistline and bunched the fabric slightly so that I could wear flat sandals. My hips are big–and the narrow cut of the dress is actually more flattering than a wider fit would be. This dress is made up of 79% Rayon, 17% Polyester and 4% Spandex

Some detailing. I LOVE the higher neckline. My cleavage is getting crepey so a higher neckline looks better. I love the center seam–gives a nice flow to the fabric. That belt? It’s about 20 something years old!

My Rondini Sandals were a perfect shoe for wearing this dress on a nice warm day!

This warm day made it better to further break in my Rondini sandals from last summer. I wore my Bass denim jacket and was off.

I thought the outfit gave off a nice relaxed vibe. I looked good and I felt good. When you wear clothes that make you feel good, your attitude is always great!

I had to post a small pic because the photo is really out of focus. Sorry! But here’s how the dress looks with the denim jacket. A longer jacket or coat would have given a dowdy look. The cropped length of the jacket is perfect!

One of my errands had me stopping at Old Navy to see if I could pick up a few more Perfect Fitted Tee shirts. (And that is another post which I will be ranting about in the future.) As I exited my car and walked from the parking lot to the store, I noticed two younger women looking at me. My reaction was “Oh shit, what ripped?”

As I got closer to the store, they approached me to tell me that they loved the way I looked! I was floored! They continued to tell me that my dress, along with the denim jacket and sandals just looked fantastic. We continued talking for a couple of minutes. I told them where I made the purchases and they also complimented on my hair. My hair was looking good from Adam’s blow out a few days prior. When I told them that I was going to be 61 years old next month, they paid me the highest compliment. They said they want to look like me when they reach my age.

Let me tell you, I was so thankful to these women for such a great compliment. It made my day. It also made me realize something. Kindness counts. We need to compliment more—especially those we don’t know.

And so I thought some more. But this time I thought about how carefully I put this outfit together—even though I wanted a casual and relaxed vibe, I still had to put come effort into achieving this look. And I achieved the look without looking like an older woman who was desperately trying to look young. My outfit did not come off as costumulicious. (My made-up term for dressing as though you are wearing a costume)

Maxi dressing isn’t just for young women who want to stay on trend. Older women can wear a maxi if:

Keep it simple. Keep it light. Don’t overload on accessories!
Pay attention to proportions. Cropped jackets and sweaters work well with longer length dresses.
Mind your fabrics. You want a fabric that drapes and flows nicely.
Fit counts.
Wear appropriate footwear. Sandals are perfect!

Anyway, come on with me and I’ll show you what I mean. We’ll have fun and stay within an affordable budget.

Below is a maxi dress by Cynthia Rowley. I purchased this at Marshalls last year for $29.99.

This dress is “maxi long” which means, if you wear flats, you will be tripping over your feet and the hem will become filthy in a very short time. With a maxi this length, a heeled sandal looks better. This is a dress that could be worn to a fancy dinner—it isn’t the most casual of maxis but it isn’t formal either. To dress it down, I would wear a larger scarf at the neckline.

This dress is made of 82% Rayon and 8% Spandex, giving it a nice drape and fit. It is unlined but the fabric is incredibly opaque. I think it’s a medium—the tag has been ripped out. The shoes are Calvin Klein sandals. These heels are so comfortable. The shoe has a stacked heel and navy elastic straps on the upper. I don’t think the straps in the back are real leather though. This was another Marshalls purchase from…2013 or 2014. I was trying to fix my hair in a 1970’s sort of way. I failed!

I make no apologies for my turkey neck. Screw it. It’s part of me. Gobble. Gobble.Gobble…

The dress is simple, but has a deeper cowl neckline. The right side of the dress is slightly ruched which makes the fit incredibly flattering. The heeled sandals not only look great but are as comfy as all get-out!

If you want to hide turkey neck or a crepey cleavage, a lightweight scarf will do it. The lighter fabric lends itself well to warmer weather. This is a “Lilly for Target” scarf I purchased last year. The lighter blues and pink are a nice contrast to the darker dress.

NOTE: I didn’t accessorize any of the outfits that I’m wearing except for scarves. Why? It’s because I wanted to concentrate on the fit and look of the clothing. What I AM OCD about is the correct footwear for wearing a maxi. Flat sandals, heeled sandals and strappy wedges are the perfect footwear for maxi dressing. In my opinion, a closed shoe ruins the relaxed look.

Next is my favorite maxi. This gray sleeveless maxi from Old Navy. It retails for $29.94 but I purchased it for 40% off. I love this dress so much that I purchased two in gray and one in black. This is the perfect maxi!. The cut is very flattering. I’ve got some high neck love working here and the neckline also protects against the sun hitting the chest area. The cut of the arm holes isn’t so deep either–giving the dress an even better fit. This dress is also very forgiving for those of us who may have gained a few pounds in the middle due to menopause and age. The dress also has darts at the bustline! DARTS! I haven’t seen darts on a knit in a long time!

See how simple this dress is? Old Navy strikes a winner with this one. I purchased multiples because–just my luck–it’ll be discontinued!

Here’s the same dress in black. The shorter length means flat sandals! I paired this with a wider belt sitting at the hips. It makes my torso look longer! The fabric is 70% Modal and 30 % Polyester. However the fabric does breath. Made in Indonesia, the dress is also very well-constructed. Oh–and the knit is tight–nice and opague. Not flimsy at all!

Top detail. DARTS! Who doesn’t love a dress with darts? It gives a nice fit on top! Again, don’t want the gobble gobble neck? Cover with a lightweight scarf…or..if you get a bit chilly, you can top the dress with a cropped sweater!

This dress is “maxi short”. You won’t be tripping over the hem. Because of the shorter length, this is perfect for wearing very flat sandals or flip flops. If you want to dress it up a bit, you can wear a lightweight scarf or a cropped sweater. Speaking of cropped sweaters, if you aren’t too fond of your upper arms, this is a great way to disguise the upper under arm flaps.

Cropped sweater by Carmen. Got it at Marshall’s for less than twenty bucks. 78% Rayon, 22% Nylon. It is tightly knit so it’ll keep shape nicely.

I’ll tell you though—at my age, I don’t even care how flabby my arms are. I’m wearing this dress anyway. This is a great vacation dress as well. Wear it to the beach, then wear it touring and out to dinner. With a dress like this, you can pack less!

To finish off this look I pulled out my Kooba Sloane bag from my closet. I like the way the bag compliments the Rondini Tropezienne sandals! Both bag and sandals are years old!

For the mature woman who doesn’t want to go completely sleeveless, this 3/4 sleeve length maxi from GAP is a good choice. This was purchased last year and I’ve gotten a lot of wear out of it. Between childbirth, maybe not exercising as much, and middle-aged spread many of us don’t have the bodies we once had. And it’s OK. You can still wear these dresses. In fact, I like the way they hide my cellulite ridden thighs. If you have a lazy day or three you don’t have to shave the legs. Hell, you can go commando if you want because you don’t have to worry about bending over and displaying your origin of the world! It’s your choice!

The fabric tag has been ripped out but I’m sure it’s a rayon/spandex mix. I like the way this dress is draped. The stripes may make me look a bit wider in the waist area, but I really don’t care. I love the ballet/scooped neckline too. Screw the turkey neck. If I like the dress, I’m wearing it. Embrace the neck!! On my feet are Old Navy flip flops from the year of the flood. They are incredibly comfortable too!

Back to Old Navy and Back to Rugby Stripes. This berry and blue is last year’s model. It’s a longer maxi and I paired it with Crown Vintage wedges from quite a few years ago. DSW carries similar wedges from the same brand.

The dress is 90% Rayon and 5% spandex. It’s a flattering fit. I’ve washed this dress many times and the stitching remains unscathed!

Here’s a detail of the stitching on the seams. This really is well-constructed.

In cooler weather or in heavy A/C I would wear a lightweight, cropped denim jacket with this dress.

Maxi skirts? Remember that proportion is just as important! I ordered this maxi skirt from J. Crew (or was it J. Crew Factory?) last year. I’ll be honest. It isn’t my favorite because the cut is a wider A-line and it feels like an overabundance of fabric. The skirt is composed of 95% Viscose and 5% Elastane (a type of Spandex). But–when wearing a maxi skirt, I think it’s very important to make sure the top you are wearing is fitted. The fitted shirt will flatter the overall look because it won’t look sloppy or frumpy or fundie.

Below looks good…

I may not be crazy about the skirt, but it looks pretty good with this fitted knit shirt by Merona. 95% Cotton (horray!) 5% Spandex. 3/4 sleeves. A bargain for ten bucks at Target. BTW. SIZE DOWN for a very fitted look. Knit shirts have a tendancy to stretch out. Sizing down will ensure a great fit after many wears and washings!

Below is NOT a good look. The shirt is too loose-fitting and the relaxed fit is sloppy. Trust me, I don’t give a shit HOW big my ass is or how wide my hips are but I’ll size down for a great fit in a tee or knit shirt!

Yeah–the photo sucks but take a close look at the tee. It’s just too loose in the shoulders and too loose in the middle. This shirt IS a relaxed fit tee from Old Navy. I sized down to S and will only wear it with skinny jeans. At five bucks I couldn’t resist the “Cote d’ Azur” theme!

Another reason I’m not crazy about this skirt is the waistband. It’s very “bunchy”–and with middle-aged spread, I would not wear a shorter shirt to show this waistband off. Let’s be realistic here!

Below is another maxi skirt. I like this one a lot because the cut is narrow and the slits on the sides make it easy for brisk walking or running away from someone you don’t want to see! This skirt is from Old Navy and I am wearing it with one of my beloved ON Perfect Fitted Tee shirts in S/P. My Bass Denim jacket completes the look. I’ll tell you–denim jackets are NOT just for the younger crowd. Denim jackets + older women = One Great Look!

Old navy fitted t with maxi skirt fuzzy pic

Old Navy stripped maxi with fitted t and denim jacket

Two more out-of-focus pics! I’m going from bad to worse here! Click the pics for a full view. LOL! And Yes. I WILL steam this skirt before venturing outside. It’s been rolled up in a ball all winter! Oops–now you know what a true slob I am! The tag has been ripped out so I don’t have fabric info!

Again. Here’s how the fitted tee looks. It’s such a versatile look that can be worn casually or worn under a blazer for a more polished look. I cannot say enough about these Tees!

Last look is a Gap skirt I purchased last year on clearance for $9.99. The skirt was advertised as “maxi” but is really a cross between maxi and midi. I’m surprised at how much I love this skirt! It is 100% cotton! The knit is heavier and drapes very nicely. For a skirt with no stretch, this really keeps it’s shape. It is perfect for this time of year. I would not wear this skirt in the middle of summer due to the weight–but I would actually wear it in winter with high boots! I love the way it looks with my lighter-colored Kut from The Kloth denim jacket!

I’m wearing this with an Ann Taylor stripped boatneck knit top. 3/4 sleeves. The shirt is 60% cotton and 40% Modal. Here’s where trying clothing on before purchasing is important. This shirt is a Medium and is very snug. I’m also wearing Rondini sandals.

More stuff for the old ladies to know:

Don’t hesitate to play around when trying clothing on. I purchased the maxi dress below from Loft last year. I loved the dress but HATED the way the front looked on me…

For obvious reasons, this dress looked like shit on me. Saggy titties do not look pretty! But because I loved the print and the flow of the dress….

I turned it backwards and LOVED the way it looked. I wear this dress when Bonaparte and I go out to dinner during the hot summer months. It looks so much better worn backwards! Especially for us older women. The bustline is more flattering! You don’t even need to wear a bra either!

Shoes like these look great for maxi dressing!

All of these shoes look great with maxi dresses and skirts. Remember, Maxishort = flats. Maxilong = heels or wedges! From the purple flip flops: Purple flip flops from Old Navy; Gold and white slides, J. Crew; Navy Heels, Calvin Klein; Navy flip flops, Old Navy; Tan and blue slides, Jack Rogers; Dr. Scholl’s Exercise sandals; Rondini Sahariennes; Rondini Tropeziennes; Rondini Salome sandals; Espirt black wedge sandals; Crown Vintage wedge sandals.

Don’t forget the bags either. An unstructured bag is much better for this casual way of dressing. Save the structured and lady-like bags for the office or special occasions!

These are the bags I like to use with maxi dressing. All are unstructured and have plenty of room. The tote from Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn doubles as a purse all the time. It’s also a great vacation bag! The Longchamp Le Plaige bag is also a great vacation bag because it can double as a beach bag!

I would also like to add that every outfit was purchased on sale. As many older women are on fixed incomes, it’s important to point out that you do NOT have to spend a fortune to look good when you are older. We old ladies need to show the world that we can rock any look just as well, if not better, than younger women!

We older women are just like everyone else! Age has no limits!

We can have a relaxed vibe and can look great at 50, 60, 70, 80 and up to over a hundred years old! Don’t forget to mess the hair up a bit!

Here’s to all the older women of the world! Mrs. Robinson!

Posted in Ann Taylor Loft, Bass, Crown Vintage, Cynthia Rowley, Dressing for Mature Women, Fashion, J. Crew, Kooba, Lilly Pulitzer, Longchamp, Maxi Dresses for Women over 50, Nat & Nin, Old Navy, Over 50 Fashions, Rondini Sandals, Uncategorized | Tagged #Humor, Fashion, How to Dress On Trend for The Older Woman, Older Woman Fashion, Shit Old Ladies Do | 56 Comments

Bringing Fashion Back Where it Belongs

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Catherine

I am not a fashion blogger nor am I a beauty blogger. If I am passionate about an item of clothing or a beauty product that tickles my fancy, I will write about it. I write blog posts because it is fun and I love to connect with the small group of friends who follow and enjoy my blog. And I want to welcome others into my little blogging neighborhood. And I want to show the world that older adults are just like everybody else.

I write about random thoughts that may enter into my mind and elaborate upon that thought.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about fashion. I’ve also been thinking that we need to bring real fashion back.

From Stylecaster.com Spring Trend report. Part of the “best” trends. Excuse me. But these fashion trends are not refined nor are they elegant nor do they even look beautiful. I gather that the models aren’t too thrilled either because they look absolutely miserable in these ensembles.

From New York Fashion Week. It SHOULD be New York Fashion WEAK! J. Crew. Proof that Jenna Lyons needs to get the heave-ho. I’ve seen bag ladies who look more fashionable than this. The styling is horrific. There is nothing good about this look. It is not refined. It is not elegant. It isn’t cutting edge either. it is not fashion. It is a hot mess!

It seems as though fashion—especially writing about fashion has lost its way. Gone are the days of paragraphs and pages about designers and their craft. Instead we are left with blogs containing photographs of collages of clothing and links to the brands of clothing. Allowing the consumer to know where to make the purchase. No detailed descriptions. No fun or interesting stories.

This is my own Polyvore ensemble. I do NOT use these collages as blog posts. I use them as a fun way to put an outfit together. This mix isn’t fashion. It is merely a pragmatic and logical ensemble that I would wear while out and about on a very cold, rainy, damp day. I place these collages on Pinterest.

As a young girl, I looked forward to the Sunday edition of the New York Times because I would get to read about fashion in both the Style section and the Magazine. I loved looking at and studying the photographs. I loved the clothing. I loved the detailed description of each item of clothing. I enjoyed reading about every nuance of the clothes. I loved the story behind the clothes.

I loved this magazine and looked forward to afternoons reading about the latest fashions and the stories behind them!

Back then, I loved what fashion stood for. It represented chic elegance and refinement.

Four women. All dressed in Chanel circa early-1960’s. The suits are fashionable. But yet each woman has her own style of wearing her suit. Nothing over-the-top. Just simple elegance. Oh look. They’re smiling. I would be too if I could afford a Chanel suit! It’s also funny that they are posed in front of Alexander’s –what used to be a great clothing store with discounted pricing on the clothes!

Fashion was a statement and over the decades hemlines went up and down. Shoes went from ladylike to clunky. Fashionable attire went from structured to relaxed. Fashion has even been influenced by military uniforms.

This is one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s military uniforms. I snapped this at Invalides in Paris. MY Bonaparte loved the military history of the museum. I loved the uniforms. I would wear this today. THIS look has inspired many fashion designers over the years. BTW, I would also wear the hat!

Yves St. Laurent made an incredible statement with the pantsuit for women. He may not have created the pantsuit but he brought it into the public eye with a bang. This simple suit also changed forever the way women dressed for the office.

The pantsuit may have been around for quite some time before he made it a staple for women, but Yves St. Laurent popularized this look!

I love the nubby texture of a Chanel Jacket.

…and I want to read all about the fabrics and textures that go into these iconic jackets!

I love the smooth and simple lines of Andre Courrèges. And to think he made polyester fabric look great!

Who knew that polyester could be used as a fabric for beautiful clothing? Andre Courrèges remains my all time favorite designer (R.I.P.). His clothing is just the perfect example of simple and timeless fashion. I am lucky to own one of his ensembles!

Fashion is every step that goes into making an article of clothing. It isn’t only about the design. Fashion is about the draping of a fabric. It is about the texture of the fabric. It is the way the article of clothing, whether a dress, jacket or trousers lies against the body—how it fits. It is the cut and the construction and the quality. Fashion is about every. single. detail. of the clothes.

This incredible photo of a Dior ensemble tells it all without words. Look at the way the skirt swings. The hours of work that went into that must have been incredibly long. Look at the lines. It is such a simple suit even with the intricate trim on the collar and bottom hem of the jacket. THIS is fashion photography at it’s best! You can see the way the skirt drapes. You can see the texture of the fabric. You can see that perfect fit!

My favorite childhood fashion memory was the Mondrian dress by YSL. I wanted so badly to be grown up just so I could buy one of these dresses and wear it every day. (Even as a child I was delusional–as if I could afford a YSL designer dress!)

YSL’s Mondrian dresses were the part of my obsession with fashion at a young age. I also love the length of these dresses. How ironic that I’m not a fan of abstract art but am a fan of the dress!

Style is the way in which you put that fashion together. Many people today confuse fashion with style and vice versa.

Audrey Hepburn was not a fashion icon but was a style icon.

Scarf tied around her chin. Look at the neckline of the sweater she is wearing under the coat. See how simple it is? A beautiful attention to detail. The coat loosely tied. The gloves-oohhh those gloves. This is a timeless and classic way of styling and so simple!

Jane Birkin had an innocent and fun sense of style. Before the infamous Birkin Bag came to be, she carried around a basket as a purse and as much as it may have been a bit eccentric, it was every bit as charming. BTW, The Birkin Bag has a great story.

This outfit is proof that Jane Birkin was (and still remains) a master of style. This is an outfit that can be worn today. This ensemble is epic! Two thin gold chains and that basket. I love this so much!

Diana Vreeland was a true fashion visionary. She was exciting. She was not bland. She was not boring and she had a great joi d’vivre. She was also one terrific fashion writer.

Vreeland was a total fashion and style visionary. Her creativity is surely missed.

..and if you get the chance, try to catch “The Eye Has To Travel” it’s an entertaining documentary about Ms. Vreeland.

Anna Wintour is a visionary too. She has managed to turn the vision of Vogue from a true fashion magazine into a glossy celebrity rag. Over the years, I was becoming more dismayed with her use of celebrities on the magazine’s cover. My days of reading Vogue ended when she put Kardashian and West on the cover.

Vogue magazine–when it was worth reading. No celebrities on the cover. Great articles. Not a rag–just a great fashion magazine…

This was the issue that caused my final divorce from Vogue magazine. Putting Pee-Pee Kardashian and her trashy no-talented husband on the cover was the absolute end for me. This magazine has been reduced to The National Inquirer of the fashion trade!

Which brings me to fashion bloggers. I enjoy reading blogs about fashion. Fashion history, fashion designers, and new trends in fashion, classic fashion and reinventing fashion. However, blogs about REAL fashion are few and far between. Where are they to be found??? Please lead the way for me.

I’m tired of looking at the thousands upon thousands of fashion experts’ blogs (and I use the term “expert” lightly) who do nothing more than post photos of themselves in various overpriced ensembles that come directly off a store’s mannequin. I’m bored with looking at self-proclaimed experts whose idea of fashion means putting every imaginable pattern and stripe and color mixed together and think they are cutting edge.

Two different blogs. The same mismatched look…. although I will admit the bottom look is slightly better due to the fit of the clothing. The gold bag in the top photo looks like it came from a cheap street vendor.

This look still is not cohesive. If you are mixing patterns and stripes and animal prints you need something that ties it all together….

Understand the clothing you are advertising wearing. You may not realize this, but some readers are interested in the clothing. They are not interested in your cute poses such as bending down to sniff roses or hailing a cab on the wrong side of the street!

..and if I see one more pair of pink Hunter boots–or ANY Hunter boots worn as every day footwear, I shall scream. These boots are NOT a fashion statement. They are rain boots and should only be worn in the rain. In addition, I’ve seen at least a dozen different blogs with this same outfit. The bag is another issue onto itself. Leave the structured bags for the office. A softer less constructed leather bag or a canvas tote would be more appropriate for this photograph of clothing.

I have nothing against fashion blogs or fashion bloggers. But, I want to read about the details of the clothing you are wearing. I am nosey. Give me the scoop on the construction. Are the seams in the dress French seams? Is the knit bonded? If the fabric is a print how does it match up at the seams? Are the buttons secured? Is the collar reinforced? How’s the quality of the workmanship? Is the clothing well-constructed? Where is the clothing made? Where does the waist fall? Is the zipper of good quality? Is it lined? If it is a particular brand you shill write about—is the sizing consistent?

Can you tell me if the seams are French seams? Do you know what a French seam is?

Is this too much to ask?

If you want another very educational and informative documentary on fashion and what goes into it, by all means, watch “Dior and I’. It chronicles the steps in making a collection.

Hands down–THE best fashion documentary ever. It follows the entire process of clothing for the runway. I have to hand it to Raf Simons and his absolute love for haute couture. I wish he was still at Dior. He wanted to bring that elegance back! I’m going to watch it again after I finish writing this post!

Simons brought this Dior look back. That’s Marion Cotillard on the right! THAT’s fashion!

I am now making a promise to anyone who reads my blog. Moving forward, whenever I write about clothing, I vow to give you as much detail as I possibly can. I will turn those clothes inside out and upside down and learn about every aspect. It’s the least I can do for you. I tried to describe this trench the best that I could in “Drenched and Entrenched” but will continue to improve.

That’s my rant for today. Bonaparte has been vocalizing his big wish that I organize my closet. Why is it that closets are so hard to keep in order? I’m off see if there are any hidden treasures in those dark deep corners!

While I realize this post is about fashion, I have to play some music close to my roots. Here’s a set dance that Oona used to dance to played by the great feis musician Billy Furlong from his CD Strings for the Sets. Presenting, “King of the Fairies”. And I still listen to this CD every now and then!

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to You! XOXOXO!

Oona from her Irish Dance days. I love the fashion of the Irish Dance Costume. This one is my favorite!

Posted in Audrey Hepburn style, Blogging about fashion, Bringing back fashion, Channel, Classic Clothing, Dior, Fashion, Fashion writing, Irish Dance Music. Billy Furlong, J. Crew, Jane Birkin style, Vogue, Yves St. Laurent | 42 Comments

Eternal Sunshine Of The Old Shoes Mind!

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Catherine

Go ahead. Admit it. You have a pair or two of favorite shoes that have been sitting in your closet for years. Decades maybe. They may sit in a box or they may be hidden under piles of old clothing. They could be stored in your garage on a shelf and long forgotten. The leather upper could be split at the seams and stitching could be undone. The sole could be separating from that beautiful, soft cowhide. The heels could be completely worn down on one side. They could very well be falling apart. But you just cannot let go. Or, if you are like me, you still wear them. A lot.

Oona’s old jig shoes. They are worn, torn, taped together. They’ve been resoled, stretched out. She’s lost competitions and won competitions in these shoes. And they are in a box in our garage. I just cannot bring myself to get rid of them!

These are the “Eternal Sunshine” shoes! I know—the movie with almost the same title is about forgetting. Or is it? It’s the same with old shoes. Sometimes you might want to forget those clunky old disco era shoes that you wore while clubbing and erase them from your mind. Or maybe not.

One of my favorite movies of all time. Kate Winslet’s boots aren’t looking too worn in now, are they?

You may have worn these shoes through breakups and first meetings with a special person in your life. You could have possibly worn them while taking your first-born child on long walks. You wore them during the summer. And fall. And winter. And spring. Perhaps you never wore socks with them, giving your feet and chance to meet, greet, and become best friends with the leather or other material. You had quite a bit of fun in them while running through puddles of rain water. You slipped them on early in the morning to retrieve your newspaper from the edge of the driveway while dressed in your PJ’s and that tattered old robe. You wore them to picnics. You wore them to the grocery store. You wore them well!

For you, it may be a pair of dress shoes. Or baseball or soccer cleats.

..and also in the bowels of our garage are old baseball cleats along with baseball gloves.

Or a pair of fuck me pumps that bring you back to a carnal place of your memory.

Hmmmm…shoes like this can bring back very naughty but fun memories. A true walk of shame shoe!

Or well worn, well torn, ragged laced sneakers.

Whew. I can smell the stink from old sneakers like the one above. Can you?

It just that shoe. The shoe that has been perfectly molded to the curves and bumps in your feet. And it took years for that fit to develop.

For me, it’s an old 20+ year pair of Bass loafers. It is also the first pair of Rondini sandals I purchased many years ago during my first visit to St. Tropez. My closet houses many, many pairs of shoes, but these are the pairs of footwear that I absolutely love and emotionally need. I don’t ever want these two pairs to be forgotten. They are my “Eternal Sunshine” shoes.

It’s funny. As much as I love the way my feet look whenever I am wearing a pair of pointy-toed stilettos or kitten heels—both of which bear beautiful toe cleavage, I am most comfortable and feel most like me when I am wearing either pair of these old and almost misshapen shoes. Let me explain.

My well worn in 20+ year Bass loafers. I’m so happy because I just last week got them back from being repaired!

The loafers. I’ve been wearing loafers ever since I was a student attending St. Patrick’s Elementary School. Our choices of footwear during these years were limited to either loafers or oxford shoes to accompany the plaid skirts, green blazers and white blouses that completed our uniform. For my mother, it was easier to have five children slipping loafers on their feet rather than to spend time tying and untying oxfords. My parents should have purchased stock in Bass Shoe Company.

Yeah. And 1965 was around the time I started wearing these Weejuns. And so did my siblings. And my classmates. And my friends!

As I made the transition to high school, the “uniform” look followed me. The Weejuns still remained essential footwear. Between my sisters and me, we amassed quite the collection of these cordovan colored beauties. It wasn’t just about the penny loafers. Oh no. We had Weejuns with metal bars placed across the shoe’s upper vamp.

Aren’t they beautiful. I had this model when I was in high school. I wish Bass would bring vintage Weejuns back into circulation!

We owned that rare model of Weejun which was adorned with a colorful ribbon over the kilted fringe of the vamp. We wore Weejuns adorned with tassles. As sisters oftentimes do, we even fought over these shoes.

And the tasseled version is a shoe I wear to this day. These are my go-to shoes. I slide them on as I take Chippy outside to do his business.

See how beautifully molded these loafers are to my feet? Ahhhh such comfort!

They are the last item to dress me when I’m on my way to an errand run. I love the way it feels when I’m sitting with one knee draped over the other and my shoe is half-on, half-off and I dangle my loafer off my toes and swing it from side to side. That little action has a calming effect on me.

The loafer is a great shoe to just dangle off your toes. It’s a feeling of calm!

Sometimes I look down at my tasseled buddies and think “whatever happened to the cordovan”? I rarely see shoes in this richly colored burgundy leather anymore. Hmmm. Silly. Right? But I can’t help it. I want to return to the richness of a good pair of shoes—that’s all.

Really. When did cordovan lose popularity? These are my “newer” loafers. They are about nine years old and need more breaking in!

Then there’s my Sahariennes. These hold a special place for me because they are the first sandals I ever purchased at Rondini in St. Tropez. Over the years, I’ve added to my collection but this pair is the one that started my love for Rondini’s custom made sandals.

The first of my collection of Rondini sandals. Simple, elegant, timeless and incredibly comfortable!

There is a feeling of luxury and elegance as I slide my narrow foot into the leather thongs. And when I slip them onto my feet, I am taken back to each time I enter into Rondini’s small and charming shop. I feel like Cinderella as my foot is measured and the sandal so carefully cut and created to fit just me and only me.

This is my “have-to-get-here” stop when in St. Tropez.

And over the years, the leather takes on a certain worn sheen and the color darkens slightly—almost like a chameleon that has the ability to change its color. These sandals have the markings and the image of me imbedded into their left and right soul, giving them their own personal history.

Look at the sheen on the inner sole. Look closely and you can see the darkened leather where my toes fit. The straps kind of face inward–just the way I stand. I love these sandals so much!

These two pairs of shoes are the shoes, that if I was stranded on a remote desert island, would be with me. They will never be thrown in the trash. They will never be donated to Goodwill. I will selfishly keep them with me wherever I may go.

See my loafers and sandals? I keep them in the little straw boxes under the hook and bench in the entry of our home. This way, they are always waiting for me when I am ready to go outside! They are my eternal sunshine of shoes!

Do you have Eternal Sunshine shoes? If you do, I would love to hear about how you love them and the memories that they give you. It would be fun!

There is a song that goes so well with today’s post. It is from the movie “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”. One of my favorite childhood movies. And in it, Shirley Temple, who plays Rebecca, sings of and old straw hat, a pair of overalls and “A Worn Out Pair Of Shoes”! Enjoy the day! XOXOXOXO

Posted in Bass Weejuns, Cleats, Footwear Memories, French summer footwear, Irish Dance Shoes, Loafers, Preppy Shoes, Rondini, Sandals, St. Tropez, Worn out shoes | Tagged Eternal Sunshine Shoes, Shoes for life, The importance of old shoes | 24 Comments

Done With Baking and Cooking My Face. Happy to Say, I’m Medium Rare!

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Catherine

Three days later, I’m still traumatized from the after effects of baking my face. In fact, I’ve established a new medical term “BTSD” Baked Traumatic Stress Disorder. Don’t judge. It isn’t the only disorder I’ve gone through. I have a long list—OK?

Coming to terms with the thick paste of cosmetics bringing my deep ravine of wrinkles to the surface, it was difficult to focus on anything else but me. (Now that’s a real surprise-but then it’s always about me!)

Then, on Friday, I received a phone call. The call was from a sales assistant at Ulta Cosmetics. She called to remind me about a makeover that I was scheduled to have. The makeover was to take place Saturday, yesterday, at noon. Mally Beauty was having an event and Mally Roncal, the creator and makeup artist supreme, was going to be there in person.

This is the event I signed up for–and was so traumatized by overcooking my face, I almost didn’t show up!

Previous to my infamous face baking, I had signed up to be made over during this event. Under normal circumstances, I despise in-store makeovers. I’ve never, ever, walked away from one of those makeovers without looking like a circus clown, or an oxidized Jackie-O-Lantern version of myself, or being pressured into purchasing every piece of shit that was slopped onto my face. In addition, the contracted makeup artists do not give a damn about what your beauty needs, concerns, or preferences are. They are there for a sale. Period. End of story.

Another reason for showing up is that I was gifted with this bag when I signed up to receive a makeover. I would feel bad after receiving this and not showing up. This’ll make another great shopping tote!

In all honestly, I was going to brush this little makeover event off. And it wasn’t until the last minute that I decided to attend. First of all, I needed to get out of the house. Secondly, I am intrigued by Mally Roncal. I’ve seen her on QVC. Although I’ve never purchased any of her cosmetics, I’ve always enjoyed watching her. She is just so goddam adorable and enthusiastic and passionate. Her smile is irresistible and she just seems—well, she seems likeable and truly kind!

I also figured that any makeover couldn’t possibly make me look as bad as baking did.

Ulta was a mob scene when I arrived. It was rock concert mobbed. And what I found of great interest was the age range of women. There were many young girls there with their mothers. There were college girls and professional women. But what I found incredibly encouraging was that there were women that were in their fifties and up to their seventies at the event. I also noticed that the makeup artists were seemingly enjoying themselves and engaging with their customers. From the corner of my eye, I noticed one artist who was incredibly animated. He was smiling and laughing and was doing a damn good job on the woman he was making over. I crossed my fingers and then crossed my eyes a bit more in hopes that I would get him to do my makeup.

When my name was called and I was escorted through the crowd, I was still hoping. I couldn’t believe it. I was led to the artist I wished for. Adrian introduced himself to me with a smile and we immediately clicked. I explained to him that, in my efforts to have skin like my beauty icons, Pandora Boxx and Miss Richfield 1981, I baked my face. I also explained that I was overdone and that any desert on earth was more hydrated than my face was. I told him that I was going to be 61 years old next month and I felt that I looked more like 161 years old.

Adrian and I clicked when I told him my beauty icons were Miss Richfield 1981 and the beautiful Pandora Boxx, above. Like Pandy, I needed a little something something too!

Adrian was so kind! He told me that I did not look 161 years old and he also told me that I should never bake and baking was not for an everyday look. He proceeded to work some very cool magic on my face.

Adrian opted for a BB cream foundation for me and did so with a light hand and light brush.

He applied Mally’s Face Defender BB Cream Foundation in Light. BTW, I’m adding the links to the products so you can click to get a better description. I want you to click because these products are GREAT for “mature” skin! *wink*!

He did my brows. Now—I have to tell you, my brows are a bone of contention between Bonaparte and me. I’ll admit, I have a tendency to get a bit heavy-handed but I’m trying to capture the essence of what my brows once were before menopause thinned them out in an unattractive way. I use a black shadow or sometimes a gel to brush in a heavier brow look. It can come off as harsh, but I like to think it looks better than the “no brow” look.

Left, 24/7 Brow Express in Sable. I KNOW–it looks light but it is a true taupe. On the right is a gift with the purchase. A brow gel to set the pencil.

The other end of the 24/7 Brow Express houses a brow powder to further fill the brows in. This is a great product. I’m glad I made the purchase.

When Adrian handed me the mirror after doing my brows, I was shocked! Seriously shocked. The brows that looked back at me from the shiny metallic looking glass were not black, but a brownish taupe. Not orange/brown, but a true neutral. My brows were not thick nor were they pencil thin. They were brows that even Goldilocks would have chosen. They were just right. They looked beautiful!

Left. The eye that Adrian did. See how natural the brow is? He also applied from the Mally Nude Attitude Shadow Palette “Cafe Au Lait” as an all over color and Chestnut on my lids. Right eye. I duped this today. I need a bit more practice with the brow–I need a lighter hand but I kept it thinner than usual. I used my Stila In The Know Palette’s “driftwood” shadow on my lid and Wet ‘n Wild’s “Brulee” as an all over color. I’m sorry there is no link for the Stila palette but it is no longer sold. I’m so angry at myself for not purchasing the Nude Attitude palette because it is sold out at Ulta. Dumb move on my part for not making the purchase! What do you think though? Did I do a decent job duplicating Adrian’s look?

Next he applied shadow on my lids just up to the crease. He chose a dark but cool hued brown. I asked him why he chose that particular brown and he said that my eyes had flecks of green and the brown would work to bring out the green. (He was correct, my eyes are Hazel).

See the green mixed in with the brown? My eyes are true Hazel–but are a darker Hazel.

He smudged a bit of the color as liner on the bottom then went with black eyeliner which he smudged. He applied a cream highlighter as well—both under my eyes and under the brows.

This under eye brightener certainly does have an appropriate name–Perfect Prep! It may look like mustard, but it does a great job of brightening and getting rid of that blueish tint under the eyes!

He explained what he was doing as he applied each product and why he chose to do so. He asked me what kind of lip color I preferred. I told him that I usually went with a neutral but I wouldn’t mind a bright pink.

Left is Mally’s H3 Lipstick in Flush. It goes on a more bright but pretty pink. It glides on smoothly and has excellent lasting power. On the right is the High Shine Liquid Lipstick in Must Have Pink. It is nice and shiny and gives the lips a bit of a plumbing up. And that plumbing is just what 60+ lips need to look younger!

Adrian picked out the perfect pink lipstick and went over it with a shiny gloss. Just the way I like to apply lip color. Gloss over lipstick. His last steps were taking a bit of the lipstick to use as blush, a bit more highlighter and he completed the job!

When he handed the mirror to me for final approval, I was so awestruck that I dropped it. Yeah. Thank God the mirror didn’t break—I’ve had enough bad luck to last a lifetime. OK? But I just could not believe the me that was looking back at me!! I wasn’t overcooked! I was medium rare!!!!! The dewy layer of BB cream foundation was lighter than a regular liquid or stick foundation. The brows were perfect. My face had a healthy pink glow and I looked hydrated! I swear I looked 20 years younger. OK maybe not 20 years but Adrian did manage to take a few years off my face with a light hand and age-friendly cosmetics.

Yo! Adrian!!!! Didn’t he do a fantastic job??? I wish he could do my makeup all the time! I’m so happy with the job he did. He’s such a sweetie pie!!!

I didn’t get to meet Mally but I did see her from afar with her mega-watt smile and very pretty floral dress. She looked like an ethereal sprite. But I was fortunate because I had Adrian!!

It’s ok Mally! I’m not upset that you didn’t run over to me so we could tawk. I mean, we’re both born New Yorkers–but I realize you were way, way busy. And you look so adorable in real life. I wanted to run up to you and pinch you but I would have gotten arrested!

And when Adrian was done with me, he didn’t give me the hard sell. We discussed what I could use and I made a few purchases. The brow products, the lip products and the little pot of yellow highlighting concealer.

I don’t know if Mally Roncal is aware that her products are incredibly “old lady” “mature woman” friendly, but they, along with the fabulous Adrian, made this old lady extremely happy. And when I arrived home, Bonaparte was in awe of my brows! Actually, he mentioned that my face looked beautiful! So thank you, Adrian. Thank you for giving me my groove back. And thank you Mally, thank you for a cosmetics line that truly is mature woman friendly!

I tried to channel my inner Adrian as much as I could with my new products. The lips, eyes, and brows do look great. And I don’t look over cooked or over baked! LOOK!! I’M MEDIUM RARE!! Nice and Pink!

Speaking of baking, I noticed that I had a couple of packets of yeast that were coming close to the expiration date. Too lazy to look up a recipe for a quick bread, I created my own. Here’s what I did:

I emptied the contents of the 2 yeast packages into a cup of hot water from the tap. I let them sit while I measured 4 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour into the bowl of my kitchen aid stand mixer. I then added 2 Tablespoons of Kosher Salt to the flour and mixed these dry ingredients with my dough hook just to blend the salt with the flour. I then added two cups of warm tap water to the flour and salt and turned the mixer on to low just to get the flour/salt moistened and then added the yeast in the one cup of water to the mix. I turned the speed to medium high, set the timer for 7 minutes and sat down to a game of Soda Crush.

After 7 minutes were up, I turned the dough onto a floured surface, did a few kneads and turned the ends of the dough under. I placed the dough in a bowl that I thinly coated with grapeseed oil. I loosely placed plastic wrap over the bowl, covered with a kitchen towel and placed in a warm area of the kitchen (in this case it was the microwave) and let the dough rise for two hours. After two hours, the dough rose quite a bit, I punched the dough down and set it in a corner for another hour to rise again.

The hour over, I turned the dough onto a floured surface, divided the dough into two parts. With one part of the dough, I formed it into a rounded rectangle and cut three slits into the top. I baked in a 375 oven for 50 minutes. The end result was a lightly crusted loaf with a nicely chewy inside. I divided the other part into 6 separate parts and formed them into balls. I placed them into a 375 oven for 30 minutes and had some nice dinner rolls.

My “I’m-Too-Lazy-To-Read-A-Recipe” dinner rolls. They turned out great!

A rustic loaf of bread from the same recipe–which also turned out great. I shall stick to THIS type of baking from now on!

That’s the kind of baking I’ll stick to from now on! Beautiful me. Beautiful bread! (Sorry for the hypocrisy but I went full-on gluten this weekend!)

Christina Aguilera “Beautiful”. A beautiful song written by the beautiful and talented Linda Perry. I thought this would be a great song because we are all beautiful! XOXOXOXOXO!

Posted in Baby Boomer Humor, Baking Bread, Beauty for Baby Boomers, Beauty for Older Women, makeup, Makeup for Older Women, Mally Cosmetics, Mally Roncal, Ulta | Tagged #Humor, Beauty for Older Women, Humor about Aging, It's all about a great makeup artist, Makeover for the 50+ woman | 27 Comments

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