Author

Cathy Lawdanski

Picture of Lucy, a woman's comfort walking shoe by Kuru in dusk blue

Cute and Comfortable Shoes for Travel | A Review of Lucy By Kuru

I am so excited to be partnering with Kuru Footwear this week to introduce you to the Lucy . We are preparing for our vacation to Maine next week, which means I need some cute and comfortable shoes for travel!

This post was sponsored by Kuru Footwear. All opinions are my own.

Yes, you read that right! I want cute AND comfortable. Lucy meets the criteria on both counts.

Aren’t these so cute? And Lucy comes in three colors. I chose the Dusk Blue and I think it looks great with shorts. I usually wear and 8WW but just a regular 8 in this shoe fits great.

Here’s what makes Lucy so comfortable:

The KuruSole which hugs your feet and keeps the shoe in place – no sliding up and down on the heel!
EVA midsole to provide cushioning and shock absorption – just like a lot of sneakers have.
Breathable mesh toe box that keeps your feet cool all day.
Slip-on style – easy on and off which is great for going through the TSA screening. Or just when you need to slip on some shoes to run out to the mailbox.

I’ve already put these to the test with a day of shopping and they passed with flying colors. They fit perfectly right out of the box. No need to “break them in”.

I was introduced to Kuru Footwear last year when I needed some shoes to wear around the house to get some relief from plantar fasciitis. One of the great things about Kuru’s website is that you can shop both men and women’s shoes by your particular need. Here are a few categories:

Plantar Fasciitis
Heal Pain
Arch Support
Broad Toebox
Walking
Standing
Nursing/Healthcare
Slip Resistant

In the past, if I had seen a list like this and not known about Kuru Footwear, I would have assumed that these were “clunky, old people’s shoes”. Not anything stylish that I would wear! Not so! Kuru Footwear has so many great styles to choose from. I am loving their Letti & Suomi Sandals!

Kuru Footwear is an online retailer. Does online shopping make you a little hesitant? Well, online shopping with Kuru Footwear is virtually risk-free. Kuru offers free shipping on all domestic orders AND returns! Their exchange and return policy is absolutely NO HASSLE!

Give Kuru Footwear a try! It’s the best investment on a pair of shoes I’ve ever made!

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July 10, 2018 17 comments

Travel

Ship Sponsored or Independent Shore Excursions | Which One Is Right for You?

One of the most exciting parts of any cruise is getting off the ship at the various ports and going on a shore excursion. I remember when I took my first cruise. I started reading about all the fun and exciting ship sponsored shore excursions. But there are other types of shore excursions besides what the cruise line offers. So here’s the question: Ship Sponsored or Independent Shore Excursions | Which One Is Right For You?

Ship Sponsored Shore Excursions

The most convenient way to book a shore excursion is through your cruise line. Other reasons to book through your cruise line are:

The excursions are carefully vetted and validated for quality and reliability. From their experience with thousands of passengers, cruise lines offer excursions that they know their passengers will enjoy.
You can apply any onboard credits you have toward the cost.
The ship guarantees to wait for you, even if your tour is delayed and you are late getting back to the ship.

Here are two tours we booked through our cruise line on when we went on an Alaskan cruise. Both were excellent and worth the cost.

White Pass and Yukon Route Railway Tour

5 Reasons to See Beautiful Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC

Shore Excursions With Independent Providers

Did you know that you can book a shore excursion in advance through an independent provider? #shoreexcursion #cruise Click To Tweet

Did you know that you could book a shore excursion in advance with an independent provider through sites like Shorefox and Viator? Here are some reasons to consider booking through an independent provider:

They have different types of tours that may not be available through the cruise line.
Sometimes they offer the same tours as the cruise line but for less money.
Their tours often have fewer people than those offered through the cruise line.
You can read detailed reviews and see photographs from travelers who have taken these excursions.
You can find providers who guarantee that you’ll get back to the ship on time OR they will pay for you to get to the next port to get back on the ship.

Going on an Alaskan Cruise? Get my Ultimate Packing List Here

Shore Excursions With Private Guides

Private Guides take individuals or small groups around to the main sites and are able to tailor your tour toward your interests.
Choose guides with some type of accreditation through the local tourism board or tour guide association.
Book in advance rather than negotiating with someone who comes up to you when you get off the ship.
Do your research. Go on message boards on sites like CruiseCritic.com where you can ask for recommendations on guides from experienced cruisers.
You can also research private guides by contacting the local tourist office in the city where you’ll be touring.

Hop-on Hop-Off Bus Shore Excursion

Many ports have a bus line like this operated by operators like City Sightseeing or Big Bus Tours that are reliable, have quality information and good prices.

You can usually purchase tickets and get on near where you disembark the ship.
With these tours, you’ll get a map of the city, transportation to key sites and recorded commentary.
You can get off at the sites you want to see and get back on to go to the next destination. These buses run on a frequent schedule, so you don’t have to worry about long waits for transportation.

Self Touring Shore Excursions

You can have a custom tour experience without spending a lot of money by doing a self-tour. I’ve done two of these on our Alaskan Cruise with great success:

4 Fun Things To Do In Ketchikan

Juneau, Alaska Shore Excursion

If you decide to go the self-tour route, research your destination to find the must-see sites and the most cost-effective way to get there.
Read advice on cruise forums and cruise travel reviews to get the best information on your destination.

With so many options, take the time to look into each one. You’ll certainly find the best shore excursion at each port for you!

You might also like:

Packing for An Alaskan Cruise

The Cruise Beverage Package | Is It Worth It?

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July 3, 2018 2 comments

Travel

11 Fabulous Things To Do In Charleston

Every year I take a trip with my girlfriends. This year it was my turn to choose the location, so I picked Charleston, SC. We went in early May and the weather was fabulous – sunny and in the 70’s. Here are 11 Fabulous Things To Do In Charleston.

Street in Charleston. Building with Red door surrounded by baskets of flowers

Photo by Meredyth DeBoer

Rent a House at the Beach

After we picked Charleston, we needed to find a place to stay, which wasn’t easy. Charleston is not a LARGE city by megacity standards. Places within Charleston proper are expensive. And we didn’t find out until we arrived that we were there on a major college graduation weekend, so I’m sure that contributed to the accommodation scarcity and prices!

When we travel together, we like to have our own bedrooms, so we often look for a house to accommodate us house on VRBO. I found a cute little 4 bedroom beach cottage outside of Charleston at Folley Beach, complete with a screened in porch that got a nice breeze. We enjoyed our coffee and the scent of magnolias on the porch every morning. The location was great. It was a 20-minute drive to all the places we wanted to see in Charleston.

Take a Carriage Tour

We started our first day in Charleston with a carriage tour around the city taking in all the historic sites. Doing this first allowed us to get our bearings so that we knew how to get around and see some of the other places we wanted to go.

Since a carriage tour ride is the quintessential touristy thing to do in Charleston, there are numerous carriage tour companies to choose from. We booked ours through Classic Carriage Works.

We booked an early in the day tour in advance, but we could have easily waited to book the tour when we arrived. Although we would not have had our choice of times, we probably would have been able to get on one within an hour. One advantage of going on one of the early tours is that you have a better chance of finding a place to park your car for the day since downtown parking is VERY LIMITED.

There are several types of tours you can choose from, depending on your interests. We took the Charleston History Tour. There is also a Civil War Tour or Slavery to Freedom Tour. Private tours and adults-only tours are also offered.

We had a super fun (and handsome) tour guide who gave us an hour tour through the historic district where we saw lots of homes (including Patricia’s from Southern Charm) and historic churches. Did you know that Charleston is often referred to as the “Holy City” because of all the majestic steeples and spires you can see as you drive through town?

Photo by Harriet Hollingshead

After our tour, we took a short walk over to the Charleston City Market, which is a historic open-air market where slaves used to take their wares to sell. In addition to touristy things, they have crafty and handmade items, a great lemonade stand and clean restrooms.

Have Brunch at Poogan’s Porch

Next on the list was brunch at Poogan’s Porch! OMG, was that wonderful! I had the BEST Bloody Mary made with Dixie Black Pepper Vodka, Charleston Mix & pickled okra, followed by an appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes with Peach and Blueberry Chutney and a main course of Shrimp & Grits. You don’t get much more Southern than that.

And lest I forget the biscuits….

Other favorites: Pogan’s Salty Dog, Pulled Pork Benedict & French Toast.

Restaurant Tip: Many of the most popular restaurants in the city are open daily for brunch. Great option if you can’t get a dinner reservation or just want to go to brunch.

Go Shopping on King Street

We spent the afternoon on King Street – a LONG street for shopping. One end has unique high-end boutiques, antique stores, and art galleries. The other end has more of the luxury retailers you’d see at home.

Visit the Cemetery at the Unitarian Church of Charleston

Photo by Meredyth DeBoer

The cemetery at the 2nd oldest church in Charleston is a beautiful spot with gravestones dating back to the 1700’s. The pathways are maintainted for visitors, but the plots and grave markers have been given over to nature. Vines, shrubs, and trees grow among, around and through the cemetery. Ghost Tours of Charleston even offers a tour of the cemetery at night!

Rainbow Row

A street with beautiful homes in a rainbow of colors. One of the prettiest streets in Charleston.

Photo by Meredyth DeBoer

Charleston Tea Plantation

The Charleston Tea Plantation is not a plantation in the “Gone With the Wind” sense, but an actual working plantation where they grow tea. In fact, it’s the only place in the US where tea is grown.

The plantation is picturesque with huge trees and a nice picnic area. They have a large gift shop with many different varieties of hot and cold tea to sample. If you are interested in how tea is cultivated, take the 45-minute trolley tour. We had a delightful tour guide and the tour was most informative. If your time is limited and you are not SUPER INTERESTED in tea, I would skip this.

Middleton Place

Middleton Place is the home of the oldest landscaped gardens in America. When you visit, you will see 65 acres of formal landscaped gardens, and get a look at 18th and 19th-century plantation life with costumed craftspeople and historic animal breeds in the plantation stableyards.

When I heard about the gardens, I thought of flowers. There aren’t many flowers, but it is a gorgeous place with big trees, ponds, creeks and sculpted bushes. There is so much to see and do, I wish we had started our day there.

We enjoyed walking through the gardens:

Seeing the animals:

And the authentic look of plantation life they offered:

Man splitting wood in 18th century costume

Photo by Meredyth DeBoer

If you go to Middleton Place, make it the first stop of your day. There is so much more to see and do there than we were able to do, including a tour of the original house.

Dinner at Wild Olive Cucina Italiana, Johns Island

Dinner at this lovely farm to table restaurant features house-made pasta and dishes made with primarily locally sourced food. Pasta and seafood are outstanding!

Breakfast or Lunch at Lost Dog Café, Folly Beach

A little breakfast and lunch place off the beaten path featuring all your breakfast and lunch favorites – bagels, biscuits & gravy, eggs benedict, sandwiches, salads, and wraps. My favorite – Blackened Salmon BLT Wrap with grilled blacked salmon, fried green tomatoes, crumbled bacon, romaine, and Cajun mayo. This wrap is HUGE. You could definitely split this with someone.

Dinner at The Fat Hen, Johns Island

Authentic French Cuisine in a casual, family atmosphere. Delicious steaks, seafood, Southern fare. Get the Flounder Nicoise and don’t’ miss out on the Bacon Cheese Grits.

We had such a wonderful time in Charleston. I wish we had had more time. Put this on your list of the best girl’s trip destinations!

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June 10, 2018 3 comments

Travel

The Cruise Beverage Package | Is It Worth It?

When you put down a substantial chunk of change for a cruise, you may be surprised to find out that although it’s all-inclusive, the one thing it doesn’t include is beverages – other than your basic tap water, coffee and tea. You incur additional charges for any alcohol, bottled water, soft drinks, fruity frozen mocktails or specialty coffees you consume. So should you purchase a Cruise Beverage Package?

Should you purchase a beverage package when you go on a cruise? #cruise #AlaskanCruise #CaribbeanCruise Click To Tweet

When you first start researching your Cruise Beverage Package and see the PRICE PER DAY PER PERSON you may say NO WAY! I’ll just pay as I go. There is NO WAY I will drink that much. And that may be true.

But before you decide, take a look at the average price per beverage when you purchase them a la carte:

Glass of wine $9-10
Cocktail – $12-17
Bottled Water – $4
Specialty Coffee – $5-7
Soda – $4-5
Beer – $6-10

Then see if any of these scenarios apply to you:

You don’t want a steep and unknown beverage charge at the end of your cruise. If you are on a budget, purchasing a drink package “up front” will save you an unexpected bill at the end of your cruise.
You drink bottled water. Or you may want to take bottled water with you when you leave the ship for a shore excursion. Think you’ll save money & just pick up a bottled water at the 7-11 as you walk off the ship? There is not a 7-11 when you get off the ship. And for some shore excursions, you may want to have a bottle of water with you.
You enjoy coffee shop style beverages. If you like these specialty coffee drinks in the morning, as an afternoon pick-me-up or after dinner, you can really run up a bill. Think the price of a Starbucks each time you get one. And since you will likely pass their Starbucks like coffee bar several times a day, you’ll be drinking more of them than when you are at home. Why? Because you are on vacation!
You drink soda or juice. Or you are traveling with kids who will be ordering a soda everywhere they go on the ship.
You enjoy a mocktail or a fruity frozen concoction. There’s something about being on a cruise that just makes it impossible to resist these fun drinks.
You enjoy beer, wine or a cocktail.

Before you decide NOT to purchase the Cruise Beverage Package, add up the cost per drink per person per day and see what your estimated cost will be. Even if your number is under the price but close, get the beverage package. You will be drinking more of whatever it is you drink on a cruise. The average number of beverages is 6-7 per day on sea days. Less on the days you are on shore excursions.

Get My Alaskan Cruise Packing List Here!

What to look for before purchasing a beverage package:

Look at the choices. Some cruise lines make it easy and give you just 3 choices:

A package that includes all types of beverages that aren’t included with your cruise price.
A soda package
A coffee package

Some even offer additional packages:

Wine & Beer only

And then some really break it down to the brand of liquor you prefer. Are you someone that absolutely has to have a certain brand of liquor in your drink? Then look for the package (if offered) where that brand is included.

Purchasing a wine or beer package? Is that by the glass or by the bottle? Is that the house chardonnay? What type of beer is included – domestic or imported?

Are you a Pepsi drinker but only Coca-Cola products are served on the ship? If they don’t have the soda you drink, no point in buying a soda package.

For cocktails, drinks up to a certain price point are the only ones included. For example, your package includes drinks that cost up to $10. But you want to order a drink that costs $11. You will not be allowed to pay the $1 difference. The entire $11 will be billed to your cabin if you order your drink.

Have a different drinking style than your cabin mate? Some cruise lines require cabin mates to purchase the same beverage package. If you and your cabin mate have different drinking preferences, this may not work.

Ask your cruise line to answer specific questions about the price per drink and what brands are included in each package. It may not be on their website but you can call and ask.

Want to know all the details including what’s in the “fine print” for each cruise line’s beverage packages? See Cruise Critic’s post: Bottoms Up! A Guide to Cruise Lines All-You-Can-Drink Packages.

Cruise Critic also has a great forum for asking questions answered by experienced cruisers.

Wondering what to pack for your Alaskan Cruise? Get my packing list here!

You might also like:

Packing for An Alaskan Cruise

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June 6, 2018 3 comments

The 2 favorite Christmas gifts I bought for others, favorite jeans and necklace, great books to read and shows to watch on Netflix

Midlife Women

This & That #4

It’s time for This & That – a post that I do every once in a while to catch you up on what’s been going on behind the scenes at My Side of 50. This one is all about the month of May, which has been jam-packed with lots of fun stuff!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The big news in our family is that daughter Amy is back in the workforce after several years as a stay-at-home mom. She has a job she loves with a reasonable commute and we couldn’t be more thrilled for her!

Momma going back to work means that 4-year-old Maddie has started pre-school and that Gaga fills in for Mom sometimes!

This is Maddie and me at the Mother’s Day Tea at her school. Such a special time together!

And this spring has been all about baseball. Little League baseball that is! Since we raised two girls, the all-consuming sport of baseball is new to us.

Parker’s team won their division, complete with rings – just like the World Series! Aren’t those boys so cute? He was also chosen to play on an All-Star Team. And summer league starts in few weeks. Looks like our summer will be filled with baseball!

Earlier in the month, I went on a Girl’s Trip with my best friends and travel buddies to Charleston, SC. We stayed in a beach cottage outside of Charleston in Folly Beach. The house was so cute. The weather was absolutely perfect. And we had the most marvelous time. Posts coming up about our trip very soon.

Cassie (far left), the crafty one among us, made these cute “Hangin’ With My Heifers” shirts for us to wear. As you can see, we enjoyed our wine on the screened in porch every afternoon!

We did something totally different for Mother’s Day. No big lunch or outing for us. The girls and I treated ourselves to a Saturday Happy Hour with no husbands or kids! And it was marvelous! It’s a rare thing for the three of us to spend time together with just us and we decided to make this a tradition every year!

We had a fun evening out with “the in-laws” AKA as our dear friends, the Taylors. They are our son-in-law’s parents and Lolli & Pop Pop to our grandson, Jeffrey. We saw Blood, Sweat and Tears. Talk about a blast from the past! And I couldn’t help but notice how “old” the people in the audience looked! LOL! Bo Bice, who was a runner-up on American Idol is the lead singer. Great evening of music, memories and fun! “You make me soooo very happyyyyy…”

And speaking of Jeffrey, this picture really tugs at my heart. He is sitting in my Dad’s old lawn chair. This is the chair my Dad would sit in outside under his carport every day. I can still see him sitting there waiting for us every time we came to visit. I miss him.

Our Memorial Day Weekend was pretty low-key. Some cleaning and organizing. Pool time with the grandkids. Some reading and Netflix. Shopping the online sales. And the highlight of the weekend – going to Best Buy to purchase a new dryer! #LivinLarge. Here’s what I wore for my dryer purchase:

The Lily Petal Vintage Soft Tee (on sale) is from Loft. Super soft, light-weight and comfortable without being too sheer. And my NYDJ Jenna Shorts are going to be a regular in the rotation this summer. NYDJ shorts come in several lengths and washes, so take a look if you’re in the market for some denim shorts.

Last week, My Side of 50 hit a big milestone! I now have over 700 subscribers. That means 700+ people get my weekly newsletter jam packed with posts that are entertaining, fun to read and informative. Have you subscribed to get your weekly midlife boost? >>>>>Do it here!

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May 29, 2018 10 comments

Fashion & Beauty

Best Sunless Tanners

Do you use sunless tanners? When shorts weather arrives, I want to add some color to my winter white legs, so I have used sunless tanners for years!

Sunless Tanners have certainly changed since they first came out. The days of an off-putting odor and orange streaks are over.

You can get tanners that slowly build up color over a week, a few days or even a couple of hours. Some even give you color immediately.

Many proclaim skin benefits, like moisturizing, vitamins and anti-oxidants.

What they DON’T promise is sun protection. Sunless Tanners can give you a little color and a sun-kissed glow, but they do not have any of the ingredients that protect you from the sun. So even if you wear sunless tanner, you need to wear sunscreen every day.

Here is my review of 3 sunless tanners that I have tried this season. This is not a sponsored post. But the links are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through one of my links, I will receive a small commission at no expense to you.

Jergen’s Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer

Price $7.99-$10.00

I have used Jergen’s sunless tanners for years and they just get better all the time. You’ll notice that Jergen’s bills this as a moisturizer. It’s a moisturizing lotion that just so happens to have sunless tanning ingredients in it.

It promises a natural tan that builds up slowly over a week. They suggest that you use daily until you get the color you want. The color will begin to fade a few days after you stop using it.

I used the Fair to Medium and I noticed a bit of color within 3 days. I had the color I wanted within a week. The color definitely began to fade when I stopped using it for 2 days in a row.

Pros:

The price and the fact that I can pick it up at the grocery store.
Great moisturizer
Natural looking tan
Comes in Fair to Medium or Medium to Dark so that you get a tan that more closely matches your natural skin tone

Cons:

Takes longer to dry because it is an actual moisturizing lotion, so you don’t want to use it at a time when you are in a hurry to get dressed and out the door.

Rodan and Fields Essentials Foaming Sunless Tan

Price: $26

This product provided a natural-looking tan as promised, with the color starting to develop within 2-4 hours. Now, you aren’t going to get a full-blown dark tan in that amount of time, but you will definitely see some color.

This sunless tanner is a foam, rather than a lotion. You spray one or two pumps in the palm of your hand, then spread it over the parts of your body where you want a tan.

The foam turns into a thin liquid as you spread it on and it dries very quickly. This is a big plus if you want to apply your sunless tanner and get dressed and out of the house quickly. There is minimal “drying time” before you can put on your clothes.

I found the color to be very natural and lasted about just as long as the Jergens. Fading started on day 3 after I stopped using it.

Pros:

Foam to thin liquid provides even coverage easily
Dries quickly
Natural color

Cons:

I think it’s a little pricey. There are some skincare products I’m willing to spend the money on. Sunless Tanner just doesn’t happen to be one.

Vita Liberita Phenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse – Medium

Price: $54

Vita Liberita was recommended by another blogger that I follow. Unlike the sunless tanners that build up color slowly, the Vita Liberita Phenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse provides immediate color. The 2-3 week in the product description refers to how long the tan is supposed to last. It only lasted a week on me.

Vita Liberita bills itself as a luxury tan brand. They have many types of tanning products that tan in different amounts of time and come in fair, medium or dark.

I applied this product with a tanning mitt, which I loved. I found that it made the mousse spread more evenly. And since this is a product that provides immediate color, my hands didn’t get stained when using it.

The consistency is similar to the Rodan and Fields, only a bit thicker.

When I applied Vita Liberita at home, I loved the color and was so pleased that I saw results immediately. I thought that I had applied it correctly, per the instructions. However, later that day when I got out in the sun, I saw all kinds of streaks and dark places. It looked horrible.

Perhaps there was a slight amount of “user error” in applying this product – I don’t know. But I didn’t have this problem with the other two products I used. And since I paid over $50 for this “luxury product”, I was not happy.

Pros:

Immediate color

Cons:

Streaking and dark spots
Price

How to apply sunless tanners:

There is definitely a technique to applying sunless tanners to ensure that you get even coverage and no dark spots.

For the most natural-looking color, be sure to exfoliate before first use.
Spread evenly & smoothly. I apply my sunless tanner much more carefully than I do a regular moisturizing lotion, making sure I don’t miss any spots.
Use sparingly on dry areas like knuckles, knees, ankles and in between fingers and toes.
Go over these areas with a damp washcloth to make sure there is no excess product that would result in dark spots.

Conclusion:

I like the Jergen’s and Rodan and Fields equally. Both provide a natural color that builds up over time, which prevents the dark spots and streaking. I like the moisturizing benefits of the Jergens and the quick drying time of the of the Rodan and Fields

In a perfect world, I would keep them both on hand so that I could use either of them, depending on the time I had. But the $26 price tag on the Rodan and Fields is more than I want to pay.

But if YOU would like to try to Rodan and Fields, I have a deal for you! I’m giving away the Rodan and Fields Essentials Sunless Tan to one lucky reader along with the Rodan and Fields Essentials Lip Shield with Broad Spectrum SPF 25.

There are 2 ways to enter. Use the Rodan and Fields Solution Tool, which will tell you which regimen of their great skincare is right for you. And/or leave a blog comment below and use the hashtag #sunlesstanner. Do both and you’ll have TWO chances to win!

The drawing will be May 30, 2018 – just in time to kick off summer.

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May 22, 2018 22 comments

Fashion & Beauty

Teeth Whitening for People With Sensitive Teeth

Have you ever wanted to whiten your teeth, but avoided it because of the sensitivity you get when you use teeth whitening products? I did for a long time. But then I saw another blogger post (who happens to be a former cosmetic dentist) on Smile Brilliant– an at home teeth whitening system that even people with sensitive teeth could use without discomfort. Is it possible? Teeth Whitening for People with Sensitive Teeth? Yes, it is!

This post was sponsored by Smile Brilliant. All opinions are my own. This post also contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

When I hit 50, I started noticing that my teeth were getting really yellowed and discolored. I drink coffee all day every day, so it’s no wonder that this has happened.

I’ve tried a number of ways to get rid of those stains. Whitening toothpaste (didn’t do a thing). Charcoal (left a black mess in the sink with no results). Those whitening strips you get at the drug store. While I did get some temporary whitening from them, I found them to be messy, hard to use and that they made my teeth and gums feel really sensitive, so I always had to stop using them.

And as much as I wanted whiter teeth, I wasn’t willing to take the time and pay the money required to get them done at the dentist’s office. Plus, I was really afraid of the sensitivity that could occur when using a professional strength whitening gel.

But the Smile Brilliant System is different. Smile Brilliant’s system uses custom-fitted whitening trays, which are the #1 dentist recommended teeth whitening method. Using these custom fitted trays ensures that every angle of every tooth (regardless of whether your teeth are straight or not) receives even and consistent coverage of their professional strength whitening gel.

So how does it work? How do you get those professional results at home? When you order your Smile Brilliant at-home whitening kit, you get everything you need!

Plastic trays and material to make your dental impressions that you send back to their lab in a postage-paid envelope. The instructions were easy to follow, and although my gag reflex kicked in a little bit when making the impressions, it was not a big deal.
Once the Smile Brilliant Lab receives your dental impressions, you get your custom-fitted trays back in 3-5 business days – that is fast!
Then every night for 2-weeks you whiten! I started seeing results in about 5 days.

The whitening process:

Every night before I went to bed, I filled my trays with the teeth whitening gel and put them in for 45 minutes while I watched TV. You can keep them in longer, but I was going for the minimum amount of time.

After you whiten, you brush your teeth and fill those same trays with the de-sensitizing gel and put those in for 20 minutes.

Then you are done! Easy Peasy!

I will say that at about Day 8, I did start feeling some slight sensitivity. But I just took a night off of whitening and started up again the next day with no problem.

So here are my results that took 16 days (2 nights off for a little sensitivity):

I love my results. In the before picture, you will see some dark stains on my top front teeth. They are almost all the way gone. I love how my smile is so much whiter and brighter these days.

I found the whole process super easy to do. The instructions that came with the kit are very thorough, so I had complete confidence in making my own molds and following the whitening process.

I love the custom-fitted trays. They stayed in place (didn’t slip around like those strips do) and were comfortable to wear.

And it takes a lot less time to whiten at home and a lot less money than going to the dentist.

Smile Brilliant is offering two great deals for My Side of 50 readers!

A coupon for 15% off – Purchase your Smile Brilliant Whitening System and get 15% off with this coupon code: myside15

A Giveaway for $149 in Smile Brilliant credit. This giveaway is open to USA, UK, Australia and Canadian residents! But it ends May 7, 2018, so act soon! Enter here: www.smilebrilliant.com/g/mysideof50

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Tooth Whitening Gel

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April 30, 2018 5 comments

Blogging

How Do You Make Money Blogging?

I was at a reunion of my college sorority sisters recently and was thrilled that so many of them said that they read My Side of 50. As we talked, the most common question that came up is “How do you make money blogging?” And “How Can We Help You?”

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

How do you make money blogging?

I am in my third year of blogging and am just now starting to make more than what it costs to run the blog. My goal is to generate a part-time income from My Side of 50. Here are the ways that I do that:

Affiliate sales – Bloggers sign up to be an affiliate for different retailers or through a network representing retailers. They are paid a commission (ranging from 1%-10% usually) for every purchase through links from our blog to their site.

When you click any of these affiliate links, you’ll get a “cookie” on your site lasting from 1-30 days. What that means is that even if you don’t buy the particular product that you clicked on, if you buy anything on that retailer’s site for the length of the cookie, the blogger gets a commission.

Some networks also pay a few cents per click. So if you just click through and don’t buy anything, the blogger still makes a few cents.

Affiliate products – Bloggers get a commission for selling certain products like courses, books, and e-books. Usually, the commissions are higher on these products – from 15-40%. One affiliate product I sell is the Adore Your Wardrobe course.

Sponsored Posts – A company will pay bloggers a flat fee to write about their product. Sometimes they will offer a commission on sales in addition to the flat fee.

Ads – Brands can pay to have space on a blog. Or more commonly, bloggers join ad networks that pay according to the number of views you get on their ads. I have not monetized through ads up until this point, but may sometime in the future.

Selling your products or services– Things like books, e-courses, printables, virtual assistant or web design services or things on Etsy.

When reading a blog post or seeing something on social media, how can I tell if the blogger is selling something?

If you see ads on a blog, the blogger is making income from that.

If they have a product and are saying “purchase this from me”, that’s pretty obvious.

What may be less obvious is if a blogger writes a post and talks about or links to certain products.

That’s why the FTC has very strict disclosure guidelines for bloggers promoting affiliate products or writing sponsored posts. Bloggers MUST disclose their relationship with the entity they are selling for.

For affiliate sales, you’ll see something like this:

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

If it’s a sponsored post:

This post was sponsored by Soma Intimates. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes a blogger will post in exchange for a product, rather than being paid. In that case, you’ll see:

Soft Surroundings provided the clothes and accessories in exchange for a review. All styling and opinions are my own.

In all cases, the FTC requires that we disclose our relationship with the brand BEFORE the link to the product.

On social media sites like Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter, we are required to put #AD or #Affiliate before the link to the product.

Since your goal is to generate enough income to provide a part-time income, does that mean you will write a post for any brand that will pay you?

That would be a big NO! First of all, my purpose for My Side of 50 is to create content that is helpful and of interest to midlife women. If I only did sponsored or affiliate content, then My Side of 50 would be one great big commercial!

I only promote products that I have personally used and recommend. Or products that others whom I respect recommend and that are a good fit for my audience. For example, I don’t write about pets, so you’ll never see me writing a post on cat food.

How can we help you?

First of all, I never feel like it is my reader’s obligation to help me. I am just thrilled that you read My Side of 50. Writing for you, connecting with you – that is what gives me joy.

But I get it. Some of you want to help and support My Side of 50. I have some favorite blogs that I follow and I like to promote them in any way I can.

Brands that pay bloggers to promote their content, either through ads, affiliate links or sponsored posts are looking for blogs that have a lot of page views, followers on social media and engagement. So:

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter. You’ll get the latest blog post, plus any posts you may have missed. I also include links to products and sales. Brands look for bloggers with readers who are interested enough in their content to subscribe to their newsletter.

Click through and read the blog posts. Every time you go to a page on my blog, that counts as a page view. Brands like to work with bloggers who have a high number of page views. If you read the blog on an app like Bloglovin’, then always click through to the actual post instead of just reading it on the app, so it will count as a page view.

Follow me on Social Media. Brands value large numbers of followers Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

As much or more than all those numbers that they like, Brands are looking at blogs who have readers that engage with them. There are a number of ways to engage:

Leave a comment on a blog post.
Share the blog post on social media. I have easy share buttons on the left side of my blog so that you can click on a button and share to whatever social media platform you are on.
On Facebook, like a post, comment on a post and share a post.
On Twitter, like and retweet a post.
On Instagram, like and comment on a post.
On Pinterest, pin a post.

And for those of you who want more details, here’s how your clicks and purchases help My Side of 50.

If you are making a purchase through my links, buy on your desktop rather than on mobile apps. All the brands haven’t caught up with technology and many times do not count affiliate sales through mobile apps.

You know how I said if you click one of my affiliate links, I can get a commission on ANY purchase you make through that link for the length of the cookie? That is true. But say you click through to Nordstrom from my affiliate link and put several items in your cart. Then you go to another site and click THEIR link to Nordstrom. THEIR affiliate link cancels out my affiliate link and if you make a purchase through THAT link, THEY get the commission.

Help me “convert”. Clicking on the links is great. We may make a few pennies. But if we get a high number of conversions, meaning people click on our link and actually BUY, we can often negotiate a higher price per click and more commission per purchase.

On a sponsored post where we are just getting a flat rate to post, click through to the brand’s website. Part of what the brand is looking for is how many people go from the blog post they have paid for to their actual website. And if the product is something you are going to purchase, purchase through that link. In the end, brands are looking for a high return on their investment.

If you are just online shopping, go to a blog you love and click on that store through the blog’s affiliate links. This is something I do with blogs I love and want to help keep them online with their great content I enjoy.

All of that is a lot. Maybe more than you want to know. But I hope it clearly spells out how bloggers make money.

I am so grateful for every one of you who reads My Side of 50. For all of your comments, shares, and support. I work on this blog every day and it is truly so much darn fun! I’d do it for free.

Leave me a comment below. Did you learn something new about the blogging business? Have a question? (Remember, ENGAGEMENT).

And share this post on Social Media! I would so appreciate it.

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April 24, 2018 13 comments

Review of Soma Intimates Back Close With Lace Trim Vanishing Back Bra and Vanishing Tummy With Lace Retro Brief. Before and after pictures showing out the Vanishing Back Bras smooths out back fat. Before and After Picture of back with regular bra showing back fat and back with Vanishing Back Bra showing the back perfectly smooth. Click through to the post to see how you can get a free Vanishing Edge Panty. #panty #panties #brief #lacebrief #lacepanties #tummycontrolpanties #nopantyline #shapewear #bra #bras #vanishingbackbra #soma #somaintimates #lingerie #lacebra #backfat

Fashion & Beauty

Back Fat Be Gone! | Comfortable Shapewear to Smooth Out Back Fat and Make Your Panty Lines Disappear!

Do you ever look at yourself from behind and wonder where all those rolls around your bra straps came from? Even if you’re not overweight, the wrong bra can make it looks like you have all kinds of that dreaded back fat! And of course, no one wants a panty line to ruin the look of a great pair of pants.

This post was sponsored by Soma Intimates. All opinions are my own.

That’s why I’m so excited to partner with Soma Intimates to tell you about their Vanishing Back Bra and Vanishing Edge Panty.

I’ve been wearing Soma’s Vanishing Edge Panties since they first came out a number of years ago and they do just what they say – VANISH when you put on a pair of pants over them.

This is the Vanishing Tummy With Lace Retro Brief:

I’m pretty much a nude, black or ivory girl when it comes to the color of my lingerie, but I opted for this fun lace brief in Imperial Purple. Don’t you love it?

This style of Vanishing Edge Panty offers what you have come to expect from Soma – thin silicone strips around the leg opening to keep the panty in place and the no-roll waistband. But the Vanishing Tummy feature gives you something extra. A double-layered microfiber front panel that smooths you out and gives you that little bit of tummy control.

This is the Back Close With Lace Trim Vanishing Back Bra:

This is my first bra from Soma and I was so impressed by its fit and comfort!

When the brand first contacted me about a partnership, they asked me to use their Bra Fit Guide to determine my size. This guide includes a video on how to measure yourself to get the best fit. I did as instructed and was so surprised at the size it said I was! I had recently had a professional bra fitting and the sizes were totally different.

My contact with Soma was so nice. She sent me the “Soma Size” bra and the size that I THOUGHT I was. Sure enough, the Soma Size fit perfectly. So….if you are ordering online, use the Bra Fit Guide!

Now for the best part. I wanted to show you before and after pictures of me wearing the Vanishing Back Bra.

Here are the pictures – side by side! I am amazed at the difference. Those back rolls really DO disappear.

And the Vanishing Back Bra is one of the softest, most comfortable and supportive bras I have ever worn. They make your “girls” look good!

Take a look at all the great colors and styles of Vanishing Back Bras and Vanishing Edge Panties that Soma Intimates offers.

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April 6, 2018 24 comments

Black text box with white text "Can You Wear Black to a Wedding?" Man wearing suit & tie. Woman wearing Talbots Refined Ponte Sheath in Black. 3/4 length scalloped sleeves. Tan Elaine Turner purse with fringe tassel. Black Rosie Pumps from Walking Cradles | #cocktaildresses #fashionover50

Fashion & Beauty

Can You Wear Black to a Wedding? | A Review of Talbots Refined Ponte Sheath

Can You Wear Black to a Wedding? It used to be a “rule” that this was highly inappropriate – right up there with wearing white (except if you were the bride). But so many of the “fashion rules” that we used to follow don’t seem to apply anymore.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Here are my rules of what to wear ANYWHERE! It has to fit, be comfortable, not require shapewear and I have to LOVE it! Those first three requirements can be tough to meet when looking for something dressy! But Talbot’s Refined Ponte Sheath was just the thing. It fit. It was flattering. I didn’t have to wear shapewear and I absolutely loved it.

These pictures were taken with an iPhone using various filters to try to improve them. That didn’t work.

But I really wanted to show you this dress!

What do I love about the Refined Ponte Sheath from Talbots’ RSVP Collection? It’s simple design which allowed me to highlight my Harlow Statement Necklace from Kendra Scott (on sale). The cut of the dress skims which over your curves. And the Ponte knit fabric that has just enough weight to it so that it doesn’t cling to every lump and bump!

The wedding was a 5 p.m. outdoor wedding at the Giddings-Stone Mansion in Brenham, Texas, just west of Houston. The weather was perfect. The sun was shining, it was a little bit overcast and in the 70’s.

The 3/4 length sleeves have such a fun scalloped detail, which also provided a little ventilation while the sun was out. But also enough cover when the sun went down and it got a little cool.

Don’t you love those sleeves?

These are my “Rosie” shoes from Walking Cradles. I love the straps and the pointed toe that elongates the leg. Think you can’t wear a pointed toe shoe? The Rosie has a wide toe box (wide enough for my 8WW feet) that gradually goes to a point. For once, I wore a pair of dress shoes that I was not kicking off under the table halfway through the evening! And I felt kinda sexy….

This outfit scored me dances with two of the most handsome men at the wedding!