Fashion & Beauty

Makeup Gift Ideas | Best Gifts for the Makeup Lover in the text with pictures of makeup and makeup brushes.

Makeup Gift Ideas | Gifts for Your Millennial Girl

Amy and Allison are my millennial daughters. And without fail, whenever I ask them for a wish list for their birthdays or Christmas, they ALWAYS ask for makeup. So I asked them to give me their top picks for Makeup Gift Ideas. Their suggestions would make perfects gifts for your millennial girl!

My daughters like everything about makeup. Trying it on, watching tutorials, shopping for it. In fact, on our recent trip to Las Vegas, there was a Sephora in our hotel and they spent a lot of time just looking at…makeup! Since they are mothers of young children, having the luxury of some “no kid” time in a makeup store was pretty awesome.

You’ll notice that I said they spent a lot of time LOOKING at makeup. That’s because many of their top picks are out of the typical millennial’s price range. So they ask for me to get them their favorites for birthdays or Christmas. Take a look at these “Best Makeup Gifts for Her” because it’s not only millennials who like nice makeup.

Makeup Gift Ideas for Preparation and Application

Dr. Jart+ Mask Heroes Face Savers

Masks are all the rage these days and my girls LOVE them. And they are the perfect way to prepare your face for your makeup. The set has 6 of Dr. Jart’s best selling masks. You could even divide up the set and give all the ladies on your list one of the masks as a stocking stuffer!

Beauty Blender Sweet Indulgence Set

Beauty Blenders are the premiere makeup applicator that ensures a streak free application of foundation, powder and any other complexion product. This set includes 4 Beauty Blenders and Beauty Blender Cleansers to keep the blender clean and in tip top condition. Amy SWEARS by her Beauty Blender.

Best Makeup Gifts for Her

Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color – Fenty Beauty by Rihanna

There are several color choices, but Uncensored is the perfect universal red for all skin tones.

Two-Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Volumizing mascara with a brush that separates, curls and coats lashes. And it’s not just the millennials who love this stuff! I’ve seen beauty bloggers of ALL ages rave about this mascara.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

Don’t worry – it doesn’t tattoo your eyes. It just has a great brush that makes a precision application easy!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eye Shadow Palette

14 shades, including matte and shimmer take her from day to night.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dream Glow Kit

These are highlighters than can be used over eyeshadow or on their own to create an iridescent or metallic look.

Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette from Fenty Beauty by Riahanna

16 high quality shades from matte to shimmer.

Milk Makeup Lip+Cheek

One product, two uses. Allison says this is the perfect product for the mother of a toddler who is on the go. A couple of swipes gives you a little color and no one would ever guess what it took for you to get out the door with your little bundle of joy!

Makeup Gift Ideas to Finish Her Look

Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer – Fenty Beauty by Rihanna

Goes over lip color to add a beautiful shine. You’ll notice several items on this list are Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. The girls just love this line and say the makeup is so high quality and long lasting.

Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

This is a weightless spray that keeps your makeup looking fresh for up to 16 hours. And yes – it really does!

Stila Aura Alight Glitter & Glow Highlighter and Liquid Eyeshadow Set

This set of 2 highlighters and 4 liquid eyeshadows adds glitter and shine to the face and eyes.

Laura Mercier Transluscent Loose Setting Powder

Silky powder with just a touch of sheer coverage to set her makeup for all day wear.

What do you think? What beauty products do your millennials just rave about? I’ll bet if you’re like me, you’ve found a few on this list that you are going to pick up for yourself!

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November 26, 2018 3 comments

Long picture with the text 13 Chic Ways to Wear a Scarf | Model on the left is wearing black striped top and pants with animal print scarf worn as a belt. Model on the left is wearing black striped off the shoulder top and black skirt with yellow scarf tied around her neck.

Fashion & Beauty

13 Super Stylish Ways to Wear A Scarf

Scarves. My first memory of a woman wearing a scarf was of my mom wearing one on her head to keep her hair from getting messed up on a windy day. Do you remember those days back in the 60’s? When I was in college in the 70’s scarves were all the rage. I remember wearing them tied in a knot around my neck. I don’t remember us tying them many other ways. But today, there is no end of ways to use scarves as an accessory – a beautiful way to add color and style to any outfit. And here is how some of my favorite fashion bloggers are styling their scarves. 13 Super Stylish Ways to Wear A Scarf.

Get my 3 Fashionable Ways To Tie A Scarf Here!

Scarves come in all shapes and sizes these days. The long scarf, blanket scarf, short scarf, infinity scarf. There are beautiful scarves just for looks and their are scarves that keep you warm. Silk scarves, cotton scarves, fleece, wool and chunky knitted scarves. And they come in a variety of price points from $10.99 to up to hundreds of dollars for a designer scarf.

You can tie a scarf around your neck, drape it around your shoulders, tie it on your purse or wear it as a vest. Talk about a versatile wardrobe item! Do you have a favorite way to wear a scarf?

How to Wear a Long Scarf

Long scarves are fun because there is enough fabric there to tie it into all kinds of intricate designs if you are so inclined. But these days, I’m seeing more and more women wear long scarves in a lose and casual way.

Nancy from Jodie’s Touch of Style rolls hers loosely around her neck and then lets it hang. That roll provided a little texture to her outfit.

Pam from Over 50 Feeling 40 does a similar roll but adds an extra loop in there. Don’t you love the dramatic color of Pam’s scarf? A necklace with her top would have been great, but that scarf adds a certain flair and totally changes the look of her outfit.

Alie from Wardrobe Oxygen also did a simple wrap and drape to her animal print scarf. I love how she paired her animal print scarf with her plaid blazer. Scarves are a great way to ”ease into” pattern mixing.

Charlotte from Jodie’s Touch of Style used a scarf clip to style her scarf.

Julia from When the Girls Rule just tied hers into a simple square knot.

Leaving the scarf long like the ladies did in both of these pictures draws your eye up and down creating the illusion of length. And there are lots of choices of pretty scarf clips!

How to Wear A Short Scarf

Jodie ties her short scarf in a knot at her neck. I love how she chose a contrasting color to go with her sassy off the shoulder top!

Darlene from Aquamarina Style ties her short scarf like a bandana and wears it two ways.
Top picture: Knot in the front and tail down the back.

Bottom picture: Knot to one side, tail to to the other side.

Super casual, yet adds that finishing touch to a plain tee.

How to Wear A Wrap Scarf

Wrap scarves also come in lots of sizes. This large one that Darlene is wearing has a design that is made for wearing as a wrap – can you see it? Darlene just draped it around her shoulders and belted it. Such a great look.

Julia wears her pretty fall floral scarf as a simple wrap. The pattern adds interest to her basic black or navy dress.

How to Wear a Blanket Scarf

Beautiful Carrie from Curly Crafty Mom is not in the group of women we would call “midlife”. But I couldn’t resist showing you her gorgeous plaid blanket scarf styled over her maxi dress. You can wrap a blanket scarf in a lot of different ways. Carrie styled it with the tail pointing down the front.

Other Fun Ways to Style A Scarf

Allie wears her scarf as a belt in the super sophisticated look.

Julia ties her scarf to the handle of her purse.

The possibilities are endless. Put some of the basic pieces in your wardrobe together, mix in a few scarves and you have multiplied the number of looks in your wardrobe.

I hope this post gave you some great ideas on ways to style your scarves. Need more?

Get my 3 Fashionable Ways to Tie A Scarf here.

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Here are 2 great ways to wear a scarf! Allie from Wardrobe Oxygen uses her animal print scarf as a belt. Jodie from Jodie’s Touch of Style does a simple square not around her neck!

November 5, 2018 8 comments

Stylish Necklace Readers by Neckglasses | Woman reading a menu using Neckglasses

Fashion & Beauty

Stylish Necklace Readers by Neckglasses | Beautiful Necklace Glasses and Pendant Readers

Today I want to introduce you to some Stylish Necklace Readers by Neckglasses. But first a little history. A sad little tale that we can all relate to.

This post is sponsored by Neckglasses. All words and opinions are my own.

It’s one of the first signs of fleeting youth that we face as midlife women. The need for reading glasses. We need just a little help from our “readers” or “cheaters” to read something…a menu, price tag or message on our phone. Needing those readers is a bit of a nuisance, but we deal with it.

We buy a pair. Then we can never find that pair when we need them, so we buy the 10-pack from Costco and put a pair in every room in the house.

When we’re out, we are forever rummaging through our purses to find our cheaters because it seems we need them more and more. And it’s just like so many things that come up as we age. It’s just a big old pain in the butt!

Of course, we could resort to our mother’s and grandmother’s solution of wearing our glasses around our neck with a chain. Seriously – I did buy one of those chains just to wear at home and my kids about died.

What’s a girl who isn’t ready to look in the mirror and see her grandmother to do? Would you believe I’ve found a solution? One that is both stylish and functional? And actually allows you to see? Introducing the Stylish Necklace Readers by Neckglasses.

Take a look at my Necklace Readers – Catherine by Neckglasses

Yes, that beautiful necklace that is reminiscent of the Kendra Scott jewelry I love is actually my reading glasses. There is nothing “granny” about that!

It’s called “Catherine” and is sleek and feminine. I was in a wine bar with friends and all I had to do to read the menu is lift up my necklace and Voila! I could READ!

Catherine comes in both silver and gold.

Another style that I like is Dianna, which is designed like a glass locket. Neckglasses has a pair to compliment every style.

Pendant Readers for Men

Neckglasses even has styles for men…because women aren’t the only ones who can’t find their readers. No more putting glasses in their pockets where they can get scratched or in their wife’s purse to carry. (I’m talking to one guy in particular here!) “Lee” offers the same ease-of-use solution for always having your readers handy.

Neckglasses. The fashionable and functional solution to having your reading glasses handy. Check out their many styles here.

Get 25% off with the code Fall25!

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Using the “Catherine” by Neckglasses. I love the sleek and feminine style of these stylish necklace readers.

October 24, 2018 11 comments

Fashion & Beauty

How To Restore Damaged Nails After Gel, Acrylic or Powder Manicures

Perfectly manicured nails. Who doesn’t love the look of the perfect length, shape and color you can get by going to the nail salon every two weeks and “getting your nails done” with acrylics, a gel or powders? But what happens when you try to go back to your natural nails? All of these methods damage your nails in some way, leaving them dry, brittle, thin and splitting. That’s why so many women go back to the artificial nails. It seems like if you don’t, you’ll never have “nice” nails again. But there is hope and I have found a way. Here’s how to restore damaged nails after gel, acrylic or powder manicures.

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

Why I Wanted to Restore My Nails After Gel Manicures

I love the perfectly shaped nails that didn’t chip, cuticles with no hangnails and long lasting color that I got from my artificial nails. Over the last 15 years, I’ve tried them all – acrylics, gel and powder.

At first, getting my nails done every two weeks was a luxury. When I started these regular appointments in my 40’s, I had just been promoted to a management position at the nonprofit where I was working. I was making a little money. My boss got her nails done. After years as a stay at home mom with no extra money in the budget for such a luxury, I was ready to treat myself. And for a while, it was great. Until it wasn’t.

At some point, I got tired of sitting in the manicurist’s chair for an hour every two weeks. And I had other things I wanted to spend my money on. So I decided to go back to my natural nails. Except they weren’t the nails that I used to have. They were thin, dry, splitting and brittle. And after a few weeks of looking like that, I just couldn’t stand it anymore, so headed back to the salon to get the artificial ones again. I continued this cycle for 15 years.

A few months ago, I decided once again to try and go “natural”, but before doing so, I asked ladies in my Facebook group who had done this HOW they achieved healthy natural nails again. They encouraged me that it could be done. I also did some research online and came up with this plan that restored my nails to their strong and healthy original state in 8 weeks.

What I Did to Restore My Nails After Gel Manicures

I had the gels removed at the salon, had my nails trimmed short and got a regular manicure. Here’s how my nails looked on that day. You can see they are thin, ridged and uneven.

My restore my nails regimen started with applying one coat of nail strengthener daily. I did this for seven days. On the seventh day I removed the nail strengthener and started again.

After the nail strengthener dried, I applied cuticle oil to my nails and skin around them twice a day. I followed this with a heavy moisturizing hand and nail cream. Why use both an oil and a cream? The oil absorbs into the nail bed better and the cream creates a barrier so that the moisture doesn’t escape.

I left my cuticles alone. I didn’t trim or pick at them because the cuticles are there to protect the new nail growth that is occurring underneath.

If I needed to file my nails for any reason I used a glass nail file. Why? Because a glass nail file smooths and seals the freshly filed edges, reduces the nails susceptibility to splits and breakages. It does this by sealing the keratin layers at the edge of the nail together, preventing peeling and chipping. A glass nail file is inexpensive and the best investment you can make in restoring your fragile nails.

Other reasons to invest in a glass nail file?

They do not dull over time.
They are more efficient than emery boards of steel nail files because they file and smooth the nails in one quick motion.
They can be washed in hot, soapy water and even sterilized making them more hygenic.
Glass nail files will not wear down, corrode or rot.

I went for a manicure every 3 weeks. At that time, I did allow my manicurist to trim my cuticles, but only then. I also had her apply nail strengthen rather than traditional nail polish.

I took a Biotin supplement every day.

Here is how my nails looked at my first manicure, four weeks after removing my gels. Still weak, but looking better.

I followed my regimen RELIGIOULSY and after 8 weeks, here is what my nails look like.

I am so pleased with the results! I’m sure I’ll be sporting my natural nails from now on! Yes, you CAN have healthy, natural nails after gel, acrylic or powder manicures!

Do you have your natural nails or do you “get them done”? Have you ever gone natural after having artificial nails? Let me know in the comments!

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October 8, 2018 15 comments

Fashion & Beauty

Summer to Fall Outfits | Summer to Fall Transition Looks

I live in Texas where we won’t see even a HINT of cool weather until late October. So while those of you who live north of us are enjoying your pumpkin spice lattes and wearing your cute new sweaters and boots, we’re still in shorts, flip flops and running my AC 24/7. So what do those of us who live down south wear when we want an outfit that says FALL but it’s too hot to wear cold weather clothing? Turns out there are lots of options with the currently trending denim, animal prints and fall florals. Take a look at some of the Summer to Fall Outfits my favorite fashion bloggers put together!

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

Summer to Fall Outfits – Denim

Claudia from Empty Nest Style added a chambray shirt to her white jeans and tied it all together with a cognac cardigan, bag & shoes. Those accessories just say fall to me and I am loving how the whole “no white after Labor Day” rule has gone by the wayside.

Summer to Fall Outfits – Florals

We saw lots of florals this summer, many of which can go right into fall.

In my look, I shopped my closet and put together this look. I paired the LOFT floral tee that I wore all summer with my Wit & Wisdom Thyme Cropped Pants. I topped it with a denim jacket, which seems to be the most versatile third piece for any season. Tied it all together with olive booties and burgundy color purse.

This particular denim jacket is from Talbots and I love it so much. It has a bit of a shape, which is more flattering on me than those that are boxy. And it has some stretch, which makes it easy to move around in. I also have it in white!

I received my first pair of Wit & Wisdom Ab-solution pants in my Trunk Club shipment this summer and immediately loved the fit, stretch and tummy control.

My booties are from Walking Cradles, a great line of shoes that are comfortable and stylish. You can get 20% off and free shipping at walkingcradles.com with the code MySide20.

Fonda from Savvy Southern Chic is wearing a floral camisole, crop flare jeans and blush colored cardigan. The cardigan is lightweight and a great piece when the weather is hot, but the AC in stores and restaurants is cranked up high. Notice her beautiful Kendra Scott necklace! I purchased this same one for my daughter’s birthday at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It is gorgeous and very versatile. Follow Fonda on Instagram.

For a different kind of floral top, Suzy from Empty Nest Blessed is wearing a navy top with floral embroidery with blush jeans and camel booties. I am seeing lots of blush as a neutral this fall. And booties are a great way to add some fall to your wardrobe without heating things up! Follow Suzy on Instagram.

Summer to Fall Outfits – Animal Print

Jess from Elegantly Dressed & Stylish wears a ¾ length blouse with jeans and accessorizes it with an animal print clutch and scarf. Jess incorporates another fall trend by wearing a blouse in a menswear inspired print. And the pattern mixing she does here is so interesting a looks great. Follow Jess on Instagram.

Regan from Nifty 50 and Fabulous and Suzanne from Crazy Blonde Life both had the same idea for early fall in the south! Black tops and pants with animal print accessories.

Regan wears her animal print scarf as a wrap and Suzanne adds a leopard print clutch and booties! So cute! Follow Regan on Instagram.

Suzanne carries on the theme here with a semi-sheer animal print blouse and black distressed jeans. Belts are all the rage this fall and hers adds an extra touch of zing to a very classy fall outfit. Follow Suzanne on Instagram.

What about you? Is it warm where you live? What are you wearing for the summer to fall transition?

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And guess what? I am the featured guest on this week’s Ageless Style Linkup! Check out how all of these ladies styled fall outfits in their favorite colors!

Daenel ~ Living outside the Stacks blog, instagram, pinterest, twitter

Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust bloglovin, blog, instagram, pinterest, facebook, twitter

Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots blog, instagram, facebook, pinterest, twitter, bloglovin

Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style blog, facebook, instagram, pinterest, bloglovin, twitter

Jonet ~ Fabulously Chic Over 50 blog, facebook, , instagram, pinterest, twitter

Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag blog, instagram, bloglovin, twitter

Lisa ~ Coast to Coast blog, facebook, instagram, twitter, pinterest

Paula ~ Dimples on my What blog, facebook, pinterest, instagram, twitter

October 2, 2018 28 comments

Fashion & Beauty

Women’s Fashion Sneakers | The Walking Cradles Metro Collection

What shoes do you wear on a day when you know you are going to be on your feet a lot? You’re shopping. Or running errands. Or chasing grandkids. Or traveling. Your athletic shoes are probably the most comfortable shoes you own, but they look pretty clunky. When you wear them, you don’t exactly feel like your look is “polished”? Do you sacrifice comfort to look good? That would be a big no for me. But fortunately you don’t have to choose comfort over fashion. Introducing Walking Cradles’ line of Women’s Fashion Sneakers called the Metro Collection.

This post is sponsored by Walking Cradles. All opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Women’s Fashion Sneakers 2018

Take a look at the Onyx – a casual sneaker with urban styling! Don’t you just love it? I love the details on this slip-on sneaker. Check out the detailing: mesh and nubuck uppers that include goring and elasticized lacing.

And they are so comfortable!!!! Walking Cradles has thought of everything:

Removable Tiny Pillows® footbed insoles massage your every step.
An antimicrobial sueded fabric sock and lining that are super soft and moisture-wicking, making it optional to wear a sock.
The non-compacting cushion bounces back after compression so the cushioning continues wear after wear.
The unit bottom is flexible and moves naturally with your foot and it includes built-in tread for slip resistance.

But the Onyx is only fashion sneaker in the fabulous Metro Collection!

Check out Orleans that comes in a snake print and lots of fabulous fall colors!

Or Osmond that is a hi-top sneaker bootie.

You’ll never feel frumpy in the fashion-forward choices that are part of Walking Cradles Metro Collection!

Special Offer From Walking Cradles

Walking Cradles is giving My Side of 50 readers 20% off on any purchase from walkingcradles.com PLUS free shipping when you use the code MySide20! And they will send you a coupon with your delivery for a future purchase. Discount now. Free Shipping. Coupon for later. Could it get any better? Yes….

Walking Cradles Metro Collection – Your Purchase Helps Others

Walking Cradles has partnered with Soles4Soles a charity that works to “Wear Out Poverty” by providing gently used shoes, job opportunities and more to poverty-stricken women and children around the world.

Walking Cradles will donate $1 for every purchase from their Metro Collection to Soles4Soles.

A dollar per pair donation might not seem like much, but did you know that for each $1 donated, Soles4Souls is able to ship one pair of shoes to anywhere in the world? That means your purchase of any shoe from the Metro Collection equals one pair of shoes to someone in need!

Before I started blogging, I worked in the nonprofit sector for 25 years. Partnerships with companies like Walking Cradles can make such a difference in the great work these organizations do. And as a consumer, I love to patronize companies that are looking past their own bottom line and contributing to the greater good. Just another reason I love Walking Cradles.

Demin Jacket

Jeans

Blouse similar

Photos by Ginger Harris

See how my friends over at Jodie’s Touch of Style styled THREE from the Metro Collection!

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SaveSave

September 16, 2018 16 comments

Fashion & Beauty

Bra Fitting Guide | What To Look For In A Professional Bra Fitting

Have you ever had a professional bra fitting? When I did an informal poll of the My Side of 50 readers, it was split about 50/50. Half said they had been professionally fitted and the other half said they had not. I have to admit, it’s probably only been in the last several years that I’ve started to get professionally fitted and I can’t tell you what a difference it makes! When I was buying bras on my own, I had the size and fit all wrong! I was recently invited by Soma Intimates to get a professional bra fitting at their store at The Woodlands Mall in Texas. Here is my Bra Fitting Guide with things you should look for when getting a professional fitting.

This post is sponsored by Soma Intimates. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bra Fitting Guide | More Than Just the Measurement

When getting fitted for a bra, most of us know to measure around our rib cage under our breasts where the bra hooks. And then to measure around the fullest part of our breasts. There are all kinds of calculators online that will help you determine “your size” from these two measurements. But did you know that the SHAPE of your breasts also determines the size and type of bra you should wear? That’s why getting a professional bra fitting can be such an asset in getting the most comfortable and flattering bra.

Getting the correct measurements is only the first step. At a professional bra fitting, the specialist should also:

Ask what type of bras you are looking for. Strapless, racer back, underwire, t-shirt?
What do you not like about your current bra?
Examine how the bra looks on you. Does the gore (the part between the cups) lay flat against your chest? Do the cups cover your breasts or do they spill out on the side? Do the straps dig into your shoulders?
After looking at the bra, the specialist should ask you to put on a shirt to see how it looks under clothes.

My Complimentary Professional Bra Fitting at Soma Intimates

Maranda was the trained bra fit specialist who worked with me at Soma Intimates. She did everything she was supposed to do. She asked me what type of bra I was looking for, measured me, listened to my concerns, brought me options and adjusted where needed.

The first step was getting measured. I know that for some women, modesty is an issue and they may be uncomfortable being measured by someone else for a bra. In the privacy of the dressing room, Maranda gave me the option of being measured with or without my shirt on.

Then she asked me about what type of bra I was looking for. What my concerns were. About my lifestyle and the types of clothes I wear. I answered those questions for me, but also for all of you. Because prior to my fitting, I asked YOU what YOU hated about your bras! Here are the answers and the solutions Maranda had from the Soma Intimates line:

Bra Fitting Guide | My Straps Dig Into My Shoulders

Stunning Support Full Coverage Bra– This underwire bra has wide set padded straps that make the fit very comfortable through the shoulders. I tried this on and was amazed at the difference a little padding in the straps makes!

Bra Fitting Guide | I Hate UNDERWIRE

I wear a 36DD and always wear underwire bras, which I don’t find to be very comfortable. I really didn’t think I had another option. But I did! The Enbliss Wireless Bra! Full coverage, super soft fabric and no wires.

I couldn’t believe the support I received from this wireless bra. And when I put my shirt on over it, I looked like I lost 10 lbs! In the Enbliss Wireless Bra, I am every bit as lifted and supported as I am in my underwires!

Bra Fitting Guide | My Bra is So Uncomfortable I Take It Off the Minute I Get Home

That’s me. And since I work at home, I usually don’t wear a bra. Which is no big deal unless company or the UPS guy shows up unexpectedly! Enter the Enbliss Wireless Bralette. It’s kind of like a sports bra, but it is not as binding. Super soft and comfortable. Although at a 36DD it did not provide the support I would need to wear it out in public, it is the perfect around the house or sleep bra for me. And it does provide enough coverage so that I am appropriately attired if someone stops by the house unexpectedly!

Bra Fitting Guide | Bras That Irritate Post Surgery

One of my readers shared that post-radiation, she found her bras to be very irritating to her sensitive skin. Soma has a whole line of post-surgical bras including those with pockets for those women wear prosthetics after a mastectomy. These bras are soft, comfortable and pretty!

Bra Fitting Guide | It’s Hard to Find Bras for Larger Sizes

The Solution is Soma Intimates Curvy Couture line with beautiful supportive bras that go up to cup size HH.

Bra Fitting Guide | BACK FAT That Shows Through My Shirt!

You have to try the marvelous Vanishing Back Bra. You can read my review and see my results here!

My Soma Purchases | Bras and More

The two best bras for me were the Enbliss Wireless Bra and Enbliss Wireless Bralette.

And much to my surprise I also purchased SHAPEWEAR! The Vanishing Edge High Waisted Brief. This beautiful panty is so light and is the most comfortable shapewear I have ever put on.

I also stocked up on Soma’s Cool Night’s Short Sleeved Sleep Shirts. I have worn these for years! They are so light and comfortable to sleep in and when the night sweats hit, they DO keep you cool. They wash beautifully and keep their color and shape for a long time. They also have pajamas in this line that comes in the same fabric.

Has it been a year since you had a professional bra fitting? Or have you never had one at all? Stop by your local Soma Intimates and get one. You will be so happy with the results!

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September 4, 2018 12 comments

Fashion for Women Over 50 | Picture of Cathy Lawdanski in white sweater and jeans by Ethyl Clothing

Fashion & Beauty

Fall Fashion for Women Over 50 | Ethyl Clothing

Fashion for Women Over 50. Do you ever wonder if there IS such a thing? I know there is, but it can be hard to find with so many retailers showing their clothes on 14-year-old waifs who don’t weigh 100 lbs. soaking wet. That’s why I’m super excited to show you this outfit by Ethyl Clothing, a brand of clothing for real women with real bodies.

This post is sponsored by Ethyl Clothing. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Even though we are seeing 90-degree temperatures every day in Texas, most of us are finished buying summer clothes and are looking forward to shopping for some fall/winter outfits.

So I chose this Aviana-Petunia Sweater and Carly-Poivron pull-on jean to feature. This sweater and jean combination fits my lifestyle perfectly. I would wear this outfit just about anywhere – out to lunch, to go shopping, to a football game or for date night when it’s cold outside.

This Aviana-Petunia sweater is so luxurious. Super-soft and heavy enough to wear on the coldest days.

The boatneck is so flattering and has a beautiful “feathery” detail that is mimicked in the hem. The knit is so pretty all by itself that I didn’t accessorize the look with anything but my simple gold earrings.

I love the pull-on ease of the Carly-Poivron jeans. They are stretchy and comfortable. They are medium weight jeans can be worn year-round. And even though they are pull-on, they have front and back pockets!!! Just like your zip-up fly jeans. The denim is so soft and the fit is incredible.

I was introduced to Ethyl Clothing through my friend Jodie and Jodie’s Touch of Style. You can see the pieces that she styled here. And although Ethyl Clothing is a new brand to me, they have been around for over 30 years.

Their commitment to quality fabric and superior fit in all their pieces make them the perfect choice for women over 50 to find stylish clothing that they can wear for years. Ethyl’s missy-fit line is vanity sized meaning that you order a size down from your regular size. I ordered one size down on both pieces and they fit perfectly.

Shopping online with Ethyl Clothing is virtually risk-free. They offer free shipping on orders over $99 and provide a pre-paid postage return label so that you can send back any items that don’t work for you.

Check out some of my other favorites here:

Long Cardigan Sweater-Coat-Cadenza

The Carter-Coda Long Cardigan Sweater Coat

Special thanks to my sister, Sandy Lynch for taking the photos for this post in her air-conditioned studio. If you’re in the Dallas area, check out Sandra Lynch Photography for all your photography needs: Wedding, Family, Seniors, Beauty.

Like this post? Help me spread the word and grow my blog! I’d love it if you’d Pin it!

Are you excited when you walk into your closet to find something to wear or is a totally frustrating experience? Take the From Frustration to Functional Closet Challenge! This totally FREE challenge from the folks at Adore Your Wardrobe will give you lots of tips to help you love the wardrobe you have and a closet that functions for you!

You might also like:

Building A Wardrobe You Love

How to Wear Red Over 40, 50 & Beyond

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August 10, 2018 13 comments

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

Fashion & Beauty Travel

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!

Shirt by Loft similar similar

Shorts by Charter Club

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July 10, 2018 17 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