How to avoid a Sad house after taking down the Christmas decorations.

That post let down feeling after all the twinkly lights are put away . The house feels sort of empty and then just add to it the bleakness of winter. Which features Overcast sky’s and bare trees and low temperatures. Not an inviting scene.

Here are some ideas that have worked for me over the years.

I like to embody a white theme of textures. Creamy sweater pillows, scented candles and fresh white flowers bouquets. I Even throw in some snowy animal figurines To complete the look.

I am thinking I may even leave my flocked trees up till March. I am trying to go for a cozy winter vibe. It is like my second act of decor after the Christmas holidays.

I start collecting throw pillows that have fur and maybe a hint of glitter. Last year I purchased some throw pillow covers off Amazon with ribbed Snowflakes that are really beautiful.

I will share a few pictures of my winter decorations. How do you feel after you take down the decorations?

Love white flowers

Some Great ideas on how to remain current in your 50s as it relates to appearance and Fashion.

Tags

beauty, Fashion, glamour, me, musings, Self improvement, thoughts, women, writing

I want to start with hair because our texture and fullness change as we inch toward middle age.

The most important thing is a great cut that works with your face structure and texture. A lot of women chose to go natural with their beautiful gray hair. I follow some very beautiful bloggers who pull it off wonderfully but again they have great cuts and use products that take away the brassiness, Now if you choose to keep your hair colored the same rules apply. I love using the L’Oréal root spray when my roots start to show. It provides coverage as well as making your hair appear fuller.

How we chose to dress also keeps us current. I love the idea on No rules when it comes to fashion but wrinkles, stained and looking frumpy is not putting your best foot forward.

Dark denim and Black jeans that are great quality are a great foundation for a casual look. Pair it with a strong structured Blazer and easy top and you are almost ready to go. Next are accessories. If you do not know where to start I would suggest some hoop earrings and maybe a great scarf and a belt if your waistline permits.

Next some makeup tips for the Mature skin. Skincare is paramount. Please exfoliate, moisturize, Use retinol, hyaluronic acid and collagen based products. Also use vitamin C serum to brighten your skin. Do splurge on a great foundation to even out your skin tone. If you just want minimal makeup I would highlight brows, use a little eyeliner a maybe a nude lipstick.

Brows are so important in defining our face. If you have over plucked or have too thin of a bow look up tutorials on how to achieve a better brow. There are excellent pomades and brow fillers any many different price points.

Weight Loss in your 50s…..

It is well known as we age losing weight becomes even harder.

Throw in some menopause and a hectic work life and the struggle becomes even tougher.

I want to share what has worked for me. I am about 10 pounds away from my goal and I am very happy with the results I have achieved so far .

It is very personal our relationship with food. You will need to do a bit of soul searching and find out the why you are turning to food and what are your triggers?

I mean let’s face it great food is fantastic and Who wants to stop when it tastes this good and makes us feel good ..until our jeans will not zip.

Ok so now what has worked?

Every Morning before breakfast I hit my treadmill for some fasting cardio. This helps burn fat quicker because your body is not burning the food you have consumed. I will tell you that some mornings are a struggle but I always feel so accomplished when I am done. I also listen to great music and sing along . I also do my daily affirmations and pray.

I started taking Thrive supplements ( optimal nutrition) it is a combination of vitamin capsules with natural caffeine. There is includes a protein shake with probiotics that tastes delicious and then the trilogy is complete with a transdermal patch with more vitamins.

Thrive gave me the energy and focus along with some fantastic appetite suppressant that jump started me. Now I am

Just using the-protein shake. The weight loss obviously helped bring my energy back. So I did not need any additional caffeine.

I lost about eight pounds doing theses two things. So the third element was this.

One of my best friends had joined Weight Watchers ( just the App) and had quickly lost 10 lbs. She asked me to join because we always go to dinner throughout the week and we could help each other. Well this was one of the best decisions I made because the weight really started to come off. See the premise is this …eat lean protein like chicken and fish and also vegetables and fruit. Eggs are also zero points. Now not only am I accountable but I can still have a glass of wine or a better choice like a seltzer and a piece of sugar free chocolate.

Lastly, I also do strength training with weights. I mean menopause really wrecks the tightness and toning of your body.

So this is a non negotiable. I also do yoga and swim when I can.

I aim for a minimum of 7000 steps a day but usually get more. I average around 9800 steps a day.

So good luck to anyone who is trying to battle the middle age spread. This is not supported by WW or Thrive.

But if you want to join WW I can get you a free month if you provide your email.

If you are interested in Thrive I can also help you with your order.

Becoming the Best Version of you

Tags

Fashion, glamour, me, Self improvement, Travel, weightloss

There is a bit of hype about this subject. I think it is very personal to each individual.

As I reflect on 2019 I cannot help but smile! So many good memories!

First I traveled a lot in 2019 some trips were planned and two were wonderfully unexpected.

Secondly; I joined Weight Watchers and finally lost about 28 lbs. I feel a lot better physical and mentally. I workout at least 6x a week and eat mostly lean protein veggies and fruit.

This is what gave me the confidence to start my Fashion IG Account.

So let me tell you about my travels.

The first trip was to Denver, Colorado and it was a work trip but I extended my stay and brought along my best friend. We stayed at the New Gaylord hotel and it was exquisite.

Great fitness facility and great restaurants. We did Uber to the Union station hotel and shops and had a great time shopping and trying out some fancy cocktails.

Next We me and my friends went to Las Vegas! 4 couples including us and we stayed at an older hotel

The Stratosphere . The men played golf and we girls shopped and walked the main drag

To check out the famous hotels like the Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace. I believe we had about 20,000 steps that day . We took in a Cirque de solie show one evening and a Micheal Jackson Tribute show at the Stratosphere. We also dined at the Top of the World restaurant that provided the 360 rotating views of Sin City.

Then my husband and I went with another couple to Isla Mujeres, Mexico for the second time. The Island is small and beautiful. We rented a golf cart so we could explore the nooks and crannies of the Island. We met two young Brazilian girls who invited us to Captains beach club. It was one the best decision we made because we all had an awesome time. It was and Beautiful and private with stunning views and great food.

In July, three of my high school friends and myself went to Myrtle Beach SC for a long weekend. It was so good to catch up with my girls . We recreated some old photos and bonded and will hopefully make it an annual trip.

So for my job I got to go to Hilton Head SC for a conference. It was 4 days and a co worker and myself worked the conference and had the best time exploring restaurants and shopping and catching some Rays.

Then my husband wins a trip to Kiawah Island Resort and we stayed at the 4 star resort the Sanctuary. He played golf while I enjoyed a Collagen Facial at the beautiful Spa.

In November we wrapped it up with a cruise to Miami , Key West and Cozumel with 16 couples celebrating milestone Birthdays and wedding Anniversaries.

I will include some pictures of my trips but I am looking forward to more travel and adventures in 2020.