Old Eyes and Shadows

January 10, 2024 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Beauty

I’ve been engrossed in eye shadows lately. Not just the different colors and products but also different ways to apply them. You see, the problem is, I’ve got old eyes now! I’m talking about the skin around my eyes.

Our skin repairs itself…continually healing the effects of the sun and the little scratches and scrapes and bruises, even little ones that we cannot see. We take all this for granted while it works tirelessly night and day until we notice the lines and sagging.

About this time, we realize our skin takes longer and longer to repair itself. The harm gangs up on us. I know this, and this is why I think sleep is one of my best beauty tools. I try to get eight hours and do so regularly.

Of course, even with eight hours it still catches up. We all start life with taut, smooth baby skin around our eyes, and during our senior years, our skin starts to look like raisins. It doesn’t matter how careful we are; the skin around our eyes sags, wrinkles, discolors, and…you get the picture.

How My Skin Aged (from 2 to 69So here’s my dilemma. I still like to wear eye shadow. It especially hides the discoloration, but there are the sags and wrinkles to contend with.

So, this is when I started experimenting with eye shadows. Imagine that! I remember doing this as a teenager, so here I am again. Instead of reading teen magazines, though, I did what we do today. I googled “old eyes and eye shadow”, and I started reading what other people were saying.

I found that some women liked the new metallic shades. I went to my Estee Lauder counter and told the lady there that I wanted to try a shade or two. I liked it, and I bought one in a nice neutral pink. I also have a nice shimmery peach, too.

A note here, though. I’ve had eye surgery years ago, and my eyelids aren’t as wrinkled yet. You can read about it here. I’m told that if your lids are wrinkled, you need to use a silky neutral instead of a shimmery shadow.

Both shades help reflect light, and they go on great. I use them all over my eye area as a nice neutral. Most days it is all I wear, but I try to keep it off of my brow bone. When I get it up on my brow bone, it makes it too noticeable. I think it even ages me more.

Next for dressier times, I use a darker shade of eye shadow on my lower lid and blend it up to my crease. Sometimes, I start on the outside of the lower lid and come toward the middle. I don’t want much at all on the inside of my lower eyelid. Then I blend, blend, blend. I do all this with an 8x mirror.

I then dip my little finger in either my pink or peach-neutral shadow and dot the inside of my eye. This little dot helps open up my eyes.

I also changed the applicators I use. I always used the little foam applicators that came with my shadows. Not anymore. I noticed that brushes work better now.

I finally broke down and bought a couple of good eye shadow brushes. I use the larger one for applying my neutral and the smaller, shorter bristled one for the crease and blending. Shadows go on much nicer using a brush. Our crepey, wrinkled skin need them to get the shadow to go on smoothly.

I’m also careful to not apply too much shadow. That is why the 8x mirror is needed.

Finally, if I’m going somewhere special, I will bring the darker shadow up higher and blend it farther outside the edge of my eye, above the crease, but here is the difference because of age. If I blend it outside from the lower lid, it drags my eye down. It is only an allusion, but I don’t like how it looks. I’ve learned how to blend the darker shadow just above this area and out but not too far out. It picks my eye up and opens it up, too.

For eyeliner, I run a Kohl line from just above my iris almost to the outside edge of my eye. My favorite is a khaki green by Lancôme that I’ve had forever, but a plum or soft brown looks good, too. I have greyish-brown hair and hazel eyes. Liner and waterproof mascara give my eyes a good definition.

Silkisseme by L’Oreal is a great product. It goes on easiest of all, and it looks great all day. I liked it so much that I already have four different colors.

I don’t wear shadow, mascara, or liner on the lower lid because of another problem with aging: watery eyes.

So there you have it. This is what I do differently to compensate for my old eyes. I’m happy for the time being, but I know that this is an ever-changing process that seems to evolve faster and faster as I age.

A Photo Done for the Book Last Summer

Why a Concealer No Longer Works for Me

May 8, 2018 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Beauty

Finding a good concealer is getting more difficult. At least for us baby boomers.

This is an understatement, but this aging thing is certainly a problem. What I really mean is that I constantly reinvent the wheel lately. Life is getting more and more complex.

Take my under eye circles for example. A few years ago I wrote a post about the new concealer I found. You can read it here. I waxed on eloquently about its attributes, not realizing that in less than five years my complexion would change once again. My concealer no longer works, except for the broken capillaries on my leg.

What’s Happening to My Skin

In addition to the wrinkles and sagging skin, it seems I use fewer cosmetics. I’m learning that wearing less looks better. Many of the formulas were not made for older skin anyway.

They tell me that the outer layer of my skin is thinning, even though I still have the same number of skin cells. All the while, my pigment cells are decreasing, so my skin gets paler and more translucent.

This is why I now wear a sunless tan on most days. Pale skin looks pasty to me and every pound I gain looks like I gained five. I perfectly understand why our president and most politicians wear sunless tans.

For more info on how your coloring changes, the following blog post has a great explanation. You can read it here.

Then there are the blood vessels that feed my skin and which get more fragile while the connective tissues decrease. This is getting ugly.

They also tell me that the oil glands in my face produce less oil, and that’s why my face is drier. So I apply hyaluronic acid to my face daily. It sucks in the moisture my skin needs, but I wonder how long it will work, too. You can read about my skincare routine here.

In addition, I apply retinol. Retinol reminds skin cells to behave as they did when I was younger and healthier, It minimizes wrinkles, thickens skin, controls acne, strengthens blood vessels (so there’s less breakage and discoloration), and fades sun spots. Lately, I noticed that it takes more to do the same job.

So all of this seems to no longer work as well. Lately, my concealer doesn’t work at all, and my skin gets dry and itchy far too easily. It could be my hormones, but they are stable because my doctor checks them at least once a year. I am on bio-identical hormones.

Why I No Longer Wear Concealer

While my concealer should be the answer to erasing under eye circles and combating the look of fatigue; if used incorrectly, it also makes me look older. Too much makeup around the eye area highlights wrinkles and lines.

Careful about its application, I used my finger to melt the concealer into my skin. If I piled it on without blending it in, it settled into my fine lines and wrinkles. I looked for lighter and lighter weighted textures until I realized in the end that nothing worked well any longer. It seemed to just sit on the surface. Instead of making me look younger, it only made me look older.

A few years ago I ran across a makeup artist named Cindy Joseph. She now has her own makeup line.

She said, “Allow the character in your face to be your beauty. Adding texture to texture just makes more texture. So if you want to get rid of wrinkles, putting makeup on them is just going to make them more so. A young face is more like a blank canvas so you can paint colors and textures and all that stuff. But when you get older and you have character and wrinkles and age spots and all that stuff going on, just let it be there. You know, you’re not going to trick anybody. You’re not going to fool anybody.”

I don’t have to give up my foundation yet, but I guess that day will come too. In the meantime, I just keep adjusting my makeup routine to fit my situation.

You can read about more tips from Cindy Joseph here. The video at the end of the post really convinced me.

So what concealer do I use now? I took Cindy Joseph’s advice and I don’t wear concealer at all. I just use my foundation to cover my circles though it doesn’t do the job as well as concealers used to do. I make sure, though, that a primer is mixed with my foundation. It helps with the application.

Dozens of Spring Trends Inspired by Fashion Week

February 5, 2018 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Fashion

Last September during Fashion Week, fashion designers, brands, and houses displayed their latest collections for buyers and the media. Their hope was to influence trends and markets for the upcoming 2018 Spring season.

So Spring/Summer 2018 is finally here, and online and in our stores are the latest fashions inspired by fashion week last fall. Below are examples of what I found, several of which are too rich for my pocketbook, but are beautiful examples.

Here’s What to Expect

Ice cream colors. Pick a pastel shade but do it up right from head to toe. Maybe a muted peachy pastel.

Tailored, polished denim. Does this mean it’s time to pack up those holy jeans?

Polished jeans from Talbots.

Wider shoulders, a la the 80s.

Pants legs all over the place. Skinny, wide, shorter, ankle, whatever you like.

Shorts, mostly short. Sorry, not something I still do, but it’s great for the younger women.

Vinyl–raincoats, boots, jackets, ponchos, even dresses, and skirts. It started last fall; but will it make it through the summer? I’m not even sure we can do vinyl down here in Florida in the summertime.

Here are three trends in one piece. The rainwear is vinyl, is cherry tomato red, has broad shoulders, and is a trench coat. Oops, that’s four!

Pencils skirts with pointed kitten heels for a touch of class. I would love a sailor blue pencil shirt to add to my wardrobe.

Styles

The trench coat reappears mainly in softer earth colors, especially warm sand. And trench details are in our blouses and dresses. Again with wider shoulders.

A trench coat with broad shoulders in warm sand.

Colors

Other than the all over pastel shades, there are bright colors. Especially worn together. Think a jeweled purple like ultraviolet and a chili red…or a neon lime mixed with a cherry tomato, though the latter seems a little Christmasy to me. All the same, be colorful!

Something for a formal wedding!

Think multi-faceted and very colorful. There’s a sunny yellow and a soft rosy violet. The reds are a cherry tomato and a chili hue. There’s an azure blue and a violet so deeply purple that it’s called ultra violet. Expect to see this color in shades of nail polish and eye shadow.

Look for ultraviolet and the retro green shades in eyeshadows and nail polish as well as clothing.

There’s a green that’s somewhere between mint and emerald and looks like a retro color. There’s a muted peachy tone called Blooming Dahlia that will look great with Almost Mauve which looks more like it is almost white.

For a good foundation color, there’s a deep cognac brown. I need some new brown pants, and something in this color will be very useful. Or maybe some chili red ones.

Finally there is a fuchsia orchid and a neon lime.

Rounding out the foundation colors are coconut milk, harbor mist grey, warm sand, and sailor blue, a navy shade.

Prints

Prints include all-over checks and tartans; and there are stripes up and down, horizontal, and all directions including vertical candy stripes.

Wouldn’t this make a great Valentine’s Day gift for your young granddaughter or daughter? Or how about for yourself to your husband?

Lots of floral patterns–some soft romantic and airy, others like we had in the 60s, and some micro sweet and tiny. Florals are definitely in.

Rainbow patterns, black and white polka dots, and statement shirts that try to tell us how to think. Included are tropical and art inspired prints.

Trends I’ll Reject

One trend I’ll refrain from trying is the “in your face” nipples…all over the place—maybe in The Big Apple or Los Angeles, but goodness, not in out here in Realville.

Reminded me of the cool see-through blouse I brought back from Miami, while visiting my cousins in the early 70s. It was hard to see anything with its dark, dark fabric and large pockets strategically placed. Black and supposed to be worn with a black bra, that shirt didn’t last two days in my parent’s home. It vanished into thin air never to be mentioned again.

So that’s my take on what to expect. Go forth ladies and discover what’s out there in fashion for Spring, 2018!

How to go Gray in 3 Steps!

June 3, 2017 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Beauty

I was thinking of letting my hair go gray, but it was a big step.

I grew up in a small southern US town where the ladies dressed to the nines for just about everything–church, bridge, mullet roasts, garden circles, campaign rallies, and the Friday night football games. Even the older ladies did–especially the older ladies.

The Blue Haired Ladies

I distinctly remember the blue-haired ladies. They were always so tidy and meticulous with every hair in place. Several of the elderly ladies used a rinse that made their hair have a bluish-gray tint. We called them the ‘blue haired ladies”.

A 1960s Magazine Ad

Mother said that some women’s gray hair yellowed more than others, and that they used this rinse to make their gray prettier. Of course, with graying comes the dimming of eyesight, too. So sometimes some of the ladies used too much of the rinse, thus the blue tint. As a child I thought it was cool.

1960s Magazine Ad for Yellow Tinged Gray

I’ve threatened for years to be a ‘blue hair’, when I grow old. If all these young girls can have pink, purple and green hair, then why can’t we older ladies have blue hair?

My Mother at 68 and Grandmother who was in her 90s

Time to Go Gray?

Well, here I am today with a head full of gray hair. Or at least it appeared so at the roots. I wasn’t sure because I colored my hair consistently. I’ve colored it since some of the it started coming in nearly twenty years ago.

I thought, though, that it might be time to embrace my gray hair; but I was not exactly sure how much I really had up there.

Frankly, this is a new phenomena for me. Until just lately, I never even considered letting myself go gray. I’m a vain woman. I think I’m just curious more than anything. Several of my girlfriends did it, and I liked it. They looked great.

Three Steps to Going Gray

So last fall, I stopped coloring my hair, which was step one. I watched the gray roots grow each time between washings. It was like one big experiment.

Next, step two was to spray my gray away. To keep it looking good, though, I sprayed the roots using a product called “Grey Away”. It worked like a charm and hid my roots even after my roots got more than two inches long.

It washes out completely the next washing. There are many other sprays and other secret weapons on the market, but I found this one right away and kept using it.

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I had over two inches of uncolored grey that I covered with this spray after every shampoo. This is why I tell my husband that we older ladies know camouflage. He calls it fraud. I found it worked better after my blow dry and after I applied my hair spray.

Here’s a before photo and an after using the spray. It covered very well.

The third step was a good haircut, shorter than I had in a quite while. I wanted to cut off as much of the colored hair as possible. I needed hair to frame my face, so it is cut longer on the top with bangs. The haircut was by Angela at Hair on Earth in Tallahassee. She cut it just like I wanted.

I love styling it myself, but I am still not totally gray. I may want to go back to spraying it with “Gray Away” to let more gray grow in.

And I can always just go back to coloring it. We women today have so many options.

One thing I know for sure, though, my hair won’t allow me to be a ‘blue hair’. Not yet, anyway. It’s still a little too early. That will take a little while longer.

Are you thinking about going gray? If you already have, please share how you did it?

Stitch Fix for Christmas

December 6, 2016 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Fashion

Disclosure: I am now a Stitch Fix influencer. I am so happy to be able to share my love of Stitch Fix with you, and if you sign up for a Fix through any of the links on this page, I receive $25 toward my next Fix and a commission toward any gift card purchased, as well.

STITCH FIX FOR CHRISTMAS

I just got another Stitch Fix box, and this one was just in time for Christmas. It came while we were away during the Thanksgiving holidays, but an email from Stitch Fix told me that it was here at the house waiting for us when we returned.

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Stitch Fix Time Again!

August 22, 2016 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Fashion

It is Stitch Fix time again!! There was a box waiting for me when Chuck and I returned from out west. I opened it this morning, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Here’s what I found. A soft pink dolman knit sweater by Papermoon is luscious. A black and white knit dress from Gilli will be perfect for day and evening. The lace-up back detailed blouse gives my wardrobe a cool vibe, and the Liverpool black skinny ankle pants goes with just about everything.

So let’s take a closer look.

First, my personal stylist got instructions from me that I have three big events planned for this fall. First, I have a class reunion to attend. Lord help me, because I’ve been on a diet all summer long. Second, Chuck and I are going to China; and third, my daughters, sister, and I have a blogging conference planned, too. So I needed just the right pieces.

My personal stylist Cindy did not disappoint! I tried on the lace-up blouse first and loved (LOVED) it. It will go with just about any color slacks I already have, but it is so light weight. Chuck and I just found out that we cannot have more than 44 pounds in our individual suitcases while traveling in China, so I have to take clothes that are lightweight.

The skinny pants go with everything, especially this blouse that I already owned. The shoes below were in the Fix, and I’ll review them later in this post.

and the knit dress. I thought it looked super underneath the dress for a night on the town—say in Shanghai? They tell me that Shanghai is like New York City.

The dolman top also goes with so much. I tried it with a black skirt to dress it up…and with a pair of jeans to dress it down.

Then I got carried away. I just bought a new pair of camel colored pants, and the blouse goes well with them, too.

Then my daughter suggested something that wasn’t so matchy, matchy. I liked it too.

Finally, I got a pair of shoes in this Fix; but I did not have a Cinderella moment. They are super cute, and my stylist did have a terrific idea. She suggested for the long 13 hour flight over or back that I wear them with a tee and cardigan. Then after the flight I could fold them up and fit them into my tote. Grand idea, but the shoes didn’t fit. They were too small.

Thankfully, though, my daughter Jamie loved them, so I gave the Yosi Samra Leather Toe Stud Flats to her. They fit her perfectly.

Here’s how it worked out financially. My entire fix this quarter was $332. If I kept every piece they sent, though, then I received a 25% discount of $83 and a credit for my styling fee which is $20. My new total for all five pieces is $229, about $45 a garment. I was happy with that.

If I had sent the shoes back, the total would have been $83 more, and the shoes cost $88. That is too much for these shoes for my budget, but it made sense for me to give the shoes to my daughter. She is pleased as punch.

So there you have it. My Stitch Fix reveal for the Fall season! I kept every piece of this Stitch Fix!

Stitch Fix Does Summertime Right!

June 7, 2016 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Fashion

“Summertime and the living is easy. Fish are jumping and the cotton is high.” And that’s where I’m at right now. I’m in high cotton, since I got my latest Stitch Fix box.
I decided to keep all five pieces that my personal stylist sent me.

Love this Stitch Fix Skirt!

First, this little turquoise A-line skirt made by Margaret M is light, cool and comfortable, just perfect for our sweltering Florida heat.

It is also easy to style. Below I added a small scarf tied around my throat (a neckerchief) and some gladiator sandals for a little different twist. I also pulled it up to my waist line for a shorter look. It has an interesting waist that allows me to wear it longer or shorter.

The Stitch Fix Blouse that Goes with Everything

They also sent a little white blouse by See U Soon with an embroidered yoke. I tried it with two different pairs of slacks. And it should also be great with a pair of standard wash jeans or a yellow crocheted skirt that I bought last summer. With all the different colors in the yoke, I should have lots of pants and skirts to pair it with.

I guess you can tell that I love colors in my wardrobe. Years ago when every one was wearing all those black and grey clothes and other muted tones, I just continued wearing colors. Why would I want to act like the world is monochromatic when it is so beautiful. God gave us all these colors to celebrate.

But so much for my soapbox.

The Dress I Almost Returned

The next item was an Izabella Knit Dress by Maggy London. Initially, I liked the color and shape but definitely not the print. I made up my mind to send it back.

But I always try on every piece no matter what, and that’s how I got hooked. I loved the fit, style, and length of this dress; plus it was so comfortable. I took it off. Then I put it back on the next morning. I had plans for a luncheon that day and kind of wanted to wear it. But I put it back in the box and didn’t.

That evening I got the dress out of the box and put it on again. This time I was sold. It just took me over 24 hours to know it.

Above, I styled the dress with some silver gladiator sandals and a silver necklace and bracelet. I kept the accessories to a minimum, though, because this is such a busy print to begin with.
By the way the necklace looks like some type of sea creature, but it is really just a sterling fork heated and reshaped. Chuck and I stumbled across it while we were in Stockholm this past fall.

Also, I used to wear dresses by Maggy London years ago, but I haven’t seen one in years. Maggy London always fit me well. I’m happy to have another one back in my closet.

Crochet is so In!

Stitch Fix also sent a very nice blush shrimp blouse with crocheted sleeves. Have you noticed that crochet is everywhere for 2016? They are adding crocheted fabric to just about everything.
I first tried the Eden Society blouse with a pair of light wash jeans, but it was my flaired white jeans that added the styling I was looking for, especially with a pair of light pink metallic patent leather heels I already owned. This will be perfect to wear at The Florida Chamber Environmental Shortcourse held in Orlando this July.

I told my stylist about this casual conference, and she made sure I received the right pieces for the events, which include classes and some dressier evening dinner parties. And I may sneak over to the theme parks with my grandbabies, too! Also, Chuck and I have plans for a road trip later this summer, and many of the pieces were casual enough for this vacation, too.

Pants that Fit Perfectly Every Time

Finally, the last piece was a pair of black and white Liverpool floral skinny jeans. I loved them instantly, and they fit perfectly as every pair of slacks I’ve ever received from Stitch Fix always fit well.

I first dressed them down with a magenta blouse and the same little scarf around my neck. By the way my girlfriend Susan Rissman hand painted this scarf. You can find her work at the Jefferson Arts Gallery in Monticello, Florida on West Washington Street within a few blocks of the courthouse. I also added a strappy pair of sandals. This will work perfectly for my classes or for casual wear.

But I have this great flowy black tunic blouse that I tried next for a dressier look. I loved it, and it will be perfect for dinner one evening. I also found this as the perfect compliment to the artsy silver necklace that Chuck gave me for my birthday this past winter.

So there you have it. I kept every garment they sent and got the 25% off for keeping the entire box. What a great deal!

If you are interested in trying Stitch Fix, click on the photo below. I love it; and hopefully you will, too.

The Perfect Gift for Mother’s Day

May 2, 2016 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Fashion

Don’t forget, Mother’s Day is literally days away! This post is just in case you still haven’t figured out what to do for her, yet.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for your wife (or mom), give her the gift of her very own personal stylist with a Stitch Fix.

Give her a gift card from Stitch Fix. You can purchase it below.

Stitch Fix Gift Card

Most likely this is something she’d never do for herself, and I can tell you from my own personal experience that it is so cool when that little box arrives in the mail.

A Stitch Fix Box

Here are two recent posts about Stitch Fix, in case you haven’t heard of it. Fashion in a Box & Short{t} Style & Stitch Fix

But the concept is simple. It is an online styling service with well-fitting, fashionable and affordable clothing.

Stitch Fix Adira Dress

Best of all, though, everything fits super well. Very seldom do I send something back because it does not fit.

Where they really excel for me is the fit of their pants. My jeans fit perfectly. My garnet cords they sent last year, fit perfectly. I have never sent a pair of pants back.

Pants are a perfect fit, every time!

So do yourself a favor! Check Stitch Fix out below. Click on the picture below. She’ll be happy you did.

Fashion in a Box! Stitch Fix

March 14, 2016 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Fashion

Chuck and I spent the weekend at the coast; and while we were gone, the mailman delivered another Stitch Fix fashion box. It is like getting a Christmas gift box every quarter. I am always excited, and as usual, it did not dis- satisfy.

Stitch Fix is an online styling service, and this quarter’s box was fabulous. I love the garments they send. So let’s check out what was in the fashion box.

I set down first with the style cards and read the note from my stylist Meaghan. These pieces, included in my quarterly fix box, were hand-selected just for me by Meaghan. The fashion box arrived with a personal note from her, and she gave suggestions for each piece in the box and explained why she selected these styles for me.

Just going by the style cards I liked every fashion that they sent me.

I don’t know if you are like me, but sometimes I don’t have time to shop. It takes time to find just the right pair of slacks with a good fit. Or maybe I have a wedding coming up and need help. With Stitch Fix, I have a stylist who knows exactly which styles I like, what will look flattering on me, and which fashion trends I might like to try.

First, I had requested a pair of black jeans; and there was a pair in this box. The style card suggested what to pair them with.

I loved the Gelsey crochet blouse, especially the color. Meaghan was right. It does add a pop of color, which is such a fashion trend right now.

And the Adira dress looked really cute. I loved the pattern and color. I have a wedding coming up, so it should be the perfect fashion.

The Noella elbow patch detail cardigan looked cute, but I wasn’t so sure about the color white.

Finally, the Rebekah stretch crêpe blazer looked really cute, but I already have one very similar in my closet. Still, I wanted to try it on anyway.

After reading my note from Meaghan, I couldn’t wait to try on what she selected just for me. It was time to pull out each piece and take a closer look. The first item I grabbed was the Adira dress.

I like to begin by placing each piece out on the floor and pairing it with the suggested pieces from the styling cards and other pieces from my closet. I automatically loved the shape of all the pieces except the Adira dress. It looked boxy and shapeless to me. I wondered if laying it out on the floor made it look that way so I hung it up and took some more pictures. I still wasn’t sure about it, but I tried it on anyway.

So that is where I started–with the Adira dress. I loved the material, and I actually liked the way it looked on me. It has a tie in the back and that gives the dress shape once I put it on. I really wanted to keep this, but there was a fatal flaw. I don’t like dresses this short anymore. I am 62 years old and feel uncomfortable in them. I will have to return the dress, but I loved the material, the cut, the way it fit, and I loved the way it could be dressed up or down. I styled it for the wedding I’m about to attend.

As suggested I tried on the cardigan with the dress; and surprisingly it was cute, though I didn’t care for the booties with it and it made me look shorter than I already am. I would probably put on a pair of flats instead of booties with this dress.

I also liked the blazer but I already have one. I tried it on with the dress anyway (picture above), and it looked just as cute.
Next came those great looking black slacks. This is what I like most about Stitch Fix. They always get the slacks right. These were no exception to the rule. They were a perfect fit.

First, I paired them on the floor with the crochet blouse; and it was a very cute look. Then I added the cardigan for another look, and the blazer for a third look. I loved all of them.

So I tried on all five items that Meaghan selected for me, and they did not disappoint.

To recap, the jeans fit beautifully; and they looked great with the crochet blouse. They are both keepers.

I was considering the cardigan, but I remembered that I have one very similar to it down at the coast. I bought it several years ago when we were traveling in Ireland, and it has that same Fishermen’s weave that this one has. It is also the same wheat color. This cardigan is a wheat color instead of white as I previously thought. I loved the soft neutral color; the contrast of the brown elbow patches instantly added a sophisticated flare to this cozy sweater; but I will have to return it.

The styling cards always give me inspiration. Chuck would say, though, that what they really do is inspire me to spend more money. In this case, he is right.

First, I really liked the baby blue sweater (shown above) and how they paired it with the Adira dress. I pulled out my baby blue sweater and realized that it was not light enough blue. I have a dress with about the same color print as the Adira dress, but my sweater is too blue.

Now I’ve just got to have a light blue sweater. So I went to the Stitch Fix page, signed in, and left my stylist a note letting her know that I would like this sweater.

Next, I went online to Amazon and ordered a set of brown suede leather patches to sew on my sweater. I loved this look when I was trying the sweater on with the other pieces. I have a sewing machine and will add them myself.

Finally the crochet blouse is really special. One of the styling cards suggested wearing an egg white skirt with this blouse. Instead, this inspired me to pair it with some white skinny jeans this summer. I already have the jeans, and this outfit will be perfect for a conference in Orlando this July.

I have a great denim shirt that I want to try with the black skinny jeans. And I have a moto jacket that I also tried.

So all in all I am keeping two pieces out of this box. It isn’t that I didn’t like the other three pieces; instead it is that I already have a couple of them and one is too short.

I was lucky last quarter when my Stitch Fix arrived, and I kept all five pieces. They all fit perfectly, and I got a great discount.

By the way if you have trouble getting your slacks, pants and jeans to fit, then Stitch Fix is your place to shop. They absolutely get it right every time. They are so good that my daughter who blogs at The Uncoordinated Mommy got an entire Stitch Fix filled with nothing but jeans and pants. She said they were perfect.

So I went online and visited www.stitchfix.com to complete the survey. I rated my items, confirmed payment for what I was keeping, and told them what I was sending back. My feedback will make future shipments even better.

Since I am returning three items, I placed them in the enclosed, prepaid shipping bag and placed it in my mailbox. I agreed to do this within three business days.

So that is how Stitch Fix works. I’m very happy with the two items that I decided to keep. I am also happy with the styling cards that gives me so many different ideas and ways to style the pieces that I did keep and the pieces that I already have.

HERE IS HOW THE STITCH FIX SERVICE WORKS

New customers can go to StitchFix.com and create a free style profile. There’s no commitment, and it only takes a few minutes to answer some simple questions about the type of clothing you like to wear.

Once you are done, you sign up for your first Fix. You can use the link here to begin. www.StitchFix.com

For a $20 Styling Fee, a personal stylist reviews your information in your style profile to select 5 items that she thinks will be perfect for you.

I find that having a fashion-related Pinterest Board entitled “My Style” was the best way to let her know what I like. You can see my board here.. If you do not have a fashion Pinterest board like this, I strongly suggest that you make one with a couple dozen pins of looks that you really like. It is easy and fun to do, and it really helps your stylist understand what clothes you like and what fashion trends you may like to try.

Finally the box arrives direct to your door so you can try your new clothes on in the comfort of your home with clothing and accessories that you already own. Shipping is free.
You have three days to make your selections and check out online. Once you check out, simply return any unwanted pieces in the pre-paid shipping envelope that is included in your Fix. Return shipping is also free.
If you choose to keep any items in your Fix, the $20 styling fee you paid initially will be deducted from the price of the clothes.

The best part, though, is that if you choose to keep EVERY item in your Fix, you get a 25% discount on your entire Fix!
During the checkout process, you will be asked to give feedback on each item in your Fix. Your stylist will take that information and use it to select pieces to include in your future fixes.
HOW MUCH DO THE CLOTHES COST?

According to Stitch Fix’s FAQ page, the average price per item is $55. Each customer, though, can suggest their own price range for specific types of fashion garments such as sweaters, dresses, outerwear, jeans, etc. in their style profile of clothes.

Customers are always asked to rate the prices of each item included in their Fix during the checkout process. This helps to ensure that you are comfortable with the price of each item included in my future Fix.

STITCH FIX ADVICE

If you want to get the very best clothes in all of your fixes, read tips for communicating with your stylist written by Maria Gavin at Crazy Together. She wrote a post called, How to Get the Best Clothes from Stitch Fix. She gives great advice.

Also, her last post has a give-away. You can read it here.

WHAT DO I LIKE BEST ABOUT STITCH FIX?

It is the fit. Everything fits super well. Very seldom do I send something back because it does not fit. Where they really excel for me, though, is the fit of their pants. My jeans fit perfectly. My garnet cords they sent last year, fit perfectly. I have never sent a pair of pants back.

If you have trouble with getting pants that fit well, then give Stitch Fix a try.

How Restylane® Lyft, Restylane® Silk and My Husband’s Failing Eyesight May Give Me A More Youthful Look

October 28, 2015 by oldageisnotforsissies54 Filed Under: Beauty

This post is sponsored by Restylane® Lyft and Restylane® Silk. However, the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’ve noticed that when I’m not smiling, I look a little depressed and somewhat sad. The reason is that the corners of my mouth turn down ever so slightly. What used to be a pleasant look on my face is no more. I look stern much of the time, unless I try to maintain a smidgen of a smile on my lips. I’m afraid I won’t be able to do this much longer, as it is getting worse.

My Youthful Daughter Tracy in the foreground and my unsmiling self in the background.

So what’s next? Will I begin to appear angry instead of just a little sad? I don’t wish to look like Cruella de Vil. It might frighten the grandchildren, especially the toddlers.

I’ve also noticed that the apples of my cheeks have lost volume. My face is beginning to look gaunt. In the picture above, look how full Tracy’s cheeks are, as compared to mine.

Everything seems to be sliding toward my mouth which may be why my mouth is turning down. Drat that pesky thing called gravity which is good for keeping us grounded, but which our muscles control less and less as we age.

So enter an old friend called Restylane® which has a new treatment that I really want to try soon. It is called Restylane® Lyft. You can read more about it here.

I’m hoping it can add some volume to my cheeks. Restylane® Lyft is the first and only FDA approved filler for cheek augmentation and the correction of moderate to severe smile lines (nasolabial folds).

Before & After Using Restylane® Lyft

I guess that is why I need to talk to a specialist before I decide. A good specialist can tell me which area(s) needs to be lifted, filled, relaxed and/or smoothed, because what I don’t want is anything that changes my looks overall. I still want to look like me.

Last Wednesday evening I was invited to a “What’s Her Secret?” event in Atlanta at Dermatology Consultants. You can find them here. They are located on Peachtree Road in a beautiful state-of-the-art facility, where Dr. Anna Paré gave a demonstration on the use of both Restylane® Silk and Restylane® Lyft.

Dermatology Consultants Facility on Peachtree Road in Buckhead

A demonstration of Restylane® Lyft

As many of you know, I have used fillers in the nasolabial folds of my face for years–you know those folds that run from your nose down to your mouth. The fillers really helped with the puddling of skin at my jowl line and helped my face look less severe.

So as you can tell I’ve had good experiences with Restylane®.

They have another product called Restylane® Silk that I may also try. It adds back the fullness that we lose as our lips age. My upper lip especially has been thinning. Silk may be in my future, too. You can read more about it here.

Restylane® Silk is the first and only FDA-approved product specifically designed for lip enhancement and the smoothing of wrinkles around the mouth in patients 21 years of age and older. I definitely have those little parallel lines where my lipstick bleeds unless I line them with a clear lip pencil.

Finally, Galderma, the company that makes these Restylane® products has an amazing opportunity for you to earn extra benefits when using their treatments. The ASPIRE Galderma Rewards program, which you can find here, gives each new member a $20 Treatment Certificate to be applied toward his or her next treatment.

Oh, the things we’ll do to maintain our youth.

My husband Chuck complains that I commit fraud every day with my makeup and treatments, but then again he also likes to still refer to me as his 61-year old “hot wife”. Thanks to Restylane® and his failing eye sight, I still may have it!

Important Safety Information

Indications: The Restylane family of products includes Restylane®, Restylane-L®, Restylane® Silk, Restylane® Lyft with Lidocaine, and Perlane®. Restylane, Restylane-L, Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine, and Perlane are indicated for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. Restylane and Restylane-L are indicated for mid-to-deep dermal implantation. Perlane and Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine are indicated for implantation into the deep dermis to superficial subcutis. Restylane Silk is indicated for submucosal implantation for lip augmentation and dermal implantation for correction of perioral rhytids in patients over the age of 21. Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine is also indicated for cheek augmentation and for the correction of age-related midface contour deficiencies in patients over the age of 21. Restylane and Restylane-L are also indicated for submucosal implantation for lip augmentation in patients over the age of 21.

Products in the Restylane family contain traces of gram-positive bacterial protein and are contraindicated for patients with allergies to such material or in patients with severe allergies that have required in-hospital treatment. These products should not be used by patients with bleeding disorders or by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Restylane and Restylane-L for lip enhancement and Restylane Silk should not be used by people under 22 years. Restylane-L, Restylane Silk and Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine should not be used by anyone with a known allergy to lidocaine. Products should not be injected anywhere except the dermis, superficial subcutis (Perlane and Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine only), or lip submucosa (Restylane, Restylane-L, and Restylane Silk only).

Use of products in the Restylane family at the site of skin sores, pimples, rashes, hives, cysts, or infection should be postponed until healing is complete. The most commonly observed side effects are swelling, redness, pain, bruising, headache, tenderness, and itching at the injection site. These are typically mild in severity and typically resolve in less than 7 days. Serious but rare side effects include delayed onset infections, recurrence of herpetic eruptions, and superficial necrosis at the injection site. Do not implant into blood vessels. Use with caution in patients recently treated with anticoagulant or platelet inhibitors to avoid bleeding and bruising.

The Restylane family of products is available only through a licensed practitioner. Complete Instructions for Use for Restylane, Restylane-L, Restylane Silk, and Perlane are available at www. RestylaneUSA.com. Complete Instructions for Use for Restylane® Lyft with Lidocaine is available at www.RestylaneLyft.com.

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