Visible Monday: 35th Anniversary Day Trip to Chicago!

Today is my 35th wedding anniversary! On Saturday, my husband and I went into Chicago to celebrate.  We had lunch at one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago, Rosebud on Rush, did a little shopping and sightseeing.  I love Chicago! We had a great time.

On the way to the Windy City! The weather was absolutely perfect, by the way!

At the restaurant

I wore my hair curly, teased on the top and pinned back on the sides

Not the best outfit of the day shot...sorry!  I was wearing capris from Macy's, cardigan and shell from Target.  This is in the courtyard of the beautiful Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago.

Entrance to the Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago, where "My Best Friend's Wedding" was filmed.  A wedding was going to take place that evening there!

Had to take a picture of this entrance, just because it was so pretty.  This is the entrance to the John Timothy Stone Chapel of Fourth Presbyterian Church.

A pretty scene on Rush Street.  Chicago really dresses up for summer, with a profusion of hanging baskets and gorgeous flowers everywhere. 

The Hancock Building, one of the tallest buildings in Chicago.  Taken from Chestnut Street.

If you ever get a chance to go to Chicago, GO!  It's one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

I'm participating today in Visible Monday!

Visible Monday: The "messy" side pony

As I continue in my journey of trying to be the best woman-of-a-certain-age that I can be, I've been trying to change up my hairstyles.  I don't want to get stuck in a rut.

So, inspired my one of my favorite YouTube tutorialists, Miss Tammy (more about her in a moment), I tried a "messy side bun."

Actually, as you can see, it turned out to be more of a side-pony than a side bun.

I don't think it really matters, though.  The whole point of the side-thingie is to be uber-casual about it.

As it happens, when I wore this look to work this past Friday, two of my co-workers and I were all wearing some form of black with white polka dots.

Susan, me and Linda

Of course, I had to take a pic.

Now about Miss Tammy, aka Uppiesbeads59, aka Crazy Miss Tammy

So, yeah, isn't she ridiculously gorgeous?

I'm not sure just how I came across Miss Tammy on YouTube.  All I know is that, although I love the young YouTube beauty tutorialists, I had really been wanting to find one closer to my age.

Miss Tammy fit the bill perfectly.  I think she's a few years younger than me, but she knows all about the things we women-of-a-certain age are going through, and she's all about aging gracefully, beautifully and elegantly.

And as a professional aesthetician, she can give knowledgeable and practical advice.

Not only that, she's funny and has a great personality. She often slips off into a foreign accent that's so cute...I don't know if it's real or just for fun.

Anyway, I got the side-thingie inspiration from Miss Tammy.  Now, understand that her hair is a lot longer than mine, so she rocks it a lot better.  But I now leave you with her tutorial for the messy side bun.

I'm taking part today in Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style!

Visible Monday: How do you feel about headbands?

Headbands are in style.

They're everywhere you look these days...and they come in an endless variety of colors and styles.

I must say, I was slow to hop on the headband bandwagon (say that 3 times fast.)  I couldn't get rid of mental images of Hillary Rodham Clinton "standing by her man"...or myself in the fifth grade.

Also, I've unfortunately, down through the years, seen many women-of-a-certain-age wearing headbands to a rather frumpy, dumpy effect.  

Finally, I realized that headbands can be quite attractive, and a fun way to change up your look.

I purchased the headband above at a local dollar store.  I got three or four headbands there...they were all name-brand (Goody, I think).  This one, and the black one at the bottom of this post, are the kind that go all the way around your head with an elastic base.

The above was probably my least favorite headband look for me...curly with no bangs.  I'm self-concious about having no bangs at all.  I kept thinking, "Is my forehead too wrinkled? does my face just look too plain without bangs?"

I've also tried it straight without bangs, although I don't have a picture of that.  Not my favorite look for me, but I've seen many other women rock it beautifully.

I do love that headband, though...my sister picked it up for me at Old Navy.

I liked this one...curly with bangs and a black-bow headband that goes all the way around.  Again, a dollar store purchase.  

I purposely put a light filter on this one so you could actually somewhat see the headband...it's not very visible in this picture.  My 20-something daughter has since adopted this headband, and I must say it looks adorable on her.

How about you?

Have you gotten into the headbanding trend? Let me know!

If you want to give it a go, be sure and pop into a dollar store...you can experiment without committing a lot of money!

I'm taking part today in Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style! Join the fun!

Visible Monday: Emerald Eye Shadow Tutorial

Did you know the fashion and make-up Powers That Be have declared emerald to be the color for 2013?

With yesterday being St. Patrick's Day, I decided to go all out...green everything, including my eye shadow.  Yes, the Make-up Powers That Be often tell you not to match-matchy your clothes and eye make-up, but I chose to ignore them.  Above is the finished look.  If you'd like to know how I accomplished it, read on!

This ELF palette has been may go-to palette since I got it for FIVE DOLLARS--yes FIVE DOLLARS--half-price at Walgreen's right after Christmas.  For my festive emerald St. Paddy's look, I chose to build the look around the emerald shadow that's in the fourth row up from the bottom, three shadows over.

Prep for the look:

I started out with a clean, moisturized face.  Before beginning with the shadow, I shaped my eyebrows with a dark brown shadow and a tiny angled brush...used ELF eyelid primer all over the lid...and a neutral skin-toned shadow all over the lid, all the way up to the brow.

Why, you ask?  I know it seems like a lot of steps, but if you're like me and want your eye shadow to stay put all day, it's worth it.

Now for the color:

Step 1:  I applied my emerald shadow all over the eyelid itself.

Step  2:  This is one step in which I deviated from ELF.  I love the gray in my Lancome eye shadow palette so much, and that's what I used in the crease and as a contour on the edges of my lid.

Step 3:  I blended it out with a brush, and even used my finger a little.

Step 4:  I used Estee Lauder black eye pencil above and below my lashes.  (I don't put liner on my water line, because I think it makes my eyes look smaller.)

Above my eye, I smoothed ELF black eye shadow over the eye pencil for a slightly more smudge look.
Beneath my eye, I smoothed the emerald eye shadow over the black pencil.  (As you can see, it doesn't look crazy-green.)

Step 5:  You can't see it very well in the pic, but I used eyelash primer on both sets of lashes.  I'm convinced it makes my lashes look a bit longer and thicker, (although naturally they're neither.)

Step 6:  In the center of my eyelid, I put a small smudge of a much-lighter green and blended slightly.  I think the little bit of bright in the center of the lid makes you look more wide-awake somehow.

Step 7:  I then put 2 or 3 coats of Estee Lauder black mascara on my upper and lower lashes.

Below:  I put a light shade of neutral with the tiniest bit of shimmer right below my brow.  You have to be careful with this, especially if you're older like me.  Too much shimmer, too much light stuff below the brow can end up looking tacky.  Use a very light touch.

Below:

The finished look.  Hope you like it!

I'm linking up today with Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style!

Visible Monday: What a Difference a Scarf Makes

One of the greatest thing about scarves is how they can completely change an outfit.  Case in point: what I wore today.

Black V-neck sweater. Black pencil skirt. Black tights and shoes.

Here's what it looked like, pre-scarf:

Look at the difference when I added a leopard-print scarf I got at Target last year.  I simply draped it over my shoulders and secured it in the front by slipping the ends through a $1.99 ring I got a while back at a beauty supply store.

Scarf: Target

V-Neck: Ann Taylor Outlet

Skirt: New York and Company a few  years ago

I think the scarf is actually slimming, as it slightly minimized my large chest area and draws the eye downward, somewhat elongating the silhouette.  (Don't I sound Tim Gunn-esque?)

I love leopard print anyway, and I also like the touches of red in the scarf that bring some brightness to the outfit.

The ring I'm using to hold the scarf ends together is so big and a little crazy, so I never wear it as a ring...but I think it works fine in this capacity.

Ready to face Monday with an updated look!

I'm linking to Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style!

Visible Monday: The 5-Dollar Old Navy Dress

Sometimes patiently scouring the clearance racks really pays off!  I was at Old Navy with my daughter on Saturday, and I found a simple blue dress for 5 dollars and some-odd cents.  It's sleeveless, but I knew it would fine with a cardigan.

So naturally I bought it, and wore it to church today with the Chinese Laundry hat I got at Ross Dress for Less for around 10 bucks at Easter earlier this year.

This picture above was taken on my back deck, which is being invaded by a gorgeous red maple tree.  Sadly, these leaves will be gone all too soon.

This dress is made of soft, comfy material.  I wore in with a black tank underneath, and a black Merona cardigan I got at Target a couple of months ago.

I REALLY need to get a full-length mirror... but just to let you know, the dress falls just below my knees.

A closer look.  As you can see, the cardigan has some pretty detailing.  I think I got the necklace at Cato a while back.

I'll leave you with a parting shot of our maple-gloried back deck.  It's been a breathtakingly gorgeous autumn, and I'll be sad to see these leaves go!

I'm participating in Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style...click on the icon to find out more!

Visible Monday: Winning the Battle with My Weak Nails

Two months without peeling my nail polish off! This is OPI  in "Manicurist of Seville"

I love pretty fingernails.  But for years I didn't have them.

As a kid and as a teenager, I bit my nails incessantly.  Well, finally one day I decided I was going to stop biting my nails.  It wasn't as hard as I had expected. Once I made the decision not to bite them, they grew.

And I would be delighted...finally able to apply pretty polish to my nails!  But guess what? The biting-the-nail habit turned into something arguably just as bad or worse: peeling off the polish.

Sometimes I would only have the polish on for a couple of hours and I would already be peeling and picking it off.  Yes, obviously I have issues.

I tried fake nails a few times, but my budget never really allows for them on a regular basis, and they left my real nails more unhealthy than ever.

A terrible habit!

The peeling-off habit was very damaging to my nails, too.  I read or heard somewhere that when you peel off the polish, you also strip off essential oils that your nails need to be strong and healthy.

I believe it.  My nails were flimsy.  I already take a B-vitamin supplement that is supposed to help hair and nails, so that should have been covered.

5 weeks without peeling off my nail polish!

My big decision

I don't know what prompted it, but one day last summer I decided I wasn't going to peel off my nail polish anymore.

It was a habit of long standing that I figured wasn't going to be easy.  But for the last couple of years, I've committed to trying to be the best woman-of-a-certain-age that I can be.  And having ragged, ugly fingernails just didn't jibe with that commitment.

So, on July 28th, I wrote this on Facebook:

"OK, FB friends, you are my witnesses: I hearby determine to break the appalling habit of peeling off my nail polish! If you see me doing it, you have my permission to slap me hard across the face!"

Since I made that decision, I haven't peeled my nail polish once--even though the temptation was strong at times.  And my nails have benefited immensely!

One of the first things I did was go and get a professional manicure to send me off on a good path.  Since then, I've had frequent polish changes at the nail salon (they're very cheap), and I'm learning to give myself a good home manicure.

A pretty color from Essie

They're no longer flimsy.  I've only had one beginning of a crack, and I fixed it with a remedy someone gave me on Facebook (maybe I'll talk about that in a future post...it's pretty genius.)

It's been over two months since I made my decision.  Who knows if I've permanently conquered the habit?  But so far, so good...and I'm so enjoying having pretty nails, I never want to go back!

Getting daring and experimenting with purple!

Note: When I went public with my shameful peeling habit, I found out that lots of women do the same thing!  It's compulsive.  Have you ever had the problem?  I'd love to know...share in my comments!

Also, a reminder: Just 5 days left in my Soft Surroundings give-away of this beautiful top...go here to enter for your chance to win!

I'm participating in Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style!  Click the icon for more info....

Visible Monday: Win This Beautiful Top from Soft Surroundings

I'm so delighted to offer you a chance to win this beautiful Vintage Ruffle Top from Soft Surroundings!  This is the second give-away I've been involved in with this wonderful company.  As you can see, I chose the top in cornflower blue, but it's also available tea rose (as pictured above) and charcoal.

From the Soft Surroundings website, here's a description of the top:

A special dye treatment gives this contemporary rib-knit top a unique dimensional effect that's especially notable on the ruffles that enhance the neckline, center front and three-quarter length sleeves. Attractively shaped and altogether current. Cotton body, rayon ruffle. Misses 26" long.

I have to tell you that this top is extremely comfortable and enjoyable to wear! I love it.  It's a good weight to go right into fall.

  On the day these pictures were taken, I wore it to work with a denim skirt, then dressed it up with a pretty necklace and earrings for date night with my husband. (My husband loved it, by the way!)

Here's how to enter: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm also taking part today in Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style! Click on the icon to find out more!

Visible Monday: Why I'm Taking Pictures of Myself

Those of us who are my age all remember when women decided at around 40 that they were done trying to look attractive. They spent the rest of their days in polyester pants and shapeless tops. Not for me.

I often take a pic of myself in my car, just before I leave for work--when the look is fresh (my neighbors may think I'm crazy!)

Believe it or not, there was a time when I really didn't know what I looked like.

This was a period of several years, in fact.  I was some 50 pounds heavier than I am now.

I knew I was fat.  I could tell that by looking in the mirror.  But I had no grasp on my actual appearance.  I kind of had no body image at all.  I really couldn't close my eyes and imagine what I looked like to others.

I tried not to be photographed.  This was before digital cameras, before people were taking pictures left and right, so it was relatively easy to disappear when a camera turned up.

When you're fat, you tend to only look at yourself in the mirror from the neck up, and even then you may not realize just how fat your face is--I know I didn't.

Fast forward to the present.  I am still overweight, but I have a clearer image of what I look like.  I see the faults--the ones that can't be changed--and the things that can and should be changed.

After my sister gave me a bunch of her clothes, I texted a pic of myself to her when I wore them

Awakened by blogs


At some point, I made a conscious decision to do everything within my power to be the best woman-of-my-age that I can be, physically and otherwise.

I think it really began in earnest when I was unemployed for a while, and I started watching make-up and hair tutorials and following fashion blogs.

I enjoyed them immensely and learned a lot, but there was just one problem.  The blogs and tutorials were pretty much all by young women.  Let's face it--young women have a leg up in this whole beauty thing because they ARE young!

So I was delighted to discover blogs by women closer to my own age, some even older, who were determined not to just lay down and die when it came to beauty and fashion.

Most of those blogs are ones that take part in the very bloghop I'm taking part in today...Visible Monday,  hosted by Not Dead Yet Style.  I love the title of that blog, and I love the subtitle: "how to look authentic and beautiful in our middle years."

I was actually wearing a pony tail in this pic--not sure how it didn't show up in this pic, but it wasn't a good look for me!  I felt it made me look frumpy

Visible!

These are women who are determined to look their very best, regardless of their age, size...whatever.

At first, I was hesitant to post pictures of myself "modeling" an outfit I put together.  I'm no expert on style, and I'm certainly not a model.

But reading these blogs has energized me.  I am more conscious of my appearance, the image I present to the world--in a good way! Those of us who are my age all remember when women decided at around 40 that they were done trying to look attractive.  They spent the rest of their days in polyester pants and shapeless tops.

Not for me.  I'm far from perfect...as I said, I'm all too conscious of my flaws...but there are some I can work on!

Taking pictures of myself


Although I don't blog or publish all (or even most) of them, I've started taking a picture of myself most  days.

It's amazing how helpful it is.  I've found things that I wouldn't have noticed in the mirror, and I take note of it.  Things like..."Cindy, you laid that top eyeliner on a little too thick."  "A ponytail is not a good look for you."  "You need to blend that blush better."  "Those shoes didn't really work with that outfit." "Wearing eyeliner on your waterline makes your eyes look smaller."

I used this outfit for a Visible Monday several weeks ago

I don't mean hating on myself...we're talking constructive criticism.

Of course, they're not all negative.  I can also see the things that ARE working--colors that suit me best, styles that are more slimming than others, etc.

Texted this to my mom, who wanted to see how my latest hair-coloring turned out

I don't know how long I'll keep doing it, but for now these self-portraits are proving helpful.

I'd love to know how you feel!


Please share in the comments section whether you're trying to evaluate your appearance more, and what you're doing.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I'm linking up today with Visible Monday--click the icon below!