Gracefully Aging, Day 16: A Responsibility to Mentor

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Has an older woman been especially helpful in your life as a mentor, encourager, and/or inspiration?

I believe that one of the greatest benefits of growing older is the wealth of wisdom we accrue simply by living and learning from our experiences.  We have more practical wisdom in that regard simply because we have the benefit of years compared to our younger female friends.

Check out Titus 2:4 on what the Bible has to say on older women teaching younger women.  It's pretty clear.

Patti M. Hummel writes:

"Today’s young women today are caught up in the whirlwind of life in a way that no generation before had a clue about. These young women are bombarded with schedules and business that some of us older women cannot imagine. Whatever happened to those evenings that were spent sitting on the front porch talking with neighbors while the children played under the stars until they were ready to drop? Whatever happened to quiet evenings at home?

"...There are many wonderful things we can do ... that add joy and encouragement to the lives of others, particularly younger women. The most important thing we can do to provide hope and refreshment to the souls of younger women is praying for and with them."


My sweet mom, who passed away in November 2013, was my greatest mentor.  The wealth of teaching and encouragement she gave me is priceless.

I asked this question on Facebook:

Ladies, is there a woman older than you that you look up to as a mentor, role model or inspiration? Who is she and why?

Here are some of the answers I got:

Ashley: My Aunt Mary! Everything she has been through in life and still has an amazing outlook on life and a great sense of humor! And now she is going to kick this breast cancer's butt!!

Ann:   My sister Jeanette.  Although she is only 4 years older she had been a source of inspiration to me always in the word, an excellent teacher, and has gone through many adversities. The loss of her son Kevin at the age of 42, and the caregiver of her husband Darrell whom because of her excellent care out lived his life time expectancies. And then going through the pain of his death yet still standing strong in The Lord.

Lori:  My mom, whose name is Pearl. She and dad were married 61 years before dad's death from COPD in June, 2013. Their marriage and life together was and is such a beautiful story! Mom is such a selfless, beautiful lady who lives her life for the Lord. She was dad's sole caregiver until Hospice stepped in and helped do what we couldn't. I wish everyone could be so blessed as we are to have her for a mom, grandma, and great-grandma.

Tammy:  There are several but my first choice would be Jan S. She has ALWAYS encouraged me as a wife and mom, she is a Godly lady who leads by example.
1. She serves The Lord, her husband, family, friends and others.
2. She is hospitable - many a time, I have heard her say, "You never know when you are hosting angels in unaware.".
3. She is a homemaker.
4. She is strong (surviving a near death experience fighting back from the grips of cancer). Boy, am I thankful to have her alive and healthy these past 4 years.
5. She laughs at herself, at you and with you.
6. She is wise (more than not when we don't know the answer to something we say, "Call Jan, she knows everything!".
7. She is kind, caring, loving, helpful, & friendly.
Jan is my mentor and inspiration. In my opinion, she is a Proverbs 31 woman

I'll share more of these Facebook replies in my next  post.

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 15: Makeup--Is Less More?

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We've all heard and read the conventional wisdom: as you get older, wear less makeup.

Well...yes and no.

I think it depends on how much makeup you've actually been wearing all along.

•  If you're accustomed to ladling it on with a trowel, yes, it's time to back off. 
• If you favor exaggerated winged eyeliner, yes, it's time to back off.
• If you usually sport thick, dark eyeliner under your eyes, then, yes, it's time to back off.

But if you've gone for years with a glorious natural look...maybe just a flick of mascara and some lip gloss, or even less...in my humble opinion, it may be time to wear MORE make-up.

SHOCKER!!! I can hear the gods of makeup sending up a keening wail of disapproval.

But yes.  You do have to BE CAREFUL about makeup, but I don't believe you have to dial it back to a bare minimum.

I actually believe makeup can be one of an older woman's best friends, GASP!

Here are my thoughts (and I'm not an expert, but I've been a makeup maven for many years).

Apply it with a light hand.  Yes, you could build up that eye-shadow to day-glo proportions, but instead, apply it lightly and strategically, and blend, blend, blend.

Be careful about anything glittery or sparkly.  Notice I did not say, as many experts will insist, to avoid sparkle completely.  But if I do use it, it's sparingly and not very often.

Use color on your lips! Notice my exclamation mark there.  Even the powers-that-be will tell you the importance of older women using color on their lips. As we get older, our lips tend to get thinner and lose natural color.

Experts disagree on what color is OK.  Some say only nude-beige lips, some say only pink, other say a woman of any age can wear red lips if they do it right.

Christie Brinkley sporting red lipstick at 59 (she's 60 now)
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Use color on your cheeks.  For the same reason it's important to use color on your lips.  We may not naturally have a youthful blush, but we can carefully apply one!  Always remember to blend it well, so it's not a just stripe of color on your face.  Many experts suggest switching to a cream blush.

Be careful about powder.  I think a light dusting of powder is necessary to seal your make-up and make it longlasting, but you have to be careful.  Try to avoid heavy powders that could settle into lines and make them more obvious.  A light dusting with brush, not a puff, is what I go for.

Discover highlighter/illuminators.  A highlighter will give you just that bit of extra glow.  You brush it gently on your upper cheeks and around your eyes.

I always use this drugstore one after reading about it in a magazine.  It's inexpensive and provides a lovely glow, especially nice in photographs.

My highlighter of choice: wetnwild MegaGlo Illuminating Powder in catwalk pink

Don't forget your lashes. Unfortunately, our eyelashes tend to get more sparse as we get older.  There are several ways to deal with this;

• Use an eyelash curler.  I'll just be honest, this has never really seemed to make much difference for me, but some women and most makeup artists swear by them.
• Consider eyelash extensions.  Google the pros and cons of extensions.  I've seen them on a few women and they frankly look wonderful.
• Use an eyelash primer.  This goes on before you put on your mascara and really makes a difference in how your mascara performs.  My favorite is Lash Building Primer from Clinique.
• Consider false eyelashes, at least on special occasions.  I do this on occasion and I have to say, I love the way they look!

Take expert advice with a grain of salt.  Whenever you hear/read a makeup expert saying older women should NEVER do this or that, consider how things work for you.

For example, many experts will tell older women NEVER to wear color on their eyes.  Sorry.  I'm not living the rest of my life with nothing but taupe eyeshadow. Boring! I even break another rule by sometimes coordinating my eyeshadow color with what I'm wearing

A look with green eye shadow

You have to honestly consider what works for you.  I take frequent selfies, most of which I don't share with anyone, just to check my look.  Sometimes a mirror is deceiving.  A selfie will usually tell you what to dial back and what's working.

Ultimately, it's YOUR face.  If you want to wear very minimal makeup or none at all, that's fine.  But I truly believe that most women, and definitely older women, could use some makeup.

Here is an article with some good suggestions for make-up for maturing women.  You don't have to take it as gospel, but it has some helpful advice.

What about you? Have you changed your makeup with the years? Let me know in my comments!

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 14: The Anti-Aging Serum that's Freely Available

photo credit 

Are you taking advantage of one of the best anti-aging serums out there---one that's as close as your kitchen tap?

Yes, I'm talking about water.

While experts say water isn't actually the fountain of youth, there's no denying the health AND anti-aging benefits of h2O.

Ths from Anti-Aging God's Way: "One of the benefits of drinking water is softer, moister skin. Loss of hydration in the skin shows in all sorts of ways - dryness, tightness, flakiness. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling. Water is essential to maintain skin moisture and is the vehicle for delivering essential nutrients to the skin cells."

"The Least Expensive Anti-Aging Potion"

Mireille Guiliano is the 67-year-old author of French Women Don't Get Facelifts, a guide to the French way of aging stylishly,

Guiliano says,"Water is the least expensive anti-aging potion and the one medicine it is hard to overdose on. I drink a glass before going to bed and first thing when I get up, and as much as I can during the day. It maintains my skin’s moisture balance, moves essential nutrients through my organs and body, removes wastes and toxins, and helps to keep my cells hydrated and joints lubricated (and, oh, do we need that flexibility and mobility during the second half of our lives)."

Mireille Guiliano

From an article on heartmdinstitute.com titled "Why Water is Key for Anti-Aging," Dr. Sinatra lists these reasons water is essential:

• Protects cardiovascular health
• Is linked to pain relief
• Keeps the brain in top working condition
• Promotes detoxification
• Facilitates weight loss

While health experts say it's not necessarily true that drinking water will make your skin more supple, it IS true that the outermost layer of your skin may feel rough if it doesn't contain enough water.

And with all the facts pointing to the importance of water in anti-aging, I think we have good enough reason to make drinking H20 a more prominent part of our lives.

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 13: Blogs! 40+Style

Sylvia van der Logt, founder of 40+Style

When I first started searching on the internet, blogs about beauty and style seemed to be pretty much the domain of the very young.

That's definitely not so anymore.  I've found a host of blogs inspiring and informative when it comes to aging gracefully.  One of them is 40+Style.

This from the site:

"Our mission is to show you that you can look gorgeous and experiment with styles and fashion at any age. It’s all about having fun with style and fashion! Too often we get too worried about our wrinkled face, heavier bodies or loosening skin. Having fun with hair and makeup, fashion and new styles can help to make you look better, but also feel more confident and happy.

"Looking good and being stylish is not so much about money, the figure you have or how old you are. It’s about dressing to your strengths, knowing your body type, and knowing and embracing your unique style.

"We hope to help you in your quest to find your own style, dress to your strengths, look fabulous and embrace your age."

Actually not just a blog, it's a full-fledged website with everything from a shop, a forum, style courses, and a newsletter...which is basically how I connect with the site.

You can read more about the site's founder, Sylvia van de Logt, here.

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 12: Wise Words

"Beauty has no age"

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 11: Charla Krupp's "How Not to Look Old"

Several years ago I was introduced to the book "How Not to Look Old," by Charla Krupp.

This from the New York Times:

"At a moment when many women of a certain age in the United States were debating whether to Botox or not to Botox, the book provided nonsurgical suggestions on how to avoid the appearance of senescence, often delivered as capital-lettered pronouncements like: “NOTHING AGES YOU LIKE ... YELLOW TEETH.”

"The book became a style manual intended for women of all stripes, whether they were sales clerks, homemakers, college professors or venture capitalists. “

""My book is hitting a nerve because I am giving not looking old a spin as if your life depended on it,' Ms. Krupp said in an interview with The Times in 2008.

Sadly, Charla Krupp died of breast cancer in 2012, at the age of 58. But her book remains as a guide to some very practical, nonsurgical ways to keep from aging yourself.

In the book, Charla's pretty opinionated about some of the wardrobe items she thinks we need to get rid of in our quest for a more youthful appearance, and I can't say I agree with her on every point...but here's the list:

Holiday sweaters with bells and appliqués (reindeers, teddy bears, bumblebees, pumpkins).
Granny necklaces that tell how many grandchildren you have.
Souvenir T-shirts.
T-shirts with meant-to-be funny sayings.
Acid-washed jeans.
Ripped jeans.
Shoulder pads.
Flannel shirts.
Muumuus. (**Does this really need to be stated?)
Photo handbags (the older you get, the more sophisticated your accessories should be).
Flesh-colored hose.
Penny loafers.
Oversize blazers.
Mommy robes.
Thin gold chain necklaces.
Elastic-waist pants.
Granny undies.
Baggy sweats.
Bearlike, full-length fur coats.
Short shorts.
Cargo pants.
Stockings with reinforced toes.
Three-piece suits with vests.
Backpacks.

Again, I don't agree with her on everything, but it's worth thinking about, isn't it?  I do recommend the book, as Krupp goes into detail about why she's opposed to these things.

Controversy

Interestingly, the book did invite a bit of controversy.  Again quoting the New York Times article:

."Some critics likened the premise to encouraging people to fight prejudice by hiding their ethnicity.

"Ms. Krupp argued, however, that in an era of ubiquitous cellphone cameras, Facebook photo albums and workplace downsizing, camouflaging one’s age was a professional necessity for women.

“'For our generation, looking younger isn’t just about vanity,'” Ms. Krupp wrote. “Looking good is about our personal and financial survival.”

What do you think? Should older women proactively try to appear younger, or should you give up and go with the flow at some point?  Let me know in my comments!

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 10: Hair--The Long and Short of It

Michelle Pfeiffer

Are you 50 and still wearing your hair exactly the same as you did when you were 20? Conversely, have you gone the super-short route because someone told you you couldn't have long hair after a certain age?

Beauty expert Julyne Derrick has some great hair tips for mature women in this article  Among other things, she attacks the myth that long hair is only for the young:

"It is a myth that the moment you turn a certain age (some "experts" say 40, some say 50, some say 55 just to be different) that you have to lop your hair off. There are plenty of women over age 60 who look gorgeous with hair that's to their shoulders or longer...No matter your age, your hairstyle should flatter your face and your figure.


"Long hair on older women can look amazing. The secret to long hair is proper upkeep and a good haircut. Split, frizzy ends on anyone of any age looks bad. Long hair looks best when it's not too heavy on the bottom, creating a 'Christmas tree' shape from behind. A few layers will lighten up your hair and make it appear more modern and healthy.

Consider bangs

Says Derrick, "If you don't have bangs, consider getting them. Long, side-swept bangs such as these can visually take years off your look. They bring attention to your eyes and keep attention off your neckline, which tends to get saggy and wrinkly even on women with the best plastic surgery.

Derrick goes on to say that the most flattering hair for just about anyone is shoulder length hair.  She talks about this at length (no pun intended) here.

Here are some other photos of long, short and medium styles:

Fors myself? I usually vary between a shortish bob to a shoulder-length style.  I prefer my hair medium-length or longer, because I just feel more comfortable with longer hair.

A bob last year (left) and how I'm wearing it now (right)

How are you handling...or do you think you'll handle...the hair question? Long, short, or medium? Any styling suggestions that have worked for you? Let me know in my comments section!

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 9: YouTuber Miss Tammy

Miss Tammy of Uppiesbeads59

A few years ago I was newly unemployed and had plenty of time on my hands.

Searching YouTube for a video on how to use velcro rollers, I discovered the wonderful world of YouTube beauty tutorials.

The only problem was that most of the girls doing the tutorials were young enough to be my daughter!  I continue to learn a lot from them about style and technique, but I really wanted to find someone closer to my own age who could relate to the unique needs of aging skin.


Miss Tammy (or "uppiesbeads59," as her channel is called) fit the bill perfectly.  I think she's a few years younger than I, 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.

Masks, smoothies and hair

Miss Tammy is a big believer in facial masks.  I had never paid much attention to masks before, but thanks to her I now use them on a semi-regular basis.

She also shares smoothie recipes on a regular basis, being a believer in the health and anti-aging benefits of such drinks.

Miss Tammy has a glorious mane of shining, healthy long hair.  She's not one who believes that as soon as you turn 40, you have to chop all your hair off.  She's a fanatic about shiny hair, though, and is always sharing products to help you acheive that.

She also does make-up videos that are ideally suited to women of a certain age.

If you've been looking for a more mature (but still gorgeous!) beauty tutorialist, do check out uppiesbead59.

I'll leave you with a video of Miss Tammy demonstrating how to wear your hair in a chic side bun.

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 8: Using health and fitness to defy your age

77-yearold body builder Ernestine Shepherd
Photo Credit

First of all, a disclaimer: none of this series is meant to be a "do as I do" thing, as if I'm an expert on aging gracefully and that I've got everything together.

Instead, it's a culling together of things I've learned, women who ARE doing it right, and tips and knowledge that I'm at least trying to implement in my life, with varying degrees of success.

There's no doubt in my mind that proper eating and exercise is key to aging gracefully.

Ernestine Shepherd

We may not all be able to aspire to the level of fitness exhibited by  Ernestine Shepherd--pictured in the photo--but we can certainly be inspired.

Shepherd tells The Daily Mail that she gets up at 2.30am every day, prays, prepares her first meal of scrambled egg whites and a handful of walnuts, and then runs 10 miles before she has her second meal and hits the gym.

And I'm tired after a 45-minute bike ride! But you know what? It does definitely inspire me that someone old enough to be my mom has reached that level of fitness.

10 Natural Ways to Defy Your Age

Health and wellness coach Ellen Goldman has come up with 10 Natural Way to Defy Your Age. (I'm just going to hit the high points here, but feel free to read the entire article here.)

• Adjust Your Mindset: YOU Control How You Will Age 
• Exercise: The Fountain of Youth (Cardio, Weight Training, and Lifestyle Activities)
• You are what you eat, so feed your face (focus on foods containing vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and polyphenols)
• Get Your Beauty Sleep (work on getting 7-8 hours a night)
• Calm the Years Away: Deep Breathing, Meditation and Yoga (prayer is a great option as well)
• Take Care of Your Smile (the health of your mouth can also affect the health of your body)
• Protect Your Skin (and Eyes) from the Sun
• Don't Neglect Your Ears (By all means, enjoy listening to music--but turn down the volume)
• Stop Smoking and Limit Alcohol
• Your Brain: Use It or Lose It ( Many habits, such as exercise and healthy eating, can keep our brain cells functioning well into our elderly years

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 7: Role Models! Marie-Therese of the French Touch

Marie-Thérèse at the Kentucky Derby in 2013

What is it about Frenchwomen? No matter how old they are, they seem to be, in the words of an old Rod Stewart song, "ageless, timeless, lace and fineness, beauty and elegance."

We can even thank the French for giving us the term "une femme d'un certain âge." That means "a woman of a certain age," but my blogging friend Marie-Thérèse says it's loosely translated as, "You don't ask and I won't tell."

The French Touch

I don't know when I first discovered Marie-Thérèse's blog, The French Touch, but I was hooked instantly.

M-T is the American-born child of French parents, and it's obvious she was genetically blessed with the unique style and grace of a Frenchwoman. It's hard to believe, but she does admit to being over 60.

 Marie-Thérèse is the owner of French Touch Image Consulting,. This from her website:

"As the American-born child of French parents, I have spent a lifetime living in two cultures and adapting the best of French style to my American way of life. I can help you add that French Touch to your Look and to your Life. You'll love the results!
Learn the secrets of French style - how to do more with less, how to add that special accessory, tie that perfect scarf, how to eat what you love and not gain weight."

Musing on why many Frenchwomen seem to age more gracefully than their American counterparts, Marie-Thérèse  writes;

"By the end of the 60s, the pursuit of Femininity had been moved from the Virtue to the Vice side of the Feminist orthodoxy. It was deemed not only to be frivolous, but downright subversive. The French woman sailed through the last four decades relatively unscathed by American-style Feminism. As a result, she continues not only to age gracefully, but to live her whole life as gracefully as she can to the delight of the French man. Femininity underpins everything she is and does. Her individual version of Femininity may be classic or quirky, but she owns it, she works it, and she will go to the grave with it."

Some more great quotes/tips from M-T's blog:

•  "A great shade of lipstick is the quickest, easiest and best thing a woman can do for her face at any age, but particularly as we age when the natural blush of our youthful lips begins to fade."
• M-T uses Cetaphil lotion on her face every night; "It’s gentle, effective and if I want something a bit richer in the winter months, I mix in a few drops of my moisturizing lotion to create a creamier face wash."
• She  washes and moisturizes her face while still wet before going to bed, and splashes on warm water only and moisturizes, again while still wet, in the morning. 
• She quotes 63-year-old former model and stylist Linda Rodin: “The secret to aging gracefully is maintenance. Botox is fine in moderation, but the more you do the older you look. You can't chase youth. You'll just look old with a facelift.”

 If you want to absorb some of a Frenchwoman's tried and true philosophy on aging gracefully, I highly recommend The French Touch.

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 6: To Gray or Not to Gray?

"Supermodel" Cindy Joseph
photo credit

It's a decision every woman will have to make sooner or later.

To gray or not to gray?

Years ago, silver hairs started popping up randomly on my head.  By the time I was in my late 30's, they were too numerous to ignore.

I started coloring my hair, trying to find in a bottle the dark color I had been born with.

Finally, it became a losing battle.  The dark hair coloring didn't look natural, and before too long gray roots would appear.

I had determined I would "not go gently into that good night," to quote Dylan Thomas.

And I still feel that way.  I'm not ready to give in to the gray.  My solution was to go lighter.  At any given time, I have various amounts of blond highlights in my hair.  It's working pretty well right now, because the highlights are more forgiving when the gray starts to reappear.  There's less of a contrast, and it blends it better.

Personally, I think gray hair ages me even beyond my years.  When gray starts appearing, I feel it makes me look haggard and old.

Singer Emmylou Harris
photo credit

Giving in to the gray

Some women give in to the gray, and it ends up being beautiful  It's hard to imagine model Cindy Joseph, pictured above, looking prettier with any other color of hair.  She was 60 when that picture was taken. (She is now 63).

Cindy says she stopped coloring her hair to hide the gray when she realized some things about aging: "This is going to sound so repetitive and so old and so unsurprising. Life has proven to me what I heard before and didn't understand, and that is, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Absolutely, entirely, and 100 percent."

(I'll be featuring Cindy Joseph again later in this series, by the way.)

Actress Helen Mirren
photo credit

For me, going gray is not the answer at this point in my life.  Frankly, it makes me feel old, and how I feel is going to come out on my face.

 If you're considering going gray, here is an article about styling and maintaining gray hair beautifully.

What about you?  Have you decided to give in to the gray...or are you still fighting it?  I'd love to hear your comments!

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 5: Wise Words

I've had a Pinterest board on "Aging Gracefully" for a while, and I've found a lot of nuggets of inspiration as well as links to helpful articles and inspiring women.  Today? Some words of wisdom on gracefully aging...

*photos via Pinterest

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

Gracefully Aging, Day 4: Role Models! My sister Beverly

My older sister Beverly is at an age where many women have decided that, as far as looking gorgeous, that ship has sailed.

Not my sister.

I won't invade her privacy by telling you how old she is, but if did, you'd be very surprised.

  Bev has been my beauty icon for a long time.  She has sold Clinique and Estee Lauder, which taught her a lot about skin care.

But Beverly says my mom was one of the first to encourage her about skin care.  She tells me, "Skin care is and has always been extremely important to me. I remember once right after I turned 20, and Mother said to me, 'Bev, you are at an age now that you need to think about moisturizing your skin on a daily basis.'  She said that it would keep me looking younger,longer. From then on, I was hooked, and started out with Oil Of Olay."

Bev with her husband, Steve

Beverly's Beauty Regimen

Having used some of the best skin care products, Beverly (like me) often takes advantage of high-end gifts-with purchase...but she's not opposed to using good drugstore products if that fits better with her budget.

"I have a regimen that I do every night of the week. I use a facial cleanser, and this varies, as to what I have on hand at the time. I exfoliate at least twice or three times a week, and I usually buy a Loreal product. I try to use an Estee Lauder cream for my face and throat, for moisturizing, as it is usually more emoliant. I use an eye cream. as well, and use a makeup with an SPF in it. I like to use Estee Lauder products, but there are times that I have to use L'Oreal."

Bev at her most recent birthday with some of her grandsons

Bev never looks like she's trying to look younger, but her clothes are always fashionable and attractive.  One just never sees Beverly looking frumpy or dowdy.

I asked her about her criteria when buying clothes: "I always look for clothing that will make me look slimmer. I like trendy , but have to remember to stay age appropriate. I will almost always have a little cover up to go over a sleeveless top. It it is terribly hot, I will go ahead and show my arms. Its more about comfort.

" I like a little larger than the size that I actually wear, as it is more slenderizing. I don't buy vertical stripes, or polka dots. I despise corduroy.

"I believe that you feel like you look. If I have a lazy day, when I don't apply makeup or get dressed, I feel like a slob all day long. I want to remember this when I retire." Beverly plans to retire from her job as a receptionist in an OB-GYN's office at the end of this year.

Beverly tells me, "My style and beauty icon are Jaclyn Smith, Diane Keaton and Diane Sawyer. They have great style and stay looking as young as they can. My Mother was my beauty icon, and passed away at 80 years old, looking like she was 50."

Beauty from the inside

Beverly exemplifies my belief that inner beauty radiates outward at any age.  She a dedicated Christian, and she's always full of laughter and fun.  She's one of the most enjoyable people to be around of anyone I know.

Her grandchildren (some of whom are grown up) adore her and love to spend time with her.

Beverly is definitely one of my beauty icons...a true example of gracefully aging.

My younger sister Lisa, me and Beverly at Lisa's son's recent wedding

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!