There is no better way to chillax, chill out, escape than being creative. For me, it is a way to forget about life's challenges and do something creative: writing, painting, drawing. Rarely is it intended for anyone else, yet I do write on a blog and share some of my own creations. Sometimes I will write in a journal about things that are really bothering me or rehash events that didn't go according to plan. There is a difference to me between writing here and in my journal. I blog to help others. I think that perhaps if someone can relate to what I am sharing, I am helping them in some small way. I don't think of writing online as a means of letting the world get on a bandwagon or cause. I'm not selling anything either. For someone who has spent the better part of my career in sales, that is quite the step from the norm. Of course, there is a dream that someone will like what I write and ask to pay for a spot on my blog. It is more likely going to happen on my optioneerJM where the advice peddled could be valued by businesses. I've been fiddling and farting around with a website. I've purchased a couple of domains for a year and set out to create something. Then the anxiety and frustration sets in when the creating is a lot more work and doesn't flow the way I want to see it. So I resort back to my friend, my blog. A blog is a great way to experiment with messaging: what do you want to write about. Yet it goes a bit beyond that. If you want it to have a high readership and eventually generate income, you have to pay attention to what people are reading. It can be pleasantly surprising when you step outside your comfort zone and gravitate to a passion or interest. It is rewarding when you discover that others share a similar interest. When I started meanderingsABOUT it was because fashion, beauty and creating the right looks that are in sync with being someone older than the normal fashionista bloggers seemed to be more unusual. While most fashion designers and boutiques are geared towards 20-somethings in size 2 they are not for 50-somethings in a size 12. I've toyed with becoming an image creator for others wanting to go beyond the mundane, frumpy creations that department stores seem to think that anyone over 30 would like. They get it wrong for the young-at-heart who not only take care of their bodies, but have an edge that can be explored with creating fashion looks that are not trying to disguise one's age or embarrassingly trying to look 25 years younger. I believe that it is possible to blend the two: embrace age with a savvy fashion sense. I will continue to explore this avenue. For the time being, I will continue to write with hopes that there are folks that can relate to what I am: a fashionista fighting her 50s.
I haven't been on Polyvore for a few months. I know eh, neglecting some of my favorites. I got right on that today. I came with the intention of gather ideas for my Halloween Costume this year.
I think it's brilliant, but of course that's me. I have dressed up for Halloween almost every year of my life, that is 55 years. Well, at least the years that I could dress myself up. Then again, I think my mom got into Halloween big time. It isn't something we've talked about for a number of years. But, if memory serves me, I was in a parade (small town, small time) contest when I was about 6 or 7 years old. I don't know the spiel, but it had something to do with a tribesman with dark makeup, grass skirt, a dressed up bicycle. I'll have to go digging, or ask my mom if she has the photo still around. Only probably is, it will take her about a year to find it, if ever. Then my siblings, especially my brothers will get at me because they will find themselves in on the act, simply by association, and because they live close to my mom. She will remind them daily, hourly, weekly, monthly to come help her search for that photo for Jeannette who is writing a book (my mom is a big fan of mine, and tends to exaggerate a bit. I like to give her credit because it is interpretation from where I'm looking.) English is not my mom's first language and both her parents spoke in their own respective languages of Polish and Ukrainian. A power struggle of sorts back in the day, where my poor mother, had to learn Polish and Ukrainian because both grandparents never spoke English. On top of that, they never decided to speak one language in the home my mom grew up in. My grandmother spoke Ukrainian and that was that. My grandfather understood her but had to make a point by only speaking Polish to her. Imagine my mom, going to school in English, and coming from a home that was the United Nations stand off. My mom doesn't quite GET this blog idea .... or she doesn't read it even though I signed her up to get emails every time one was published. I think she either files it away in her INBOX, or files it away in her mind in the same category as Linked In (she drilled me on LI because someone sent her an invitation who wasn't me, and she wanted to know why she would get such an invite). She would like me to write a book, so maybe she just imagines it as having happened because of the blog. The fact that I don't get paid for writing is just "a matter of time". Back to the original blog idea, or theme. I went to Polyvore so I could create outfits that Sally Field's character, Doris, would wear. Enough said, you have to watch the movie to get what I'm saying. To give you a hand, I am sharing insights and reviews for the movie to help you get into the mood:
Indirection can be a beautiful tool in comedy and so it is in “Hello, My Name Is Doris,” which uses this funny, outwardly ridiculous character to tell a simple story about a love that rarely speaks its name, including in movies: that of an older woman for a much younger man.
Despite some bumpy tonal shifts and inconsistencies of characterization, Hello, My Name Is Doris impresses as a humanely amusing and occasionally poignant dramedy.
DETAIL MOVIE:
Runtime : 95 min Production : Red Crown Productions Genres : Drama, Comedy, Romance Country : USA Language : English
Critics Consensus:Hello, My Name Is Doris is immeasurably elevated by Sally Field's remarkable performance in the title role, which overpowers a surfeit of stereotypical indie quirk.
I like to dress up for Halloween by the rule of creating my own costume. I'll share another favorite later on. When you are 55, it isn't appropriate to try to wear the skimpy maid's outfit or genie idea, that so many young gals do, and we did, or some did anyhow.
You can have a lot of fun dressing up as Doris. We all have met a Doris. They say it meant she didn't want to grow up. My take was a little different. I see people all the time, dressed in a time warp. Forgetting that 1974 was 42 years ago, but steadfast in representing that era. You get what I mean. It is beyond honoring great time stamps, like a lot of the Millennials love anything to do with the 80s.
There are people that are stuck in a fashion bubble that only they can see the lightness of it. Most others consider it eccentricity or poor fashion imagination to do so. But if you ever notice, it never seems to bother the person who stays in the fashion lane that works for them, they want to stay in, or just refuse to change their style.
Doris wasn't just stuck in a fashion bubble, her whole life was one. She had loyally stayed home to care for her parents, as an only child, while bypassing the normal life experiences others take for granted.
Sally Field's character begins her journey after the passing of the last person she was caregiver for. It is a fun twist on a classic time travel theme. Except, in this case, she doesn't bump her head and her last memory is the 1970s. Nor does she do any time travel, like "Back to the Future" embrace of the 80s.
Doris just is Doris. Free from the confines of being a caregiver, she starts building awareness that girls would normally experience in their teens. That is the charm of the movie. Doris starts liking a boy. She struggles trying to read the signs: does he like her or doesn't he? To help her along is her friends teenage daughter. She goes on a dating site. She gets all got up for a date. The imagination is just endless, but the movie keeps it on track and tightly wound into a great theme. Innocence and naivety can be found among many of all ages.
If I haven't convinced you to watch the movie yet, then here is a trailer you can see if it warms your heart and twists your thumbs to rent it ON DEMAND for a cheap $5 date night with yourself, a daughter, a friend. More, if you decide to share a bottle of wine. It is a fun idea for a girls get together that doesn't involve looking at catalogs and buying stuff you don't need. Don't you dare minus the snacks, that is the reason most women go to house parties. Free munchies, flowing wine, and gabbing.
If you have followed me this far. Thank you. I hope you will feel rewarded. I'm going to share the following fashion statements of Doris to get you into the spirit of this adventure together in the "Doris Gallery of Fashion" aka Doris Would on Pinterest
Hair style:
Requires a wig attachment of some sort to the top frontal part of the head. It is then wound by a rectangular silk-ish scarf wrapped to the top and tied with a bow. Doris takes the time to wear her natural bangs to bed with curlers to enable her to create the wispy flocks of hair hugging her face.
Scarf-ness
Doris has a massive assortment of scarves. The best ones being floral and rectangular to create the top knot bow identity statement. They rarely match the outfit, mostly clash patterns, colors ... with the exception that the scarf pulls out the smallest of color in a flower on her blouse that seems to work together.
With substance:
are what I think of as the cat eye glasses. A small dose of a nerd with rhinestones to lend to the theory that Doris is a fashionista. (Note: you can find these special type of glasses in Halloween shops, costume boutiques or Thrift Stores.)
Makeup
is always there. Your traditional frosted pink eyelid, with a light brown eyeliner kohl. Mascara, but not too heavy handed. Don't be tempted with fake eyelashes, it's not part of her innocence.
Accessories
Doris likes her jewelry to have some pizazz. Except for the small pearl earrings, she wears dangling ones most of the time. Then in the tradition of the 70s, a big chunky necklace, that somehow has found a friend in a color or floral theme to make it her own, again.
Shoes hues
are never shown. We just have to use our imagination that they style is a traditional with a twist flare to them. Shoes and purses aren't part of the fashion ensemble I would remember, but it would seem to be that it would have to seem practical with a sprinkle of glitz.
Style sense
and sensibleness seem to merge as one. Often a floral dress with the practical sweater overlay portraying demureness with flare.
Get the hang of it
here, online. You can come and ask to join a new Group on Polyvore I created called "Hello, my name is Doris" to submit your wonderfully imaginative creations of what Doris would wear if you were her stylist. Once created, you can post on my "Hello, my name is Doris" board on Pinterest. Ask to be invited if technology intervenes.
Sally Field I snagged a few interviews with Sally Field about her role "Doris":
I'm (hopefully obviously) going to write more on this later on. As I often do, instead of just closing my tabs, I leave some open. Then I go see what is going on and end up clicking on more stories or videos that get my brain wheels turning. Not a good thing when you are finding oneself more nocturnal as you get older. Is this because we're reverting to our younger selves as we get older? Kind of like that Benjamin character by Brad Pitt, whom YES I watch all his movies -- the plot being that Brad's character is rapidly getting older or is it younger? OK, this was going to be a quick one so it doesn't aggravate my falling to sleep. It doesn't help if you have to be up at the crack of dawn.
This came from Business INSIDERS, one of my favorite content sources:
What women find attractive in men: here's the link:
Identity Crisis Is what you begget when you try to divide and siphon off ideas or mere thoughts. If you are creative in mind and in thinking, you have a hard time letting go of an idea once it is uncorked. growing a personality that is recognizable whether from a voice (on YouTube), a face (everywhere), a name synonymous with a pseudonym as I did create called optioneerJM. Admittedly back then, as now, I did not want to be presently known on social media that could be tracked to my personal name so I created optioneerJM. My mind was more caught up with the best way to sell, in a consistent, smooth manner is by understanding your client or prospects needs, defined intricately with what would take them over the top if you understood their wants. Really great ones can capitalize and categorize them so that they stand out. Motorcycle mind Can be an escape from taking any responsibility for where your creativity takes you. Once you toss it out to the universe and bother to examine if anything sticks, means that you may be avoiding critical feedback to learn from. Scarcity of comments belies the number of visitors that do heavenly click. A self-critiquing perfectionist can emerge. Not like the slow evolution of time or the long revolution around the sun. Empathy is something that I was generously given as a natural skill, honed so well, like a finely carved statue or sculpture, considered a gift. Outgoing is what immediately would be what I would want to be identified with. Brave enough to try new things. Laughing at oneself far quicker than anyone else. Ridicule is a feared for sure. Which goes in the opposite direction of the instinct of being outgoing. Where, what may be lurking is an assault with being the subject of ridicule? Confidence with the belief and strong conviction that you are beyond reach of falling self esteem caused by events, outside your control like natural aging and progression in life, to things you intake as happening to you. Recovery speed is like the mental olympics of creative types. Because as they become more prolific in ideas, the more muddled it can become. Distinction deciphered with lightening speed. Fast computing between right and wrong, strength to avoid all that is wrong and focus on what is or can be right. READ MORE HERE .......
Do you often compare yourself to others:: beauty, looks, success, wealth, home, car, job? Ahem, or career. First, let me apologize because I was trying to sideswipe you to continue as if there hasn't been a few weeks since the last time I blogged.
Do we strive too far?
There comes a certain point in your life when you are at an event, more likely social, more alarming family ::.... and you just POP in your head! Just like that with the zippy exclamation point (don't overdue it with multiples::.... that screams desperate for attention ....:: so you tend to ignore it or stop reading right there). I found myself at my stepdaughter's wedding, as the "evil stepmother" I told everyone I was. That was to downplay no input and my manners meter on high alert. It became a time that because of my non role yet close observer of the past 12 years of the bride's life. Try facing off two mother grizzly bears, it may not be pretty. But manners prevailed and we treated each other with one acknowledgement and handshake (no hug and definitely no kiss to signify how genuine our gestures were). Thankfully I'm no "other woman". I came from picking up the pieces of a divorce and trying to make sure her kids were glued together. I'm not even going to give it any respect and avoid saying that I'm the victim. Because I was the woman in the marriage, the career magnifico, mom superior superwoman, and likely lastly wife.
At such a juncture in time and after 12 years, it would be misleading to not say that there was curiosity out there. I mean, the "other woman" had had the chance to be involved this duo were, instead deciding to leap outta the picture to avoid the scandal that even not that many years ago would have been frowned upon. So who was this mother and former wife? I guess I wanted to see for myself and do what we do best we women, compare myself to this woman. How pathetic when you think about it because I could not believe anyone would give up the chance to be married and committed to Rob for the awesome, thoughtful teddy bear he is. I then decided to be less traditional::.... compare myself to the ex-wife, mother whom I played Head Coach for daughter ::..... most women wouldn't admit to it, be it they are the wrongee or the wrong doer, that they compare themselves to the other woman. There are a lot of ridiculous benchmarks that just POP out there again.
Looks
Grooming
Manners
Poise
Success
Beauty
Clothes
Accessories
Jewellery
Shoes (did they match the purse?)
Any scarf, nail manicure, pedicure, evidence of formal fix er up
Body size, body shape, curvy, skinny, plump, thin
Make up, eyebrow shape and whether it needs plucking
Hair color, health, fried or gleaming?
Teeth white, whitener, straightened by braces or hidden behind veneers
Her kid(s) all of the above times however many kids
I sorta apologize ::.... I got on a roll. But the amazing part is that we can compute all of this information and filter it all to arrive at warning: "Threat" or "Possible Aly" ..... all under a minute. The masters can talk while taking it all in and processing it all under the world's largest microprocessor: the woman's mind.
I started my inventory differently. I guess I wanted to be a bit unbiased and objective when I was comparing her now husband to my husband, her ex-husband. (Yeah, I know, talking and writing like a woman who is processing information and spewing it out faster than any satellite network (aka faster than the largest telecommunications networks data). Amazing eh?
I have to admit, I didn't think of it until only a couple of days ago: Sunday. The day after the wedding. We women like to take in information, process it, exume it, but of all store information for later use so we can pull it out and extrapolate it, examine it, research it if need be, so that we have dissected it into the smallest of topics. Then we speak to our mother, sister, brother, aunt, father, sister's best friend, brothers girlfriend, uncle, friend, acquaintances or therapy session.
I came out the lucky one. My husband is awesome and he loves his family immensely. That exuded from him in fumes, so light and almost vaporless. I won't go on the scorn at her or ask her to give her head a shake. Her new husband is a shell and only one quarter as interesting as my husband. And that just about covers every area you can imagine, and the one you thought it implied.
I'll have to make up for being MIA the past few weeks by writing a little be more over the coming weeks.
Be healthy, be happy, and be hypercritical ...........:: LOL, checking to see if you're still with me ............::
Spring is my favorite time of year! It is all about new beginnings, flowers peaking out of the soil to reach the warm beams of the sun, and, of course, it is my birthday (I turn 55 on April 18th). Granted, I am a bit biased. One of the things I like to write about on Meanderings are interests based on being a 50s fashionista (or wannabe) grappling with the challenge that we shouldn't try to dress like our 20-something daughters, nor should we age before our time with our mother's elderly good looks. Then we have to toss in our body types, and any of the challenges we may have to adapt to changes happening.
"Aging gracefully is one thing, but trying to slow it down is another."
~Courteney Cox
Nothing says that we can't embrace bright colors, florals, patterns or hip looks, we just have to make sure it suits us. We should be able to understand what makes us feel good :: and that usually goes hand in hand with makeup and beauty. One thing I'm proud of is I come from great stock :: both my parents always look/ed years younger. So I really appreciate it when the youngsters tell me I look like I'm in my late 30s or early 40s :: I think it all comes down to what I said :: finding your zone in beauty and fashion, and being able to pull it off. At 4 ft 11, or rounded up to 5 ft, you're right to think that I would have fashion challenges of my own. I've always liked the "chic" look and try to stay true to that. So, to help others, I will share what I have adopted as my own Spring 2016 look. It all starts with the eyes. Studies say that people usually are drawn to the eyes first. I was blessed with green ones and tend to focus on that wonderful feature. I don't go for the dramatic eyeliner and you've already read about my lash extensions drama. I just happen to have taken a photo of my eyes just for this emphasis.
Go ahead and laugh at my creative license :: fooling around in Microsoft Paint is fun! I use a moisturizer to start always after cleansing. Having sensitive skin, I have learned that I have to stick with something that works because when I try something new, too rich in oils or perfumes, I break out. (There goes the myth that you don't break out in zits once you pass menopause). I rely on my fail-safe Oil of Olay for sensitive skin:
To define my basic look, I do sponge off of magazines and beauty counters for inspiration. It isn't that difficult to find nude colors this spring :: it is everywhere. I'm chomping at the bit to try Urban Decay after watching an INC. video interview of Sandy Lerner, founder of Oracle. (I want to do a blog about redoing her look with a few modifications so that she gives up that 70s look that she seems to be holding on to).
I have already gravitated to nude as my eye base color for the simple reason that it brings out the green color of my eyes. I would think it would suit any gal in her 50s. (HINT :: just because you've survived menopause doesn't mean you should boycott makeup!) I always use the lightest of light tones for my eyebrow bone (far left) and then a soft, lighter color for the lid (right in the middle). I have the heaviest hand on the lid because I don't want it to fade as the day progresses. I find that eye makeup with a bit of frost to it tends to adhere to the skin more successfully. I define the upper lid with a muted softer yet darker tone for definition (7 from left). Then it is mascara, mascara and more mascara.
We can still learn from the young. My stepdaughter always has thick lashes that seems to coat the mascara on. My lashes are longer and finer, so I can avoid that thick, clumped on look. I still swear by my recent discovery :: L'Oreal's two step mascara :: a white base, then a black mascara :: when that dries, I then apply my Clinique mascara, followed by the butterfly effect mascara by Maybelline. This has been from trial and error repeatedly to find something that works. My makeup regime takes 5-10 minutes at most.
However, let me not forget the crowning glory of eyebrow brushing to finish for a polished look. Given I have lighter eyebrows, it is a must for me. I do battle with the temptation of fake lines and heavy handedness. Instead, I use a complimenting eyebrow liner to give distinction, it closely matches the color of the eyebrow mascara :: MAC is the best I'm convinced. Au natural is my focus.
When too much is just too much.
Yes, some ladies think this doll looks good??
Safe to say :: I am not battling my age :: I am glorifying my God given gifts and attempting to show that you can be both subtle and classy. I'm not a fan of heavily caked on makeup that screams defying age tactics. If it works for other gals, it is fine for me.
I almost forgot :: the lipstick!! It is the final touch to your canvass. I absolutely adore my latest find :: Colorblur by Maybelline's "lipstudio" ::
Two colors I have already :: one for evening and one for Spring days.
A liner, lipstick and sealer all in one in an array of spring colors.
This discovery is fantastic. You put it on and it lasts for hours, even while drinking coffee! If you have to insist on the old fashioned way, I did find among Google's treasure trove, instructions on how to properly do your lipstick. (Seems like a lot of work to me now that I've found utopia with Colorblur) ::
Here is an ode to mature beauties who are hitting their stride while maintaining status as beauty icons, embracing their 50s in 2016::
Robin Wright celebrated her 50th birthday April 8th
There you have it :: style mavericks who are still dancing to their own drum. What do they all have in common? To me, they're not disguising their age nor are they caking on the makeup or trying tricks or the latest tactics :: they seem to know what works for them and stick to with it. They appear graceful and poised :: ready to take on the next decade.
"Stop whining about getting old. It's a privilege."
