Showing posts with label 50s aging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 50s aging. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

TRUST your instincts

The trials of being 50+ can be eye popping, especially so if you are a woman.



I was just getting prescriptions filled less than a week ago after seeing the doctor for an annoying recurring bug (first laryngitis type virus then nauseous); it occurred to me to mention it to the doctor but I didn't, but remembered and asked the pharmacist: my husband had a small case of shingles in his back beneath his shoulder blade: he said that shingles is NOT contagious; The day before last during a meeting excusing during the discussion, saying I didn't know what was going on. Thankfully, yesterday was a day off because, even though I grumbled about missing the Super Bowl, I had swapped Sunday's 9 to 5 shift instead of an ugly 2pm to 10pm shift. My skin started to erupt and today it almost looks like I am a burn victim. I wasn't even thinking shingles, but when the Hunkster Hubster had shingles, I did what most of us do: look it up on the internet. Let me emphasize that I do not condone self-diagnosis, always rule to see a doctor first. (I was taught this while my Awesome SONster was in and out of the hospital a lot as a baby)! To top THAT off, I had been invited for a video interview for a career position (not a job, like I am in now) with an international sustainability corporation (the environment is something I'm passionate about - please go to my optioneerJM blog where I wrote about how to use normal household objects instead of expensive manufactured, packaged, designed, marketing overhead products. Because I consider my main focus groups: INBETWEENERS (born 1960 to 1965, after the Baby Boomers, before Generation X, while likely parents of Millennials) ..... so here I am with this erupted sore face, I had to slather it with tons of foundation to try to hide it with massive amounts of cover up ..... wishing for the best: one thing I said in the video was a wholehearted response: just doing this video interview while I have a severe allergic reaction on my face, should demonstrate that I can bounce back from set backs. So later on this afternoon while I am waiting for my family to come home and stop over to celebrate my Awesome SONster's birthday; 28th birthday......... read more on meanderingsABOUT 


I came online to ask Google the question:  "Can you get Shingles on your face?" and a plethora of information abounded.  I read some of the symptoms and it registered with me to go beyond to take a look of the images of Shingles on faces ...... pretty GROSS is an understatement.  I WAS able, however, to find one that mirrored my own face.  In fact, mine appears a lot more drastic.  Trust me, it may be slightly redder from putting cover up and mega tons of foundation to cover up for the video interview I had on my agenda this afternoon.  That, and preparing for my Awesome SONster's 28th Birthday celebration.  Not any lazing around.


YES you CAN get #shingles on your face!!  
My lesson for the day:  trust your instincts.  If it is anything other than Shingles I will update my blog.

This was me a week ago.


Lesson to you:  If you are over 50, get the Shingles vaccine.  If I had been given the proper information less than a week ago, I may have gotten the vaccine that very day.  Less than a week later, ironically they must be contagious, just like chicken pox are.

Shingle Alert

Thanks Donna, I just got home from Dr who confirmed it is Shingles. I wrote about it on my MEANDERINGSabout blog and posted this uncomplimentary picture that has horrified my family to create awareness that it is CONTAGIOUS and very painful. Anxiety is the highest contributor in my case. I took two months off work this summer, the first time in a career spanning 40 years -- I can say that because I got my first job at a newspaper when I was 15, because if I wanted to continue figure skating, I had to contribute financially to the ice times, private lessons, tests, competitions, skates and dresses (most top contending figure skaters come from very affluent backgrounds typically because it is almost an elitist sport for the well off, a beacon for affluence similar to that of tennis. READ more on MEANDERINGSabout http://meanderingsabout.blogspot.ca/


Monday, January 30, 2017

an epic ZITcom


A makeover of the RED kind

I haven't appealed to my fashionista persona for a while.  Since this is my third day off in a row, I decided to do a radical makeover and share with you the steps I am taking in case it is something you want to do as well.

Today, I am going to transform from my natural "dirty blond" or light brunette hair color to an eye-popping RED.  I sure hope it turns out well.  

I asked a young gal cashier who had flaming red hair whether she thought it would suit me and she said YES!  (well, she said, with my eyes ... blush, aw shucks).  I've had two forms of temporary red color in my cabinet for quite some time.  Somewhere around Halloween, I think.

This is definitely going for the gusto.  Not something anyone timid would attempt, to be sure.  


What I look like on a "normal" day

A spa day
of a new kind.  I haven't treated myself to a self-pampered day for quite a while.  Thank you for joining me, especially if you decide to try it along with me.

The BEFORE before the after
I apologize if I've scared you.  It is necessary to do the "before" like any other makeover.  I've already forewarned my stepdaughter should the Hunkster Hubster show up on her doorstep with suitcase in tow from the shock.  Guys don't like their women reinventing themselves too often or too drastically.  




Cleansing
is a must in any ritual to keep healthy, happy skin.  Unfortunately, I've had this big zit on my cheek since just before my stepdaughter's wedding last August!  I had to pull out a lot of different concealers for the wedding photos.  I've tried to tackle it for 6 months now, in an epic ZITcom. 




A face masque
After I use the OXY pads (sounds like a home cleaning product I should be using to do chores doesn't it?)





A face mask while coloring




Ruby red
I bought Schwarzkopf's ruby red on the darker side, with my blonde, light hair color, I want to avoid it turning pink.  Also, I am keeping in mind that I have the temporary color as a back up to add later if it does go haywire during the color.  I've kept it on for 30 minutes before I shop into the shower.  (I'm nervous now).



 It's all about the base
Before I get started on any foundation or styling hair (I usually go air dry unless sprucing up for a special occasion).  I have mentioned before that I use Oil of Olay for sensitive skin, faithfully after I wash or shower.  I use coconut oil on my hair while wet to help prevent my hair from drying out from home coloring remedies.



I've discovered this RIMMEL BB Cream since my "ZITcom" erupted a month or so ago.  It gives me a smooth finish and does a fantastic job of covering up the imperfections (which are plenty once you hit 50!)

I use a QUO TM to smooth it on.  It does a decent job of it.  Even though the ZIT is still there, it is less noticeable to my eye.


The red hair doesn't look too bad.  In fact, it did turn out to be the color I expected.  My hair is thinning at the front forehead so a side part comb over helps.  You may have noticed the eyebrows are hanging on to my natural color, but I have a fix it for that.  After I use some concealer under the eyes and dotted on the zits to give a better coverage.  I seal it with a powder to avoid shine or smear marks.  It helps to set the foundation for extended coverage.

Eyebrows framed
I have experimented a lot in this area because I have faint eyebrows.  It is more important than anything.  If I were to stop here and just apply lipstick, I'd be free to accept surprise guests or a shopping trip.  (Do you ever notice how much more attentive boutique sales are when you are all made up?  If you want help, don't go shopping in sweats and looking like you're about to tackle housework).



I clip my eyebrows very short with nose hair scissors (that I don't use on nose hairs, gimme a break!).  I find that if they are shorter, they will grab the eyebrow product much better.  I outline my eyebrows in a color that closely matches my own.  If I am just shopping or going to work, that is suffice.  Today, I'm using the darker product to bring out my eyes.

Green eyes and purple eye color
go hand in hand, according to all beauty reports.  I tend to wear eye color scheme according to the tone of my outfit.  For example, if I'm wearing read, I would use nude tones.  For this make up makeover, I am relying on my trusted QUO palette and dual contouring + eye liner.  There is lots of information out there on what color to use to compliment your eyes.  For example, blue works wonders with brown eyes.   Try it out, and if it works, keep it part of your regular routine.  As you get used to it, you'll become faster at doing a quick brush of makeup before you're off and on your way.  Typically, my makeup regime is 10 minutes max.  If I fuss with my hair, add another 20 or 30 minutes, depending on what I do.  I ventured into a short cut lately, which is easily maintained.  I cropped it short because I was constantly tying it back which wasn't necessarily a good look for me if I wasn't curling, moussing and blow-drying to tendrils.


The cheek bone is connected
to where you put a light dusting of blush.  I don't put much on.  Those eyebrows look too dark to me ... hmmmm.



Bat outta eyelash hell
Thick, full eyelashes is something I grapple with.  I wrote about my misadventures in eyelash extensions before.  I use an eyelash foundation/mascara combination, with the best so far being from L'Oreal.  I tried MAC's but haven't found it as great as MAC mascara-like eyebrow definer.  This is probably what takes me the longest.  My own eyelashes are long, but I have to work at it to make them thicker, fuller.  I learned this trick from my stepdaughter (the other two rarely wear makeup, yeah that's lucky for them, that and youth) to use multiple types of mascara.  I have to use waterproof kinds otherwise they weep and I turn into a raccoon.


I've been framed 
To complete the look, you need lipstick.  You'll notice that I have not been blessed with full, luscious lips like my youngest daughter (I'm still trying to figure out where that gene came from because she was blessed with it).  I really like the kind that are lipstick and liner in one with a sealer over top.  

Similar to mascara, lip liner can bleed on my lips and look like I'm a 5-year-old attempting to use her mom's makeup.  



VOILA!
A beauty queen, I'll never be.  Trying to make the most of what gifts I've been given, I max out on my eyes which are my best feature, or so I've been told.  My youngest daughter and sister have asked me aloud why they weren't bestowed with green eyes.  Well, looking at the pictures with no makeup and a horrible zit, demonstrates a trade off because they both have wonderful skin.



Monday, November 21, 2016

Creativity changes everything



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.




Saturday, October 22, 2016

Hello, my name is Doris FUN




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:


SOURCE:  http://movietheaters.over-blog.com/2016/03/hello-my-name-is-doris-2016-free-download-movie-hd-1080p.html



MOVIE SYNOPSIS:
A self-help seminar inspires a sixty-something woman to romantically pursue her younger co-worker.

SUMMARY:
When Doris Miller (Sally Field) meets John Fremont (Max Greenfield), her company’s hip new art director, sparks fly—at least for Doris. Her first encounter with true romance (outside of the pages of a novel) convinces Doris that she and the mostly unaware John are meant for each other. In the cluttered house she shared with her late mother, Doris mines the Internet for information on her one-and-only, guided by the 13-year-old granddaughter of her best pal Roz (Tyne Daly). When Doris begins showing up at John’s regular haunts, she wins over his Williamsburg friends with her eclectic vintage wardrobe, quirky naiveté and unironic enthusiasm for their rooftop knitting circle. Her new life brings Doris a thrilling perspective, but also creates a rift between her and her longtime friends and family, who believe she’s making a fool of herself over a guy half her age. Eager for all the experiences she has missed out on, Doris throws caution to the wind and follows her heart for the very first time.

ABOUT THE MOVIE:
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

T A G S:







ROTTEN TOMATOES





TOMATOMETER 

AUDIENCE SCORE 

























Halloween 2016
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":













Thursday, October 20, 2016

The mating call

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:

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What women want?


Monday, September 12, 2016

attract the universe


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 .......