figuring out 40

Life Well Lived (in color)

This week's Life Well Lived question is about COLOR! Specifically...

How do you incorporate color into your look?

My closet is, admittedly, rather dull. I tend to stick to grey, white, and brown. A little black thrown in, although it can be harsh with my casper-like skin. I've been trying to liven things up a bit recently with little bits of color...scarves, flats, and nail polish (only on my toes!). 

I'm always inspired by the way that Lisa Leonard incorporates color (and I've been pondering those red wedge shoes). I dream of having a full collection of Allora Handmade necklaces to rotate into my neutrals. And my friend Angie swears that a touch of eye shadow color is the secret to success.

Wanna join the conversation? Head over to Life Well Lived - and be sure to enter the sweepstakes!  

Live Well Lived: Looking Your Best

Oh boy - the Live Well Lived question for this week is a tough one - 

What are your favorite tips and tricks for framing and showing off your beautiful face?

I'm sure that many of you react to this question the same way that I do - "eeek! showing off?? how 'bout fixing?" Negative self-talk much? I'll make you a deal - I'll try to answer with a positive slant if you will. Here are the tips & tricks that I've gathered over the years...

Use sunscreen religiously. I have very pale, freckled skin that is prone to dark sunspots. I wear sunscreen every day. My current fave is Mineral Fusion's SPF 40. I'm also a huge fan of their SPF 30 Brush On Defense.

Pay attention to brows. This is embarrassing, but I think I was probably 35 before I started to even bother with waxing or plucking. I'm fortunate to have uniquely colored eyes (blue-green-grey depending on what I'm wearing), so neat brows help to show them off. 

Wear a scarf. It's an obsession with me. I love scarves...and think that they're the perfect way to frame your face (and divert the eye UP!). 

Pull your hair back. This might sound odd, but y'all have seen my hair, right? It's curly, unruly, and there's A LOT of it. It can be overpowering, so sometimes pulling it back is the best way for me to frame my face. 

Please don't leave me sitting here with this question all by myself - tell me at least one tip. C'mon, you can do it!! 

ps. don't forget to enter the current Life Well Lived Sweepstakes!

 

Life Well Lived : Getting Happy

Ack! I'm late in getting this post up. All of this back pain nonsense has seriously thrown me off. 

So, the BlogHer Life Well Lived question for last/this week was/is...

How do you teach the children in your life happiness?

Hmmm. Well. Uhm. Since I've got such big kids, this question instilled a bit of panic. Have I taught them happiness? Did I do enough? Are they going to end up in therapy? (the answer to that last one is YES. most definitely.)

One of my parenting regrets (and oh, there is a long list) is that I waited too long to teach my kids about happiness. I didn't fill their formative years with impromptu moments that resonated with joy. If you're reading this, and have little ones, please stop right now and do something joyful & happy. Go ahead...I'll wait. 

I'm avoiding the question, aren't I? Here's what I hope...

I hope that I have taught them happiness by demonstrating a love for creativity, and showing them that it's okay to take time to enjoy yourself. I hope that I have taught them happiness by encouraging honesty. I hope that I have taught them happiness by always involving them in decision-making and really listening to their wants. 

And if none of those things worked? I hope that I've taught them happiness by introducing them to browned butter chocolate chip cookies. 

Go check out what people much smarter than me have to say about this question! 

 

back to (beauty) basics.

As January winds down, I'm closing the books on my first month of 41...and to be honest? I've felt old this month. I've put on a little weight (I like to call this my winter weight - but really it's my where is the gym again? weight). The reflection I see in the mirror seems a little frumpier (is that a word?), a little more haggard, a little less pulled together. Time to practice a little self-kindness & pay attention to me! Perfect timing to answer these questions from my friends over at BlogHer...

What are your beauty resolutions this year? How do you plan to shake up and streamline your routine? What are the good habits you are committing to developing?

I'm going back to basics, really - although I work in the beauty industry, I'm a pretty minimalistic girl when it comes to all things beauty-related. Here's my simple plan - 

1. Get Clean - I washed my makeup brushes last weekend and threw out a few old/expired products. I'm also committed to getting into the habit of washing my face each & every night. Simple, yes - but I'm terrible at it! I think the key for me is actually going to be washing my face when I get home. When I wait until bedtime, I'm so tired that I just want to drop into bed. 

2. Get Glowing - I started dry brushing last year after reading Crazy Sexy Diet. I loved it, but fell out of the practice. It really makes a difference, particulary for winter skin. I'm a fan of using coconut oil instead of lotion (I know, how anti-product of me!). 

3. Get Green - green smoothies & green juice make a WORLD of difference in your skin. I've never stopped drinking them, but I need to be a bit more disciplined with drinking them regularly. 

4. Get Help - (I couldn't think of something clever to call this) I scheduled my first ever facial for next weekend. Yeah, I'm 41 and have never had a professional facial treatment. Checking that off my list! 

5. Get Sleep - really trying to get more sleep - cures a multitude of ills! 

Got any beauty resolutions on your list? Head over to BlogHer to see what others are doing - and while you're there, enter to win a Kindle Fire! 

Please visit the Life Well Lived Sweepstakes starting on January 26^th  and enter for a chance to win a Kindle Fire and a $50 Amazon Gift Card.