How to dress over 50: Do’s and don’ts!

Diane Roth, owner L’Armoire boutique in New Canaan, CT, has dressed ladies for the Oscars and for other iconic film ceremonies.

stylistShe is the straight-talking best friend you need when you want to make a fantastic first impression. Diane and her team of five offer consultations about style, trends and complete wardrobe overhauls. She’ll even pack your luggage for vacations, whether you’re traveling for three days or three weeks!

Diane hosts regular in-store events and has established relationships with New York based designers, including Christian Siriano, Maggie Norris and Cynthia Rose. Her fashion and estate jewelry trunk shows are said to be dazzling.

Consider what Diane recommends, and ridicules, when it comes to our wardrobes. “Clothing should be our friend as we age. Like makeup, it should accentuate our positives and camouflage our negatives,” she says.

…Keep Reading

from →  

Why we love Maggie Smith

We’ve seen every single episode of Downton Abbey, and wanted the clock to stop when the last episode aired. “All good things must come to an end,” but we wish this be an exception. Hurry back, Maggie Smith. You are one of a kind!

1. She embraces her age in an industry that disdains aging

1 (more…)

from →  

Great Things To Do For Others Each Month of 2016

Think of tailoring your acts of kindness to the season

January

Shovel the snow on an elderly neighbor’s driveway and sidewalk

(more…)

How women over 50 dress ‘for their age’

infographic_3

from →  

20 things you should do for your ageing parents

They made our lives easier as we grew up (hopefully). So shouldn’t we be making their lives easier now?

1. Try to be kind and patient if their forgetfulness frustrates you

(more…)

from →  

15 foolproof tips for taking your first excursion alone with your grandchild

Every new grandmother dreams of the day she’ll be able to take her grandchild on an outing, a short vacation, or simply home for an overnight stay. But no matter what excursion you take with your grandchild, it’s crucial to make sure the timing–and circumstances– are absolutely right, so the stage will be set for enjoying each other’s company for years.

main_image

Let’s start with an outing that can take anywhere from a couple of hours, such as a spring picnic in the local park, to a full day at a water park a couple of hours away.

shutterstock_193562099

1. Make certain your grandchild is secure enough to be away from his parents or full-time caregiver and old enough to explain what’s wrong if she’s having a problem, such as not feeling well.

2. Invite a friend of of your grandchild to come along, if having company will help him enjoy the outing even more.

3. Choose an activity that will make your grandchild feel confident and relaxed, not challenged and uneasy. A petting zoo, for example, might be a perfect spot for an outgoing three-year-old, but could frighten an unusually timid five year old. A curious seven year old might love a trip to a science museum, but a child who has difficulty grasping abstract concepts might not.

4. Bring along food and snacks that your grandchild enjoys.

5. Remember to pack a change of clothing, in case your grandchild has an accident, from spilling ice cream on his shirt to not making it to the bathroom in time.

You can’t wait to tuck your granddaughter into bed in your guest bedroom, and serve her fave, French toast with syrup, in the morning. Before you head for your home, consider what you’ll need to ensure she has a great night’s sleep and a happy-go-lucky morning. If this is your grandchild’s first night away from home without her parents, you’ll certainly want to avoid a case of homesickness.

1. Make sure her bed isn’t too big or too small, in relation to where she sleeps at home. If a five year old normally sleeps in a single bed, she could feel overwhelmed in a queen. Expect your unusually tall and athletic nine-year-old grandson to sleep on a skimpy foldaway cot, and he might wake up with neck and backaches.

2. Bring along a few familiar, comforting objects, such as stuffed animals, books, a blanket, even a favorite drinking glass, to make your grandchild feel more “at home.’

3. Always keep a selection of your grandchild’s clothes in the closet in the room where she’ll be sleeping. They will make her feel like she “belongs.”

4. Keep a duplicate selection of your grandchild’s favorite toys at your home, rather than schlepping them back and forth every time she comes for a sleepover. Check out this guide on gifts for the grandkids for additional suggestions on things they’d enjoy.

5. Never fail to keep the refrigerator and cupboard stocked with your grandchild’s favorite drinks and snacks (healthy, of course!)

Taking your grandchild on his first vacation alone with you may fill you with excitement, but it also involves the most planning and psychology.

shutterstock_57919912

1. Absolutely make sure to involve your grandchild (and his folks) in the planning, as much as possible. You may think a weekend beach vacation is the perfect choice, but that may fill your daughter-in-law with apprehension. You adore the idea of visiting a dude ranch, but is your grandchild really ready to confidently ride a horse? You personally want to keep as far away from Disney World as possible, but it’s been your grandson’s dream vacation for years.

2. Check out the emergency medical care before you confirm the reservations. You’ll want to have easy access to top-notch doctors in case something serious goes wrong. Also keep the phone numbers of your grandchild’s pediatrician (and other docs) in your phone.

3. Try to keep your first multi-day trip a reasonable distance from your grandchild’s home. It can be pretty scary, even for an eight year old, to take a long plane ride, away from home and his parents, if he’s never done it before.

4. Try to limit your inaugural trip to four nights max. Even the most confident child might
start to feel antsy and anxious about getting home to her parents by the fifth day, no matter how much fun she’s having.

5. Avoid going on multi-day trips with your grandchild until you’ve taken a few one-day excursions with him.

from →  ,

5 style resolutions for 2015

If you’re like me, you
embrace the beginning of
a new year with relish.

There’s nothing like the excitement of a fresh start, the chance to hit the reset button and change up something in your life. Time to clean out the closets, conquer a new skill, or just shake up your wardrobe by considering one or more of these style resolutions.

(more…)

from →  

Planning the perfect Christmas

Are you hosting Christmas Eve or Day this year and concerned how it will go?

It’s far easier than you think to plan, organize and execute the perfect holiday experience for your friends and family. Remember one important thing: Your guests want good food, good company and the chance to relax with those they love. Get all those ingredients right, and you’ll be well on your way to Christmas success!

(more…)

from →  ,

5 ways to befriend the environment

A cruel winter that still won’t quit has repeatedly reminded us how important it is to become more eco-friendly by making changes in our lives. Here are five simple ways to have a positive impact.

1. Walk, don’t drive

If you can, ditch the car for shorter journeys and walk—or even cycle—instead. In high-traffic areas, you could actually get to your destination faster than in the car, plus you’ll save fuel and reduce the amount of pollutants you put into the air. So take out your waterproof jacket, get on your trainers and leave your car keys behind. If you don’t own a proper all-weather jacket, check out the great range available at Cotton Traders.

(more…)

from →  

11 types of mums: Which one are you?

We’d like to think we’re all around great mums, but a single mothering persona usually stands out, way above the rest. When your kids think about you, what image would they conjure up?

Tell us which type of mum you think you are, then share this list
with your kids and see what they say!

1. The Cool Mum

You not only smoke pot with them, you supply it.

(more…)