Travel week is winding down.  I’m heading home for Georgia tomorrow.  Last night, I was going through the archives, and I thought I’d do something fun today.  I know a lot of you are planning on traveling this year, and I’m sure many of you will be spending time by the pool or the beach.  Getting ready for a beach vacation is relatively easy, right? Just pack a swimsuit, and you’re good to go. Not so fast.  If you’re spending hours on the beach, then you want to be prepared. There’s nothing worse than settling into your beach chair then remembering you forgot to toss sunscreen into your beach bag or a bottle of water. Don’t worry, I have you covered. Today, I’m putting everything from this week together and sharing how I prepare and my must-have items on my beach vacation packing list.

Steps to a self-tan 

Before I head to the beach, I use self-tanner for a little summer glow. Yep, the safest tan is a fake one. Ha! it’s easy to apply tanner at home, but you need the right supplies for a flawless tan. the good news is it’s safe and suitable for all skin types. Below are some of my favorite products.

Exfoliating Glove | Self-tanner Mitt | Body Bling | L’Oreal self-tanning mist | Jergens Natural Glow | L’Oreal Self-tanning Towelettes

Step 1 

Shower and exfoliate. If you want to avoid streaky tan lines exfoliating is the most important step. One of my favorite body scrubs is Elemis Frangipani that I apply with an exfoliating glove that leaves my skin smooth and soft.

Step 2 

After I step out of the shower, I apply moisturizer to ankles, feet, knees, elbows, wrists, and palms. These are the key areas that tend to soak up too much self-tanner. Wait ten minutes or until your body is completely dry. This is an important step as your skin needs to be dry to absorb the self-tanner and avoid streaks.

Step 3 

Apply the self-tanner with a mitt. If you skip using a mitt, then your hands tend to turn orange. Plus, the mitt helps apply the tanner evenly and smoothly. Apply the product directly onto the mitt.

Step 4

Use long even strokes when applying self-tanner, working one section at a time..

Step 5

Wait twenty minutes before you put your clothes on. This allows the product to settle and avoids staining your clothes.

Step 6

Moisturize daily to keep your faux tan for as long as possible. Jergens Daily Moisturizer is my go-to moisturizer all summer long.

Outfits

Travel outfits

On Sunday, we ran 5 travel outfit ideas from Spring.  Whether you’re driving or flying to your destination, chances are the temps of your origin city are different than your destination one.  Head over to the post for ideas on what to wear on your trip.

Travel capsule wardrobe

On Monday, I gave you a glimpse of my travel capsule wardrobe.  Head over to the post to see the 6 outfits I took with me to Mexico.

Bathing suits

Yesterday, I posted pictures from Mexico.  I also shared with you 3 swimsuits and cover-ups I took with me.  In case you missed it, take a look at the post for great 2022 swimsuit ideas.  

Beach vacation packing list

Alright, now for my beach vacation packing list.  It includes:  

• travel outfits 
• bathing suits 
• beach towels 
• sunscreen 
• beach chairs 
• beach blankets 
• beach umbrellas 

For each item, I put together a shoppable widget to help you as you prepare for your vacation. 

Beach towels (shop below)

Sunglasses (shop below)

Sunscreen (shop below)

Beach chairs (shop below)

Beach blankets (shop below)

Beach umbrella (shop below)

In case you missed it

It’s travel week all week over here on the blog.  So far, we’ve shown you

• 5 travel outfit ideas for Spring; 
• my travel capsule wardrobe for Mexico; and 
• 3 swimsuits & coverups for the beach.

Daily Looks

Make sure to catch up on our DAILY LOOK. We post a dedicated photo to our daily outfit every Wednesday-Sunday. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture. 

We’re talking all things skincare today on the blog.  I’m going to share with you my 2022 skincare regimen and the 5 skincare products I can’t live without.  Even if you have neglected a skincare regimen your entire life, you can start a routine today and expect results. And what’s even better:  it doesn’t break the bank. 

5 reasons our skin ages

Before jumping into my regimen properly, it’s good to understand why skin ages to begin with. 

Collagen breakdown

Collagen is the connective tissue responsible for the firmness of our skin.  When we hit our thirties, our bodies begin to lose collagen. Loss of collagen leads to wrinkles and dull skin. and our skin becomes drier, thinner, and less elastic.

Exposure to UV radiation

Damage from UV exposure ranges from premature wrinkles to dangerous skin cancer. The degree of damage depends on the intensity of UV rays and the length of time your skin has been exposed without protection.

Unfortunately, growing up in the seventies, I did not incorporate sunscreen into my routine. Instead, i baked for hours in the sun with baby oil causing numerous sunburns…

Oxidation

Skin oxidizes just like a penny or a car. Oxidative stress starts with free radicals found in the environment like air pollution, smoking, and pesticides. Hello, 21st century.

Inflammation

There are all sorts of causes for inflammation, but the chief culprits are stress and a poor diet.  Both cause your body to produce hormones that affect insulin levels. 

Glycation

Eating too much sugar is another cause of inflammation. Sugar molecules bond to skin and break down collagen and elastin.

Ways to protect your skin

Without spending a dime, there are a ton of ways to protect your skin.  Some include: 

• Protect your skin from the sun every day.
• Apply self-tanner rather than get a tan.
• Stop smoking, if you do.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
• Drink less alcohol.
• Exercise most days of the week.
• Get a good night’s sleep.

2022 skincare routine

My daily skincare routine includes:  

1. cleanser;
2. anti-oxidant to fight off free radicals from pollution and foods;
3. moisturizer and:
4. sunscreen to prevent any further sun damage.

In addition, 

• Four to six times a week, I use retinol at night.
• Twice a week, I exfoliate my skin.
• Once a week, I use a masque and/or a peel.

Retinol, sunscreen, and vitamin C are non-negotiables in my skincare routine. Here’s why:  retinoids are the class of Vitamin A.  Derived ingredients includes retinol, which is a milder version of Retin A.

Some of us have sensitive skin and can’t tolerate Retin A, but hopefully can use retinol.  Retin A helps increase new cell turnover and activates natural collagen production, leaving us with firmer brighter skin.

Anti-oxidant Vitamin C penetrates your skin, increasing the production of collagen.  Collagen production is the most important factor in keeping our skin in tip-top shape, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and brightening our skin tone.

Before I put on my makeup, I use sunscreen on my face, neck, chest, and hands.

5 Skincare Products I Can’t Live Without

And here are 5 skincare products I cannot live without. For each product type, I’ve rounded up tons of shoppable examples I’ve used over the years.  

Retinol (Shop below) 

Dark Spot Gel (Shop below) 

Eye Masks (Shop below)

Vitamin C (Shop below)

Sunscreen (Shop below)

Curated skincare line

For those of you looking to invest more heavily in skincare products, make sure to read this interview with my dermatologist.  In sum, you’ll see that you can: 

• Hop on over to Georgia Skin Cancer; 
• Use discount code BETH15 for 15% off their product line until the end of February.
• 100% of the proceeds will go to Uncommon Threads, a non-profit in the greater Boston area with a mission to empower women. Let’s see how much money we can raise! I can’t wait to share next month!

For a more targeted look at the Curated line, check out their curated deluxe kit below.

Daily Looks 

We just posted a new DAILY LOOK, so make sure to check it out. Daily Looks is a really simple feature:  a dedicated photo feed of my daily outfits. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture. 

In case you missed it

We’ve been talking all things denim over on the blog the past few weeks, including the 2022 denim trend everyone is talking about. 

Every year like clockwork, I schedule a yearly exam with my dermatologist Dr. Ross Campbell to keep an eye out for skin cancer. Yes, yours truly had a bout with skin cancer in 2007. It was caught in time, so an outpatient surgery was scheduled, and I’ve been fine albeit vigilant ever since. Whenever I see Dr. Campbell for my yearly skin exam, he always has time to answer any questions. And I love his thoughtful answers to a variety of concerns. He was the one who recommended I use a retinol serum instead of Retin A and advised IPL to help with hyperpigmentation. And he’s the one who performed minor surgery to remove a fatty lump on my shoulder. 

Last January 2021, I took Dr. Campbell’s advice and upped my anti-aging skincare routine by adding three sessions of IPL and six micro-needling sessions. What game changers! IPL drastically helped diminish the brown spots caused by sun damage in my teens, and Micro-needling helped improve the texture of my skin. Both procedures were scheduled at Georgia Skin Cancer, which takes good care of me. 

So I thought we would kick off 2022 with an exciting post for you today, and we’re going to cover a lot of ground. We’re going to 

• review my anti-aging skincare routine; 
• review my IPL sessions; and
• share a new interview with Dr. Campbell about all things skincare. 

So let’s get started. 

Anti-aging skincare routine

Now onto a skincare routine. I incorporate these steps:

1. Cleanser.
2. Toner to balance the PH in my skin.
3. Anti-oxidant to fight off free radicals from pollution and foods.
4. Sunscreen to prevent any further sun damage.
5. Retinol
6. Moisturize

Cosmetic treatments

As I mentioned, in addition to my anti-aging skincare routine, I upped the ante last year with cosmetic treatments. And I will do the same in 2022. There are invasive and non-invasive cosmetic procedures to choose from. Honestly, I have a neutral stance on what’s best. If you think Botox or fillers are the best choices for you, why not? Cosmetic procedures don’t have to be another topic where we take hard stances. For me, my aesthetic has always been doing what’s necessary and natural.

IPL 

There’s a fine line between enhancing one’s appearance and going overboard. Many of us have witnessed friends and family who no longer resemble their former selves, and I have no interest in crossing that line. It isn’t important for me to look like I’m forty years old or even younger.

But I do want to be the best version of sixty-three. So I explored non-invasive treatments.

• IPL first; and 
• Micro-needling treatments to enhance collagen production second. 

I started a series of IPL treatments at the beginning of last year. “IPL” is short for intense pulsated light, which is a type of light therapy used to treat age spots, sun damage, and broken capillaries on your face. This treatment can also be used on your neck, decolletage, and hands.

IPL is similar to laser treatment, the difference being a laser focuses on one wavelength of light where IPL releases light of many different wavelengths – like a photo flash. IPL penetrates down to the second layer of the epidermis without harming the top layer.

Before

Three days in

The first photo was taken three days after my first round of IPL. I have makeup on (tinted moisturizer, blush, and lipstick), but you can see mild redness and swelling, especially underneath my eyes. The treated area of the skin feels like sunburn the first day and continues to be sensitive several days afterward. One of my kiddos called me Mrs. Potato Head as I looked pretty wonky for a few days…

A week in

Here’s me a week after treatment with no makeup. The swelling and redness have disappeared, but you can still see a few age spots. It’s recommended to have a series of three IPL treatments, which I scheduled. Some women just have one IPL therapy. The choice is yours. But I’m happy I listened and penciled in three appointments. I’m also adding treatments to my neck and chest as those areas have lots of sun damage too.

Below is a photo of me at the beginning of 2022.

Interview with Dr. Campbell

Recently, Dr. Campbell made a visit to my YouTube Studio to sit down for a Q&A. Enquiring minds always have one or two skincare questions up their sleeve. As a matter of fact, I asked my Instagram readers to send their questions Dr. Campbell’s way. I’m sharing a few with you today.

What is the #1 cause of aging?

Besides aging? That would be sun damage. While there are many benefits from being outdoors in the sun, including vitamin D, we need to protect our skin against UVA rays responsible for visible skin aging. Many people don’t realize that UVA rays can penetrate through car windows so it’s important to apply sunscreen every day even if you’re not spending time outdoors. 

So we should wear sunscreen in the winter?

Absolutely! We should get into the habit of applying sunscreen every day. Funny story! My two boys, ages 11 and 14, went for a midnight swim and immediately applied sunscreen before hopping into the pool. That’s the right approach.

What SPF should I be applying?

At the minimum, an SPF 30 will defend your skin against sun damaging ultraviolet rays.

Dr. Campbell, I have loads of sun damage from my teen years; how often should I visit my dermatologist?

A yearly visit to your dermatologist is important, and then we will have a baseline of your skin’s condition. Some patients require more than a once-a-year visit, but we can determine that at your yearly appointment.

What is the best life of defense against aging skin? 

That’s an individual choice, but Botox, Facial Fillers, IPL, Microneedling, or Microdermabrasion are all options. We’ve seen great success with radiofrequency micro-needling that combines radiofrequency energy and micro-needling. It stimulates collagen production, reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation, and helps tighten loose skin with minimal downtime. 

What about skincare products? Do they make a difference?

Yes, it’s important to add a morning and nighttime skincare routine. At the bare minimum, cleanse and moisturize. But consider a vitamin C serum and retinol.

In what order should I use my skincare products? It can be confusing!

It can be confusing. But go from thin to thick and let each serum or moisturizer dry before applying the next. We’ve taken the guesswork out of a skincare routine with our Curated Line from Georgia Skin Cancer. Each product is numbered! 

Yes, I’ve had the privilege of using your lineup. As a matter of fact, I’ve used it exclusively for the past two months. I can’t tell you how many people have commented on my skin. It glows! And I’ve worked with all of the big beauty brands from drugstore to high-end testing serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and vitamin C. I can highly recommend many, many products from affordable to luxury but I have to say I’m very impressed with your medical-grade line Curated. Can you tell me why you decided to create your own skincare line?

The premise was simple. It was an opportunity to give back to my community here in Athens, GA, and abroad. 100% of the proceeds from Curated go to charities. We not only want to do good for our patients, but we want our practice to make our community better. “For the greater good” is the answer. 

​​Dr. Campbell, I know many readers will write and ask how they can buy Curated? Do you ship nationally?

Your readers can hop online at Georgia Skin Cancer and select their products. Not only do we ship nationally but internationally as well. One of my patients lives in London, and we regularly ship her products. Would you like to share a discount with your readers? I have a bit of influence at GSC. While we’re at it, all the proceeds raised will go to a charity of your choice. Let’s get the clock ticking. From January 19th to February 19th, what charity would you like to support?

That’s fantastic news, Dr. Campbell! What’s my discount code?

Let’s set up 15% off your purchase with code BETH15

All right, ladies, the challenge is on! Let’s see how much money we can raise for Uncommon Threads, a non-profit organization that helps low-income women see and feel their true potential by using clothing and image as tools for building self-esteem and self-worth.

Thanks so much for offering the discount code, Dr. Campbell. My readers will love it. And I love the commonality between Curated and Uncommon Threads. Doing good by being good. Thank you so much for taking time from your busy schedule to stop by Style at a Certain Age. Will you come back again? We just scratched the surface when it comes to skincare questions?

I look forward to it!

Curated skincare line

Alright, ladies. You heard that correctly. 

• Hop on over to Georgia Skin Cancer; 
• Use discount code BETH15 for 15% off their product line.
• All proceeds will go to Uncommon Threads, a non-profit in the greater Boston area with a mission to empower women.

For a more targeted look at the Curated line, check out their curated deluxe kit below.

In case you missed it

And that’s a wrap on my anti-aging skincare routine. We’ve been busy over here on the blog this new year—tons of new posts with tons of fashion, health, and lifestyle information. If you missed it, make sure to check out the definitive denim guide for women.

do you ever stand in front of a beauty counter and wonder which product to try? when your eyes scan the shelves, it looks as if there are two gazillion bottles lined up side-by-side. which one to choose? which one is better? what’s so special about this product? is one brand better than another? or are they all the same… confusing, i know. been there. done that. and now that many of us are strictly shopping online these days, picking out new skincare or makeup products can be overwhelming to say the least. and if i order online what about shipping? is it free? and better yet, do they offer free returns?  don’t worry.  i’ve got you covered today:  here’s how you shop for skincare online.  

well, hopefully, i can help with skincare selections. one favorite aspect of my job is testing out the latest and greatest in beauty products, makeup, skincare – the works. and there’s one retailer i can count on when it comes to carrying a vast selection of makeup, skincare, bath & body, fragrances, and hair care to choose from. yep, Nordstrom wins my vote every time. and Nordstrom also caters to men’s grooming & cologne, natural beauty & wellness, and tools brushes, and makeup bags. the NuFace Mini Facial Toning Device is a favorite of mine as it helps smooth lines around your eyes and lips. and i have my eye on a hanging makeup bag from Tumi. it would make a wonderful Christmas gift. hint, hint…

sponsored by Nordstrom and ShopStyle

and Nordstrom carries all my favorite makeup brands. Ruby Woo is Mac’s best-selling red lipstick. lately, i’ve been loving Nudeies Bloom blush in Cherry Blossom. itCosmetics CC Cream is a-ma-zing. and Benefit Gimme Brow is a great eyebrow gel that looks natural.

 how you shop for skincare online

shopping online allows me to scroll through new products or head straight to my favorite brands. today, i thought i’d check out what was new at Elemis, a beauty brand i know i can count on. it’s always fun to try something new. at least, something new to me like the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads that acts as a gentle skin perfecting exfoliator. it’s perfect for all skin types.

everyone needs a little self-care in the shower and tub. what’s not to love about a luxurious salt scrub that sloughs off dead cells? Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow Scrub leaves my skin soft and glowing. and it smells heavenly!

a few of my favorite things about Nordstrom.

• free shipping and returns by mail or in store
• buy online pick up in store
• curbside pick up (no muss no fuss. Nordstrom brings your merchandise to you while you wait in your car)
• the Nordy club where you earn 1 point per dollar, status based on spend, and enjoy perks to beauty and style workshops, curbside pickup, and the first to shop select brands. sign up here.

and i love to pamper myself with a weekly mask. this week i thought a little TLC for my eyes were in order with Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Mask that provides an instant skin-tightening effect. when the time comes, these will be perfect to throw in my travel bag.

and last but not least i tried Elemis Pro-Collagen Tri-Acid Peel with a trio of acids that exfoliates and hydrates.

a big thank you to Nordstrom and ShopStyle for this sponsored post. and thank you, lovely readers, for supporting the brands that allow me to bring you fresh ideas.

august is fast drawing to a close and so is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. in fact, today is the last day to shop. on august 31st prices go back up. so let’s take a look at what’s left.

last day of Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

blazer, jackets, and coats

makeup

shoes, boots, and booties

skincare

handbags

don’t miss my big, big announcement i’ve been dying to share with you! plus, a 5-minute eye tutorial.

foundation | concealer | lipstick | mascara | blush | brow pencil | eyeliner | waterline pencil | eyeshadow | lash primer | eyelash curler

and in case you missed it, here’s a link to what came home with me from Nordstrom Anniversary Sale earlier in the month. 

the past few weeks have been a doozy, to say the least. stress has crept into our lives whether we want it or not. there may be many things out of our control these days. but today let’s focus on what we can control. one way i like to de-stress is by pampering myself. self-care is so important and it doesn’t have to take up hours of your time. it’s good for us to put some effort into our skincare and with all that extra time at home, now’s as good a time as any to focus on a core routine.  so here’s my skincare routine for mature skin.

skincare routine for mature skin 

since i started the blog one of my favorite aspects is partnering with brands, testing new products, and sharing those discoveries with my readers.  but i do have to mention that i regularly swap products even three months or so. why? because our skin builds a tolerance to the brand formulas for specific products. every skincare brand has a patented formula with a mix of ingredients for each and every product they offer. skin is similar to exercise in the fact that your body builds a tolerance to a specific regimen. so i shake things up every few months even if i LOVE a specific product. 

morning skincare routine

without further adieu, i’m sharing my all-star anti-aging skincare products for mature skin. both morning routine and evening routines are included. it’s important to pack in as much hydration and antioxidant action as i can.

in the morning i live to carve out time to massage my face with a cleansing balm that gently cleanses without stripping my skin of its natural oils. two to five minutes is ideal but even if you have thirty seconds to glide the balm over your skin in an upward motion it will get the blood flowing. afterward, i take a cotton ball and apply a toner to my face. this wakes me up and my skin feels reinvigorated. then comes an eye cream that keeps my fine wrinkles at bay. a serum that contains a power punch of antioxidants is applied next. why? serums give your skin a firmer, smoother texture, make pores appear smaller, and increase moisture levels. once my serum is patted on i slather on a moisturizer that hydrates my skin all day long. a moisturizer helps balance your skin’s complexion. last but not least is a sunscreen.

that completes my day time anti-aging skincare routine. but from time-to-time, i love to add an additional step at the beginning. an exfoliant works wonders because it removes dead skin cells uncovering the new skin cells which opens the way for moisturizing products. another product i use in the morning is a mask that helps hydrate and improves the appearance of pores.

Colleen Rothschild Cleansing Balm |  Fresh Rose Hydrating Toner | Neal’s Yard Remedies Lift Serum | Sulwahsoo Eye Cream | Fresh Rose Moisturizer | La Roche Posay Sunscreen | Biossance Renewal Mask | Malin+Goetz Clay Mask 

night time skin care routine

my nighttime skincare routine is all about removing my makeup and impurities that have built up during the day. typically i start off with a cleansing oil but when i want an extra clean face i’ll use glycolic pads which help my skin look polished. next, i use a cleansing wipe to deliver a one-two punch for a clean face. a toner is next followed by a retinol serum recommended by my dermatologist. the serum is used three times a week. the days i’m not using my retinol a i apply a vitamin c serum that brightens my face. my nighttime skincare routine typically stops there but for those of you who like to add a moisturizer look for one that hydrates. 

the extras are a weekly at-home glycolic peel or a hydrating facial mask. nothing beats a weekly pampering session especially when my monthly visit to my aesthetician has been canceled indefinitely.

Biossance Cleansing Oil | Neutrogena Cleansing Wipes | Fresh Toner | Retinol A Serum | Biossance Vitamin C | Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Lift Moisturizer | Re Vive Glycolic Renewal Peel | Malin+Goetz Glycolic Pads | Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask

one remaining thought: it’s never too late to start a skincare routine. i don’t care if you are in your seventies or eighties it’s never too late to add hydration and brightness to your skin. so go ahead and pamper yourself. you’ll feel so much better. i know i do.

happy cleansing, happy pampering, and happy Sunday!

anyone had a stressful day? or week? how about a month? well, there are some circumstances that we have no control over. but there are others that we can take charge of like self-care. and since we’re spending lots of time at home how about a little me time? now’s a good time to pamper ourselves and our skin. Colleen Rothschild award-winning skincare and hair care to the rescue. Colleen take me away!

mother’s day sale

and with special prices on their handpicked Mother’s Day Gift Guide plus 15% off everything else, there’s never been a better time to stock up. Colleen’s radiant cleansing balm always makes my all-star skincare list. but i also love to follow up with a sheer renewal cream that’s oil-free and promotes new cell turnover that minimizes the appearance of lines and wrinkles. 

but if we’re in the mood to pamper ourselves (and we are) why not try a turmeric & neem oil brightening mask to help brighten dull and lackluster skin. turmeric is an exotic spice used for centuries for food and beauty rituals. or breathe new life into your skincare with a clarifying detox mask that removes dirt and debris and leaves behind a balanced complexion with the addition of vitamin C and willowherb.

this post sponsored by Colleen Rothschild

face mask brush | mandelic acid radiance serum | micro mineral resurfacing scrub | turmeric & neem oil brightening mask

a perennial favorite is mandelic acid radiance serum that’s formulated to gently exfoliate and breakdown the tiny bonds between dull dead skin cells that sit on the skin’s surface.

radiant cleansing balm | complete eye cream | sheer renewal cream

a morning skincare routine is so important for healthy vibrant skin. 

radiant cleansing balm | complete eye cream | sheer renewal cream | mandelic acid radiance serum | mico-mineral resurfacing scrub | face mask brush | turmeric & neem oil brightening mask

the micro mineral resurfacing scrub is an effective at-home alternative to professional microdermabrasion treatments. i love to treat myself with a special skin treatment like this on sunday night. afterward, my skin glows! and that’s what we all want.

the radiant cleansing balm comes with a muslin cloth that gently removes the impurities from your skin.

love how the mask brush easily applies the turmeric & neem oil brightening mask with a smooth uniform application. a mask is a perfect way to end the day – stressful or not. your skin feels rejuvenated.

a big thank you to Colleen Rothschild for this sponsored post. and thank you lovely readers for supporting the brands that allow me to bring fresh ideas.

hey gang!  i decided to do something a bit different today.  given everything that’s going on in the world, i went over to Pinterest to see what the trending topics were.  i just wanted to know what people are talking about—what they’re thinking about and focused on—given the changing landscape.  it came as no surprise that health & wellness was the #1 trending topic:  i think most people’s focus right now is centered around maintaining and improving our health.  but other topics that came up were recipes, reading, and skincare.  funnily enough, we cover all of these topics regularly over here on the blog.  so i thought i’d put together a mega-post today, pulling in all of these trending topics under one hood.  enjoy!  

pinterest roundup

i’ve had a presence over on Pinterest for a while now. it’s been a great tool for me personally, as it allows me track my personal interests in fashion, home design, and yes, health and wellness.  i went through some of my old photos from my Pinterest archive.  thought it would be fun to share some of my fashion choices throughout the years.     

focus on health & wellness

health & wellness is an important topic on the blog.  over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about everything from boosting your immune system to staying active by adopting a daily walking routine. for my regulars, you also know my involvement in FASTer Way to Fat Loss (FWTFL) over the past few years.  i have shared and will continue to share my health journey.  and as i’ve said before and will continue to say, FWTFL is a lifestyle, not a diet.  this program, run by mastermind Amanda Tress, teaches how to fuel your body and maintain energy throughout the day while you naturally burn fat. it’s a proven method of restructuring and repairing your metabolic system and increasing your metabolism – something many of us struggle with since hitting menopause and beyond! 

beauty & personal care

last week, i dedicated a post to my beauty routine.  while poking around on Pinterest this weekend, i came across some DIY face masks that i’d thought i’d share.  they’re both natural and super simple to make.  i’m trying to the yogurt face mask today. 

• 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon honey

• 1 tablespoon oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon water

favorite recipes 

for my regulars, you know how much we love food and drink over here on the blog.  fridays with oscar is our regular column that we’ve been rolling out, well, every Friday since the inception of the blog.  there, we bring you a casual OOTD, a recipe, cocktail and pictures of my German Shepherd Oscar and Maine Coon cat Ollie.  and yesterday, my daughter-in-law, Kelly,  published her first entry for her new weekly column Kelly’s Kitchen.  now that we’re all at home, there’s obviously more time to spend in our kitchens cooking delicious and healthy meals.   a few weeks ago, i rounded up some of our favorite recipes from fridays with oscar over the past few months.   i couldn’t resist.  here are a few more of our favorites.

sheet pan cajun shrimp, sausage and veggies

this is an easy one-pan dinner full of veggies and protein. i posted this one this past winter, and as such, i swapped the zucchini and squash for brussels sprouts.  and because i didn’t want the extra starch, i omitted the potatoes. (remember, make all these recipes your own!) the old bay seasoning adds a ton of flavor reminiscent of the low-country boil we made a while back. 

chickpea and chorizo tacos

this recipe is easily customizable to your taste. it’s so simple and really takes no time at all. make the yogurt sauce a day ahead if you like. i used the full can of chickpeas instead of the half cup the recipe calls for.

book club

with mandatory shelter in-place orders in most states,  we’re spending more time at home than, well, i don’t know when.  a lot of us 

i created the Facebook group, book club with style, as a place to discuss books and your love of reading as well as to connect with others of like mind.  this group is also a place where you can connect with authors and get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at what it takes to write a book from beginning to end. published authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Kerstin March are my lovely book club co-hosts. each month, one of us will lead a live video discussion where we will discuss the current book club selection.  last month, we read woman on the edge and this month we’re reading the wartime sisters.  make sure to join us! 

woman on the edge | the wartime sisters