The Skinny on Fitness, Food and Health

While fashion, makeup, hair and all that good stuff is part of looking good, health and fitness is another, more important part. Because its difficult to rock those Miss Me jeans if they feel too tight, and makeup doesn't look so great when your skin is blotchy or broken out. I'm no fitness guru, but I have found several things that manage to work pretty well for me, keeping me in shape (most of the time!) and feeling fit. I thought I'd share my own fitness and health tips, for what its worth. They aren't anything special or unusual (sorry, no magic pills or potions that I've discovered yet!), but these tips do work for me when I follow them, and they just might work for you too:

Exercise
I know. None of us really love it-at least I don't. But I do love the way I feel after a good workout. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the old "three days a week" adage really isn't true. Recent studies indicate that for optimum fitness, we ALL should be working out at least one hour per day. And for those of us in the over 40 age group, that hour a day is the minimum. As we age, our metabolism naturally starts to slow, making those unwanted pounds more difficult to shed. Its not fair, but there it is.

My biggest frustration is with people who insist they do not have "time" to work out. Do you spend an hour a day watching television? Playing on the computer? That time can be spent in a much more productive way, and daily exercise is a long term investment in your health. As a single parent who works three jobs just to stay afloat, while juggling a love life, family time and four crazy dogs, trust me when I say you CAN make time if you try. It has to be a priority. And it doesn't have to be some intense, over-the-top workout program. Go for a walk, hike or bike. Take a dance class. Break up that hour workout into two 30 minute workouts-whatever you have to do, do it.

My workout regime includes hot yoga classes, running or walking and hitting the weights at the gym. I try to alternate and mix that up so I am working out at least 5 days a week (6-7 when I'm trying to lose weight). I've also done the "Insanity" DVDs (I hate you, Shaun T!) and during the winter I try to add in fun activities like skiing, sledding and ice skating. If you can find a workout partner, that is even better. Knowing someone is going to be meeting you at the gym or yoga class is an excellent motivator. My boyfriend and I often workout together, encouraging each other to stick with it.

Some of these activities can be kind of expensive. I pay a fairly hefty monthly fee to go to yoga classes, but I feel it is money well-spent. This is my only body. Your physical health is truly a priceless commodity and if that goes away, you suddenly realize just HOW priceless.

If you don't want to spend a lot of money on fitness, there are options. Planet Fitness has an inexpensive monthly membership here in our northern town, and I've found it to be a clean, pleasant environment for basic weight training and using machines like treadmills and bikes. Or just buy some running shoes and hit the trails! Even in winter, our bike trails (well, when they're clear of snow) are great for running and walking. Many of the local swimming pools have inexpensive water fitness classes, a fun and low impact way to workout! You can also rent DVDs or fitness books at the library, creating your own routine. Just do it. I know, silly cliche, but it is SO true.

Food
Ugh. This is my weak point. I love food. I love wine. I love sugar. I like to eat beautiful meals with amazing sauces, drink wine and eat delicious desserts. I've been lucky in that for most of my life, I managed to slide by with lots of exercise and was able to eat mostly what I want. Well, those days are gone. Changing my eating habits is still a work in progress for me, and keeping the weight off has become a bit of a battle.

One thing I definitely avoid is fast food. I haven't been to a drive through in years. Really. And the recent news reports about McDonald's makes my stomach turn just to think about it. There are a few exceptions, the main one being In-N-Out, which we don't even have up here and which still prepares their food fresh. When I'm down in Cali, I do have to have me some In-N-Out. Other than that though, STAY away from fast food. It is so much better to eat fresh food with fresh ingredients. And if you eat out at work, making a lunch for yourself isn't just healthier, its less expensive!

When it comes to eating, I tend to do best when I can be moderate. I am not a huge fruits and veggies fan, but I love smoothies and I love salads. I can make myself a smoothie in the morning with a handful of frozen strawberries, half a frozen banana, a scoop of vanilla protein powder and cold water. Smoothies can be a good way to get in your fruits and veggies. My salads are always chock-full of "stuff". I try to use spinach or romaine, as they pack the most nutrients per serving. I also use things like fresh asparagus or green beans, avocado (very healthy fat!), red and yellow peppers (green peppers don't agree with me, ugh), radishes, onion, cucumber, a sprinkle of parmesan (harder cheeses are lower calorie) and sometimes berries or apples. Don't be afraid to add in anything you like! A big salad for lunch is filling and healthy. I do like salad dressing, but those "spritz" dressings you can buy now add flavor without fat or calories (and bottled salad dressing is probably one of the worst things you can eat, calorie-wise)

I don't deprive myself, because that always backfires on me. I do try  to find healthy alternatives when I can. I love candy, and I've found that a couple squares of dark chocolate (especially if it has orange or chili flavor) satisfies me. And we all know dark chocolate is good for you, even increasing your libido! I also like popcorn as a snack, its full of fiber and low calorie. I sprinkle on a little lime-chili salt and it gives me that "chip crunch" without the bad stuff.

Chips. Oh I love them. But they are what I call a "trigger food". Give me a bag of chips, I will EAT a bag of chips. So they don't come into my house. If I really want chips, I might buy ONE snack size bag. I can eat it and get my chip fix, without completely sabotaging myself. If you have a trigger food, don't tempt yourself. Keep it out of your house!

Moderation in all things is my food mantra. If I want a cookie, I have a cookie. Not ten cookies. I have wine with dinner. I will eat a nice steak once in awhile. I think about what I REALLY want to eat before I eat it, and go ahead and have what I want-in moderation. Because when I try too hard to deny myself, and don't eat what my body is really craving, I just ending up eating more later.

Lastly, I do try not to eat late at night. This isn't a hard and fast "rule" (eh, I have no rules) but if I am trying to lose weight, eating right before bed makes me feel sluggish and shows on the scale. If I HAVE to snack before bed, I try to stick with something like a low calorie mozzarella stick or a small handful of nuts. Protein in my stomach before bed sometimes makes me sleep better.

Water
 Fitness experts often talk about making sure your body takes in enough water, and it is as important as they say it is. Not soda (its been discovered that diet soda is worse than regular soda. Great.), not coffee (I love my coffee but it is a diuretic and not recommended as inclusion in your daily liquid intake), water. I try to drink at least two 32oz bottles a day, and when I do meet that goal, I feel SO much better. Lots of water actually keeps you from retaining water, as it moves things through your body faster and flushes toxins. I do like to spice up my water with a little Crystal Light sometimes (I know, its artificial crap but at least it helps me get the water in), and often have a cup of tea in the afternoons and evenings, which can be included in your intake.

Sleep
Another hot topic for health and fitness experts. When I am trying to lose weight, I've found the weight comes off much faster when I get enough sleep. Most of us need at least 7 hours per night. Sleep deprivation is one of the worst things you can do to your body, causing all kinds of potential health problems and even death-people who do not get enough sleep do not live as long as those who do. It is a serious concern. I work very early in the morning and try to be in bed by 10p during the week, which gives me about 7 hours on a good night. I drink an herbal tea before bed and read if I'm not sleepy. I also have a fan for "white noise" which can help give you a deeper sleep.

Motivators
When I am having trouble motivating myself to lose weight or work out, I sometimes set a manageable goal. Right now, I've promised myself two things when I lose the winter pounds that crept up on me-I will buy myself a new pair of jeans, something expensive and fun and sexy! And I will indulge in a bacon jam burger from local restaurant, Spenard Roadhouse. I know that the fitness "experts" say you shouldn't reward yourself with food. But I think for a short term reward, its fine. Will I reward myself with a burger every night for a week? Of course not. It just gives me something to look forward to that I really enjoy.

Another excellent motivator, especially if you are having trouble making the commitment to exercise, is to sign up for a 5k or even a half marathon! I usually try to sign up for a least a few races over the course of the spring and summer, and knowing I paid the entry fee and will have to drag myself through a race makes me much more likely to get my booty OFF the couch! 

Like I said, none of this is special or unusual. There is no magic pill (believe me, I've tried a lot of stupid diet tricks and supplements that don't work). These are just the things I do that work for me. Keep moving, be moderate and live your life as healthy as YOU can!

La-La Lashes!

I've said it before, I'm a terrible mascara junkie. If I see a commercial that hypes up the latest mascara, I fall for it hook, line and sinker and I have to have it immediately! This weekend I went out and bought a new mascara from Maybelline, who I think has some of the best mascaras out there (and some of the most affordable!)

Their new "Illegal Lengths" mascara is actually a revision of their old Illegal Lengths that was discontinued. It is purported to have special fibers in it that add length to your lashes, sealing in the fibers so you don't have any flaking-something I've noticed with other mascaras that have lengthening properties.

Here is a before shot of my very light, skimpy lashes...

Yeah I know. Ya can't even see them!!! Here they are with 2 coats of Illegal Lengths:

Much better, right?!

I think this is a great, affordable mascara, falling right in line with most other Maybelline mascaras. It gives even coverage and does what it promises, lengthening and filling out even the skimpiest of lashes (mine!)

Best of all? I think it was about $7 at Target. Can't beat that!!!

Boots No.7 Lifting and Firming Day Cream

One of my girlfriends texted me the other day that she just picked up some "Boots" skincare products from Target and that they were on sale. I was intrigued, as I'd never heard of Boots. She said its a line from the UK (her mother's family is from England) and it has been highly rated by several beauty sites. The line actually goes back to the 1800's and has been selling its products in the U.S. since 2004. It has been recommended and gained a strong following via media such as People Style Watch.

Of course, thats all it took for me to haul myself on down to Target and check out the Boots product line. I wanted to get the microdermabrasion kit, as thats what my GF bought and she liked it. Sadly, they were all out! So I picked up the No.7 Lifting and Firming Day Cream. I was out of day cream anyway and was immediately drawn to the "Lifting and Firming" promise. It was about $25, not super expensive, and is a good-size jar.

The texture reminds me almost of a cold cream, but it goes on very well and absorbs instantly. It is not heavy at all, even though it has a thicker consistency. As someone with dry skin, this cream felt very hydrating-which is important to me. It also seems to make my foundation go on smoother and gives my skin a light glow.

I'm not sure if I've been using it long enough yet to see the "lifting and firming" properties showing on my skin, but it does look brighter and I really like the moisturizing properties. I'm going to be trying some of the other Boots products, and will of course be sharing it here!

Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish

This is the freebie that was included in my last Sephora order:

Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish provides a nice, glossy coverage without being sticky. Formulated without parabens, sulfates or those ugly GMOs, it is also environmentally friendly to your lips-and we all need a little friendliness!

This is a "lip plumping" gloss, with a reported 86 percent of women who use it experiencing immediate increase in lip fullness. I have tried a variety of the lip plumping glosses and I think this is one of the better choices out there. Not necessarily because I think it plumps that much better than other products, but because it is non-sticky (I hate sticky lipgloss. My boyfriend hates it even more!) and provides a pretty, glittery shine over my regular lip color. That tingling sensation? That means its working hard to plump up those lips!

I can't promise you will have bee-stung, pouty lips after using it, but I did notice some increased fullness and I love the light color and well, it was free! Its always nice to try something for free, and I can happily say I'd buy it next time. Which is good news for Sephora and Buxom, since those freebies are a hot marketing tool, created to do just what they did for me-make me spend money!

As I've written before, Sephora always provides a lot of bang for your buck, with free shipping on orders over $50 and free samples with every order. Add in the hassle-free factor of avoiding the drive to the mall or department store, and you really can't go wrong with Sephora.

My boyfriend passed his verdict on the gloss too.

"Why are my lips burning after I kissed you? Why are they tingling? What did you put on your lips? Is it poison? Are you trying to poison me?"

His lips do look a bit fuller though....

If loving shoes is wrong...I don't wanna be right

Call it a fetish, call it whatever you want. I love shoes. I love them in a completely unapologetic and forthright way, refusing to accept that I don't need another pair or that "those black shoes look just like the ten other pairs of black shoes you own".

Shoes always fit, no matter how tight my jeans happen to be at the moment. Shoes give a boost to any outfit, changing a basic dress to something flirty and sassy with the simple addition of a little color or height. Shoes are the first harbinger to the new season-there is no greater feeling than the first day in spring when I can wear an open toed, strappy sandal without freezing!

While I'd love a pair or two, I'm not a Manolo girl like the lovely Carrie Bradshaw. My budget doesn't allow it and I prefer variety in my shoes over just having a few expensive pairs. So I was happy to see that Nordstrom is having a clearance sale on shoes:

Nordstrom isn't the only place to find shoes, however. You can find super cute, inexpensive shoes in lots of unexpected places. I happen to love Target for shoes, they usually have a nice variety in the $25-40 price range. The only downside, at least at my local Target, is they run out of sizes and styles quickly. Another fun place for shoes is Fred Meyer, the Pacific Northwest's Kroger store. I sometimes use their clothing coupons out of the Sunday sale flyer, giving me an additional 10 to 20 percent off sale prices. Other shoe shopping ventures at major retailers  include stores such as JCPenney, Sears, Famous Footwear and Payless. Payless is great for summer shoes or funky stuff that I know won't make it to the next season's styles.

For those of us lucky enough to live in the Far North, local retailers are another fun option. ShuzyQ has a wide variety of some of the cutest shoes on the planet, with surprisingly affordable prices. Skinny Raven is the place to go for running shoes and Alaska's ever-loving Dansko obsession. And places like Her Tern Boutique or Lulu E. Bebe offer unusual styles, limiting quantities so you won't see your shoes on a million other girls feet.

No matter what your personal style is, no matter if you like heels or casual kicks, boots or pumps, flip flops or flats, shoes will give you love when your jeans give you indigestion. Let your fashion spirit fly...take those shoes and run with them!

Sunless Tanning

I love the look of a sun-kissed tan. Unfortunately I have a few things going against me. For one, I live in a place where it is winter about half the year, and dark for a good portion of that time. I also happen to be a very whitey-white girl, sitting in the top ten percentile for skin cancer risk with my strawberry hair and freckles.

Tanning beds are quite popular here, and the reasoning behind their usage ranges from people wanting a "healthy" tan to "needing to feel the warmth" in the winter months, easing those cabin fever blues many of us suffer from during the darkest part of the year. But all these reasons fall flat when you get a diagnosis of melanoma, and its not something I feel comfortable risking. There really is NO such thing as a healthy tan, no matter how you try to justify it-especially from a tanning bed. So other than a short stint of crazy tanning in my late teens and early 20's (hey it was the '80's! Big hair, bright pink lips and super dark tans!) I stay away from tanning beds and always use sunscreen-minus the 15 minutes a day for vitamin D benefits that is recommended.

I've used a variety of self-tanners over the years, and when salon spray tans started gaining popularity, I jumped on the bandwagon. Salon tans are a great choice if you have an event to attend or are going on vacation and want some color. But at $25-35 a pop on average, its not something I can add to my weekly regime. I started exploring some of the spray tan products that can be purchased from local retailers, and this is the best one I've found:

Banana Boat's Summer Color Self Tanning Mist. I like it because it gives even coverage, isn't too sticky and does not have a weird smell like self-tanners often do. It also works quickly-I usually put it on before I go to bed at night and in the morning, voila! I'm tan! And at around $8 at Target, its a great bargain!

Applying your own spray tan isn't difficult, but does require a little preparation and planning. The most important thing you can do is to exfoliate regularly in the shower. This helps remove dead skin and makes for a smooth palette to apply your tan. iVi Scents has a sugar scrub that looks scrumptious, I haven't been able to try it yet because its been sold out for awhile, but my name is on the waiting list!! Scroll down to see my review of their other products, super yummy smelling, non-toxic and cruelty free!

When applying the spray tan, I usually put a towel down on the bathroom floor to keep any over-spray from getting on stuff. Spraying with a smooth, flowing motion, I cover my whole body. I wait a minute or so, then put some lotion in my hands and go over everywhere, making sure to rub it in evenly. One thing I've found with at-home spray tanning, the bottle will say you don't have to rub it in. But I do anyway because it is really difficult to spray your own body evenly and going over it with lotion helps a lot. I also use the lotion to give a light application to the tops of my feet (you don't want to apply it directly to your feet and hands-the skin there absorbs the color to the point of oompa-loompaness) as well as my face and neck. Wash your hands well after applying! Give it a bit to dry before you get dressed or go to sleep-I've never had a problem with this product staining clothes but I'm sure it will if you try to get dressed while your skin is still wet!

While a spray tan doesn't replace the sun, its a healthier alternative to tanning beds. Real sunlight gives us much-needed vitamin D (tanning beds are purported to do this as well, but there is a lot of conflicting information in that regard and they are still more unsafe than safe overall) and I certainly love to spend time on the beach when I travel. But if you want some color without worrying about cancer, and don't want to spend the $ on a professional spray tan, this is a great alternative!

The things they don't need to know

The other night my boyfriend and I were going out. He came into the bathroom while I was getting ready and saw this (great product from Neutrogena, btw):

"Whats this?" he said, picking it up and scrutinizing it. "Filler? Deep wrinkle filler?" I snatched it out of his hand and shooed him out, saying "Some things are private!"

I am not one of those people who thinks couples need to share EVERY intimate detail of who they are. I don't leave the bathroom door open when I pee, and I don't let my boyfriend see all the things I do to keep myself looking decent.

Men are visual creatures-they will be the first to tell you. A man likes to see the finished product, not necessarily the process (although men can find watching a woman apply her makeup a very sexy image indeed). A man likes a little mystery. For that matter, so do I. I don't really want my boyfriend to leave the bathroom door open either! I know there are couples who think the path to a deep connection is being comfortable enough to let it all hang out. But I think I can forge a deep connection just fine without opening up every miniscule facet of my daily routine and bodily functions.

He does not need to know how often I exfoliate, and he doesn't need to see me walking around with a pore minimizing mask on my face. He doesn't need to know how often I color my hair, or what color my hair really is under that color (not pretty, that's all I'm saying....). He doesn't need to know I occasionally use this

to take care of those few "problem hairs". He doesn't need to see me picking, tweezing, removing, refreshing or cleansing. Considering it from a "need to know" perspective, he really doesn't need to know!

Even though we've been together for years now, I will continue to shoo him out of the bathroom and stow my wide variety of "tools" away from his prying little eyes. I do not think this takes anything away from our intimacy. I know he loves me completely and without reservation. If I suddenly started coming to bed with a slimy green mask on my face, he'd still love me. But for me, that little edge of magic and mystery would be lost. That magic is what makes me feel, when I emerge from the bedroom to go out on the town, like the most beautiful woman in the world. I see that magic reflected in his eyes, and I do not want one iota of pixie dust to escape by way of an open bathroom door.

Fashion Week Favorites

I'm so excited to peruse the new fashions that came up during Fashion week! Here is a quick pictorial of some of my fave looks....

First, this jacket from Jason Wu. Love it, love the color and the belt!

This season there were a lot of tribal prints and styles....

And florals....

Nothing like a little flower power to make a girl feel girly!

Also on the feminine front-pastels washed across the runways...

Lots of fun new stuff! Now I just have to find similar items at a price a regular girl like me can afford!

I Don't Care Friday Hair....

Its Friday. I don't care today. I threw my hair into this, ahem, "style" this morning. Surprisingly, it turned out kind of cute!

I just pulled it back and secured it loosely with two little alligator clips (is that what they're really called? That's what I've always called them!).

I guess it will do...for a Friday!

Urban Decay Naked 2 eyes

So I've been playing around with my new Urban Decay Naked 2 eyeshadow palette that I recently ordered from Sephora, and thought I would share a couple of the color combinations I came up with.

This is what I've been wearing for an every-day kind of look:

I used "Foxy" over my entire lid (tip-use an eye primer to get the best long-lasting color!) then shaded it with "Tease" in the crease. Over that I put "Chopper", and lined my lid with a mix of "Busted" and "Blackout". I added a little bit of water to the brush for the liner, to get more of a liquid look. Then I added more "Foxy" to my brow bone.

For a night out, I did this:

This time I used "Verve" from lid to brow (again-eye primer is your friend!) and shaded the crease with "pistol". I went over the lid with more "Verve" and added a touch of "bootycall" to browbone and the corner of my eye, as well as adding a sweep of it under my lower lashes for sparkle. I used "Blackout" to line my upper lid, using a heavier hand and smudging it a bit while also flicking it up at the end for a slight cat eye.

This is an excellent selection of shadows and I've only used a few so far. You can create any look you want with this, I love the metallics, and there are also matte shades to balance it out. It is well worth the $50 price tag, and since Sephora offers free shipping for orders of $50 or more, along with their free gifts with every order, it really wasn't painful to my pocketbook at all!

Product Review; iVi Scents

I stumbled across iVi Scents recently and was immediately intrigued by their products. Started by entrepreneur Aarin Elizabeth in 2009, iVi has grown into a popular beauty line-mainly through social media and word of mouth! Their products are made of natural ingredients, cruelty-free and non-toxic. They contain no parabens, mineral oils or phthalates, which means they are not harmful to your skin or health.

I am a lover of scents that are sweet, citrusy or fresh, so their soaps and lotions captured my interest. I ordered their "birthday cake" body butter and soap. My order went through without a hitch and I received it within 5 days of my order-pretty good for delivery to the Far North!

The packaging is cute, I like the "we heart you" sticker on the soap box!

I tried the body butter (or body frosting as the jar says) first. I was a little apprehensive because sometimes body butters can leave a sticky residue. And with a name like "Body Frosting" (in cake scent no less) I was worried I would have sticky yuckiness on my body. I was very pleased and surprised to see that the body butter absorbs right into the skin, leaving me with smooth, lightly scented arms that had NO clammy, gummy leftovers!

I think the biggest problem with the body frosting  is remembering that it is not intended for consumption (although with the ingredients, I guess you *could* eat it....) It looks and smells just like REAL frosting! But it absorbs like the very best lotions. I like it better than the BodyShop's body butter line.

The soap is a pretty pink color and smells  like cake batter (and I know this because I made cupcakes a couple days ago....). I normally avoid soap because I have very dry skin. Soap, no matter what brand or ingredients, leaves my skin tight and uncomfortable. But iVi soap works more like a body wash. It doesn't lather up hugely, just enough to get my loofah filled with soap. It rinsed off very clean-when I dried off I felt NONE of the usual tightness I associate with soaps. And of course, it smells heavenly!

The pretty pastel pink pastel looks lovely in my bath, and as an added bonus, it made my whole bathroom smell good!

iVi has a wide range of products and scents, from florals to citrus to sweet. In addition to their Birthday Cake line, top sellers include Hawaiian cake soap and Birthday Cake Sugar Scrubs (both sold out when I tried to order them...waaah! But I'm on the waiting list!) They also carry "towel treats", washclothes artfully packaged to look like cute little desserts-what a great gift idea! Prices range from $5-$15. And if you are looking for a gift but not sure what someone might like, they also have gift cards!

I ordered some extra soaps as gifts, and I am excited to try the sugar scrub when it is available again-I really like a good exfoliater, its important to get those dead skin cells off, especially if you like to use spray tans of any kind.

Give your Valentine some extra sweetness with iVi.  I know I will!

Goodbye to the princesses?

This is an interesting, and somewhat disturbing series by photographer Thomas Czarnecki.

"From Enchantment to Down" depicts the Disney princesses meeting their ends in various ugly ways. Despite my initial recoil, the images fascinate me. Art is, after all, intended to shock and surprise, make us think.

Hm. I like her shoes.

Fighting the Good Fight

The meaning behind this blog title "Winter Girls" is two-fold. While my primary focus is on fashion, makeup, beauty and all the fun stuff, there is another reason I named this blog Winter Girls. I haven't brought it up as of yet, because I do not want to limit myself to one group or restrict myself in any way in regards to what I want to post. But in creating this blog, there was a part of me that wanted to speak out to those of us who might be considered to be entering the "winter of our lives", the over 40 age group.

Now, I'm the first one to say I'm in anything BUT the winter of my life. I'm well over 40 (how far over? None-ya-biz, thank yew....!) and feel like I'm in a wonderful place right now. I feel like I'm physically in great shape and that in some ways I look better than I did at 25. People often say I don't look my age-and I always wonder what "my age" is supposed to look like. We are in a brave new world, where age truly has become just a number in many ways.

And yet....I've been reading up a lot lately on the whole Demi Moore  debacle, and while I cannot relate to many of the things being said about her mental state and situation, there are a few things that speak to me.

It's not easy, getting older. Oh we can go on about how 40 is the new 30, and in a lot of ways, it is! Its an awesome part of one's life and I truly love and embrace who I am right now. But our bodies do and will continue to betray what is in our hearts and minds. The thing is, and what you simply cannot understand when you are 25 or 30, is that you don't FEEL any different on the inside as you get older. Oh sure, I'd like to hope I have gotten somewhat wiser, I'm more comfortable in my own skin, more secure with who I am and generally happier. But that doesn't mean there aren't days when I mourn the fading of my physical assets-I watch the crows feet creep up, the skin sag, the hair get greyer and the weight harder to maintain. I look at my body and face in the mirror and think "who IS that?" because I don't feel any older-why do I continue to look older?

I can understand some of Demi's insecurities, as I too have a younger man (not 15 years younger, but younger) and on a bad day, I feel like I am surrounded on all sides by younger, prettier women. On a bad day, its easy to look at my body with anger and wonder why its SO hard to lose that extra few pounds now, why gravity is slowly winning the battle against my skin. While I am overall a very confident person, strong and secure in my relationships, valuing myself, on a bad day....well we all have those bad days.

We could look at Demi Moore with disdain and  think "she has EVERYthing, why is she so unhappy and such a mess right now?!" But I prefer to look at her with compassion, understanding that sometimes life is just fucking hard no matter WHO you are. And sometimes we are ALL insecure, sad, scared and afraid of that face looking back at us in the mirror.

I always joke that I'm not going down without a fight when it comes to aging.  I'm not afraid to use a little medical help (not in a Joan Rivers way!), work out harder, eat better, color my greys as often as I have to, use the best products and never give in or give up! Yet there is a certain classiness in "aging gracefully", much as I hate that term (age gracefully? Bleah!). So while I will fight the good fight for the rest of my years, while I won't ever sink into some level of complacent middle-age and muffin-top, I will also remember that its okay  to be exactly who I am, and to enjoy the age I'm at. Every year is a beautiful gift and when I think about the people I've known who didn't get the pleasure of growing old, gracefully or not, I am reminded of just how fleeting and precious life is.

To quote a song "We ain't gettin' nothin but older..." It will happen to us all. It is happening to you, right now. I won't give up the fight, but I will enjoy and embrace every minute, accepting myself for who I am-wrinkles and all! Life is for living, so live it, and love it.

Target fans, check this out!

Target recently announced that it will be partnering with various business retailers to create The Shops at Target, embracing the "store within a store" concept. One of the businesses participating is Cos Bar, a retailer of luxury cosmetic and skin care items. Cos Bar was opened in Aspen, CO. in 1976. They now have 12 stores across eight states. Target will be just another feather in their cap, and a great boon to those of us who shop there!

Cos Bar's Target line will include bath and body care, manicure supplies and cosmetic bags. Here is the video about the Shops and Cos Bar's inclusion:

And here is some info from Target's press room!

 http://pressroom.target.com/pr/news/target-unveils-new-design-partnership-221743.aspx

I'm excited, hoping one of our local Target stores will be included in this!