8 Fashion Mistakes???

According to the style section of the Huffington Post, there are 8 Fashion Mistakes That Instantly Age You.  Whew! Only 8???

 

 I think I may be making all of them at the same time.

 

Here goes:

 

1. I'll-fitting bras.

" The right bra size can instantly lift and smooth you, giving you a flattering silhouette from the get-go."

 

This recent photo (at St. Augustine beach in December!) is a two-fer... I'm demonstrating mistakes #1 and #2 in the very same picture!

 

2. Cropped, ill-fitting capris.

"Think Audrey Hepburn or Jackie O. While wide-leg, full-length pants are flattering, wide capri-length pants can cut off the leg line and make you look more stumpy than stunning. Try a pair of capris that has a narrow opening and just grazes the top of ankle – tres chic."

 

 

 Jackie O.? Audrey Hepburn? Tres chic?

Je ne sais pas!

 

3. Twin Sets.
"We know, we know—twin sets are easy and cover your arms. But these days matchy-matchy equals a major snooze-fest."

 Shoot...and I just bought these last winter.

"Oh, and it's time to lose the coordinating scarf, too!"

How did they know???

 

4. Jersey Fabrics.

"But when you're shopping for a special occasion, avoid wearing this thin, clingy fabric; it naturally hugs the body, not always highlighting our best assets."

 

Busted!

 



5.  Always wearing black pants.

"Try trading in your safe (read: boring) slacks for a shimmering skirt that you can dress up or down depending on what you decide to wear on top. You’ll look instantly refreshed."

 

 Do black jeans count?

6. Overly sensible shoes.

 

You mean like these???

 

"With a kitten heel you'll feel stylish and comfortable."

 

Sorry, Huff Post, but here's as close as I come to a kitten heel.

 

 

7. So-called "granny" glasses.

 

"Avoid the classic stereotype of a granny with kooky reading glasses dangling on strings from her turtleneck. Instead embrace the sexy age of geek chic. Opt for thicker, Ernest Hemingway-style frames and leave the delicate wire-frames or rimless frames behind."

 

Before...

 

After???

 

 

8. Missing out on tech accessories.

 

"Let your electronics play up your personality by accessorizing them with patterned cases and covers."

 

A recent photo of my tech accessories.

 

 

Next Up?  "Top 5 Fashion Mistakes That Age You"  (You're going to love this one!!)

 

So...I was 8 for 8 on this list, which means that I must look like I'm 102!

 

How did you do???

 

 

Is That a Horse In the Driveway?

DH startled me awake this morning. He was shaking me and yelling, "Come Quick! Grab your camera! There's something for you in the driveway!"


OMG! I felt like Ralphie in A Christmas Story. I threw on my robe and headed down the stairs. I was sure this was The Big One...the year DH really outdid himself for Christmas and bought me...
a sports car!

As I paused by the door to the garage, I quickly practiced my best "surprised" and "for me...really ?" facial expressions.


Then, I opened the door, s-l-o-w-l-y peeked out...

  

...And saw three horses in the driveway!

Now this might not seem as strange if we still lived in the big old farmhouse in West Falmouth, but now that we're in a quiet condo community...yeah...pretty unexpected. Once I accepted the fact that what I was seeing did not even remotely resemble a BMW convertible, I was totally focused on the presence of the three huge horses instead. Were they for me? Are we going on a romantic sleigh ride? And...

 

 

 

How the H*ll did these horses get here?
 

It seems that the horses live in a barn hidden back off a road less than a quarter mile from our house. They had broken our of their pen and, unbeknownst to their owner, just gone for a walk!

  

DH fed them carrots and apple slices to keep them calm while a neighbor went to find the owners. Another neighbor (who really looks as if he should be driving a sleigh!) came out and helped Hank hold the horses while they waited.

Once our equine visitors were safely back home, I headed out in my trusty 2006 Subaru to do some Christmas errands.

Who needs a BMW convertible in this weather anyway?

 

 

Finding Street Art

Last week, new friend Anita and I took our cameras with us and roamed the back alleys of St. Augustine looking for what we decided to call "Street Art".  Here are a few works of "Street Art" we found along the way...

 

 

 Can you tell what the rusty collage element on this door is?

 

I love the contrast of colors in the windows of this old house.

 

 

Can a fence be art?

 

Maybe our "street art" is a variation on "found art "or even "folk art"..which leads back to the big question:  "What is Art?

 

We decided, for that day anyway, that art was whatever we decided it was and just went with it. As long as we could see it from the street, anything was fair game for our cameras!

 

 

 

 

To me, the window in this garden is just as much a piece of art as the sculpture.

 

 

 An outdoor mural, painted by local children...I love that kids aren't afraid of color.

 

 

 Graphic Art?

 

 

 A mosaic wall on Aviles Street.

 

 

 

 

The Star General Store on the edge of Lincolnville, a section of St. Augustine settled by freed slaves after the Civil War.

 

 

Is this Art?

 

It is to me.

 

How do you "know" art when you see it?

 

 



Too Old To Make New Friends?

On the "Retirement" forum at the City-Data website, someone asked whether it is still possible to make new friends after age 55. I clicked on the discussion and was surprised to read the responses. Many posters seemed to feel that it is difficult, if not impossible, to make new friends in retirement.

I disagree!

Meet our "new", and very dear, friends...Anita and Fred.


We met Fred and Anita while camping at one of our favorite spots,  Searsport Shores in Searsport, Maine. We had so much in common and had such a good time together on those short summer camping trips that they invited us to visit them at their "winter campsite" in St. Augustine, Florida. So, last week we flew down to spend a week with our new friends in a new place,  leaving the snow, and the fear of being "too old to make new friends", behind.



I hope I'm never too old to learn from and laugh with new people. I hope I'm always open to new experiences (like figuring out this Cuban menu with Anita)... no matter how old I get.

Our old friends mean the world to me...but so do the friends we've made in the last few years...like Mary Elizabeth, Rosalie, Anita and Fred. I can't imagine not having each of them in our lives.



"Nights of Lights" in St. Augustine

What do you think? Do you find it more difficult to make good friends now than you did when you were younger? Does it still matter? Still being new to this retirement thing, I'd love to hear your experiences...

 

Yummy Crock Pot Chili

Last week, we tried a new Chili recipe and it was delicious. It makes a large amount (10 1-cup servings) so would be good for a family, pot luck, tailgating or holiday party. We like our chili spicy so DH added 2 teaspoons of extra chili powder. We really enjoyed the flavors of the fresh lime and cilantro that you add just before serving.

photo courtesy of Weight Watchers

We liked this chili so much that DH made another pot this afternoon.  It's especially good with a little cheddar or pepper jack cheese shredded on top. Perfect for a cold December night!

Super-Easy Crock Pot Three Bean Chili

1 large uncooked onion(s), minced   
30 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained   
30 oz canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained   
30 oz canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained   
30 oz canned diced tomatoes, with chilis   
15 oz canned tomato sauce   
1 1/4 oz spiced seasoning mix, chili variety
*2 tsp. chili powder (optional; if you like hotter chili)   
14 oz frozen corn kernels   
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice, or to taste   
1/2 cup(s) cilantro, fresh, minced   

Combine onion, garlic, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasoning mix in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for 2 to 3 hours (or low heat for 4 to 6 hours). Add frozen corn during last hour of cooking. Stir in lime juice and cilantro just before serving. Yields 10 servings.

*Recipe from Weight Watchers; 6 points per 1 cup serving on WW program.

Enjoy!