Lala Kent’s Black Polka Dot Dress at Vanderpump Dogs

Season 8 Episode 12 Vanderpump Rules Fashion

Lala Kent’s black polka dot dress at Vanderpump Dogs while “volunteering her time” is so cute. It seemed that polka dots were quite the theme this episode because I was seeing them on everyone, but I’m not complaining. Polka dot is a print that will always be around and therefor never go out of style. So even though her exact dress is sold out at Forever 21 there will forever be similar styles to get our hands on. So while most of us have nothing but time to volunteer right now something that can make it go by a bit faster is shopping. Even if it’s just a little window shopping, in our browsers that is!

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here To Shop Her Forever 21 Black Polka Dot Dress on eBay Size S

Originally posted at: Lala Kent’s Black Polka Dot Dress

It’s looking like now we’re going to be in quarantine, washing our hands and staying six feet away from others, for…a while. While there are way more important things than our nails, it’s nice to keep them up and keep ourselves busy. Essie’s nail polish collection for Spring 2020 features gorgeous pastel hues that will make you not long for the nail salon—for a little. The limited-edition line features the creamy, high-pigment shades you expect from Essie, including the cute names that’ll put a spring in your step—at least while watching Netflix.

Put down Ballet Slippers and the Wicked, for now at least, and give one of these trendy pastels a chance. Play around with nail art while you have the time. These would also look amazing with the “skittles” trend of each nail painted a different hue. Choose from Rainwear Don’t Care (a creamy white-based taupe), Feeling Wellies (a soft pastel yellow with red undertones), Kissed by Mist (a mid-toned cool pink with blue and pink pearl flip, Spring in Your Step (a lilac with pink iridescence pearl), Can-Dew Attitude (a muted celadon green) and Make a Splash (a dusky blue nail polish with a blue and violet pearl flip).

Image: Essie.

Can-Dew Attitude

Image: Essie.

Feeling Wellies

Image: Essie.

Kissed by Mist

Image: Essie.

Make a Splash

Image: Essie.

Rainwear Don’t Care

Image: Essie.

Spring in Your Step

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

A few years ago, an acquaintance of
mine whom I will refer to as Margo shared with me a disturbing story. She had
taken her healthy, independent 90-year-old aunt to the physician’s. Her aunt,
who was of sound mind and body, had been struggling with mobility due to a
deteriorating hip.

The physician examined the aunt and
agreed that she could probably benefit from a hip replacement, but because of
her age, the message was mostly “Why bother?” Margo was taken aback and
responded with some insistence, “She is quite healthy and would benefit from
this procedure for a better quality of life.”

After some resistance, the physician
agreed, made the proper referrals, and the aunt underwent surgery. Four years
later, although frailer, Margo’s aunt continues to live alone, relying on
minimal help from Margo, and walking a bit slower but independently.

Should Age Matter?

Margo has been a steady advocate for
the older adult in need of a louder voice. Several years earlier, her mother,
in her late 70s at the time, was having issues related to the heart. Medical
tests revealed that Margo’s mother needed quadruple bypass surgery.

Because of her age, the physicians
expressed hesitancy about having her mother undergo such an operation. Margo
pushed for this, and consequently, her mother underwent this complicated
procedure, recovered, and went on to live a better quality of life.

Unfortunately, Margo’s mother died
after succumbing to cancer a couple of years later, but Margo was pleased that
her efforts provided her mother with robust final few years.

The Right to Die Vs. the Right to Live

I decided to write about this because
there seems to be a movement for the right to die more than the right to live.
Being a therapist, I am well aware there has always been a way to die whether
we like it or not.

Some say by legalizing this, more
people can be euthanized with dignity or, putting it more bluntly, commit
suicide. For someone whose parents were given morphine as a way to leave their
earthly lives painlessly, I do not join the chorus of those who wish to pass
the Right to Die laws.

I was ambivalent when the question was
put on the ballot in my state of Massachusetts years ago, but after reading the
language, I voted against it. Sadly, much deception goes on, and I would be
most disheartened if innocents, because of their age, would be sacrificed “for
the greater good.”

We Have Come a Long Way

Medical innovation has come a long way
and appears to answer the calling to provide a higher quality of life. Healthy
living, new medications, and less invasive, life-saving procedures offer older
adults more choices.

Now they can live longer and in a way
unimaginable half a century ago. Sadly, our youth-oriented society continues to
deem people of a certain age obsolete.

More people like Margo are fighting
for the older adults’ right to live, and not just live, but do so with dignity
and grace. There are more organizations such as Sixty and Me, which
recognize the needs of the sexagenarian and older. Although 60 is not precisely
the new 40, in many ways, it is in the 21st century.

At one time, over the hill was deemed
to be the age of 40. Eventually, the magic number for being washed-up increased
to 60. Because of the Boomer generation, this message is changing every day,
right before our eyes. I suspect the Gen X population will push this to age 75
and forward.

Why Not?

Many years ago, my husband and I were
in the Berkshires. We were talking with an older couple, and I will never
forget something the gentleman stated. He had prostate cancer in the early
years of being a septuagenarian. His doctor said to him that maybe he should
forgo treatment because of his advanced age.

The man was clear with his doctor that
he wanted to do what was necessary to continue living an otherwise healthy
life. As was evidenced, the man was alive and well as he shared his tale. I
applauded him. With zest, I exclaimed, “Good for you!”

Whatever one’s age, they should have
the option to live their lives as fulfilling as possible. If that means having
a procedure that improves and thus extends their life, I say, “Why not?” The
right to live is their right.

What do you think about the right to
die? Would you fight your own right to live? Would you undergo a surgical
procedure to improve your quality of life? Please share your thoughts with our
community!

Do you sometimes try to stand on one leg while brushing your teeth or waiting for the kettle to boil?

As a woman
over 60 you know it’s good for your balance, and it does seem to get easier if
you do it regularly. That means your balance is improving, which is great.

Doing
something small to help your balance every day (or almost every day!) is the
best way to go. It becomes part of your daily routine, and your body will
respond better to a small daily stimulus than a bigger burst once every week or
two.

It is
crucial, however, to keep building on improvements. (Your balance can never be
too good!) It is also important to keep things enjoyable.

So, let me
introduce three ways you can keep the one-leg stand interesting and
challenging.

Note: If
you find standing on one leg too hard, don’t stop reading! Scroll down below
the three challenges to see the different foot positions you can try (with
photos).

Challenge 1: Time

You might
already be doing the time challenge. You are probably counting and might be
vaguely trying to increase your time.

That’s
good because standing on one leg for a period of time is a great measure of
your balance capabilities.

So how can
you be more intentional and challenging about it?

Try this:
Keep a record about how many seconds you can stand on one leg for. Seeing how
far you have come will motivate you to challenge yourself further.

Another
idea: Challenge yourself to keep increasing your time – perhaps to add 1 second a day. Even one
second a week will add up – over a year you could go from a 10-second one-leg
stand to just over a minute.

Challenge 2: Eye Movements

We depend
heavily on our vision to maintain our balance. That’s why you may have been
told to close your eyes while doing balance exercises. But that’s often just
too hard – as soon as you shut your eyes you have to hold on or put the other
foot down.

Doing eye
movements means you are already using your vision and your other balance
systems have to work harder to keep you steady.

Try this:
Hold any small object up in front of you (e.g., a pen or a teaspoon). Focus
your eyes on the object and move it around (up/ down, side to side, in
circles). Keep watching the object (try to keep your head still and just let
your eyes move to track the object).

Challenge 3: Mental Distraction

Occupying
your brain with a mental challenge forces you to work harder to maintain your
balance. Plus, it’s always good to keep your brain ticking over.

Try these:

• Using your memory: Recite a poem or
  sing a song from memory;
• Mental arithmetic: Do a tricky times
  table (e.g., 13, 17);
• Letter games: Try to say the alphabet
  backwards.

You should
find it slightly harder to balance while you are concentrating. Even if you
don’t, you will probably find the distraction keeps you doing the exercise for
longer than you would otherwise!

There are
many, many more exercise challenges you can do to improve your balance (without
getting bored). Hopefully, these will get you started and help you to have more
fun while getting steadier on your feet.

If you want to try more balance exercises at home, this FREE, 4-week Balance Boost video series could be right for you.

But what
if you can’t stand on one leg at all? There’s something for you as well – foot positions that you can try on
your own. See which one works best for you, and then you can also have a go at
the challenges above.

Foot Position 1: Feet Together

Stand with
your feet close together (almost touching). It might not seem like much, but
once you add in some of the challenges above, this might be the best starting
position for you to improve your balance.

Foot Position 2: Staggered Tandem

From
position 1, slide one foot forwards, so the heel is in line with the toes of
the other foot. Repeat with each foot in front.

Foot Position 3: Tandem Stance

Place one
foot directly in front of the other (as if standing on a tightrope). Adjust
your body so that your weight is evenly distributed over both feet. Repeat with
the other foot in front.

Staying Safe with Your One-Leg Stands

We
recommend standing by a support for any balance exercises. You may be fine
doing the one-leg stand without holding on normally, but adding these new
challenges could make you wobble more than you expect. If you don’t need it,
that’s fine, but it’s good to know it is there.

Kitchen
worktops are good, as is the back of a chair, a desk, or a table. A wall
doesn’t work so well as you can’t hold onto it.

When you
try a new exercise, start holding on, then touching with your fingertips for a
few seconds, before letting go. Keep your hand near the support in case you
need to hold on again.

I hope you
enjoy these ideas for adding challenge and variety to your one-leg stand. Make
sure to try the different foot positions as well and let me know how you get on
with them.

Where
do you stand on one leg? Which of these challenges do you find hardest? What do
you do to improve your balance? Please join the conversation below.

Would you like to improve your balance with easy-to-follow home exercise videos? Sign up now for your FREE, four-week Balance Boost video series.