Leah McSweeney’s Black Fur Slippers

Real Housewives of New York Instagram Fashion

Since I still have a lot of holiday shopping to do (it’s been wild trying to do it all this year!), I am also still looking for inspo for great gifts. The problem with me is that while I’m working , I see things like Leah McSweeney’s black fur slippers, and I immediately want to buy them for myself (yes, I am an only child in case you didn’t already figure that out). But since I do also enjoy giving, consider the deets on where to buy them below my gift to you.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her Apparis Slippers

Check Out a Look for Less from Amazon HERE

Photo + Info: @LeahMob

Originally posted at: Leah McSweeney’s Black Fur Slippers

Kelly Dodd’s Red Confessional Lipstick and Lip Liner

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 15 Makeup

Last night Team BBH had the pleasure of a fun little tutorial and Q+A sesh (coming soon to BigBlondeHair.com!) with celeb makeup artist Kat Guevara, MUA to the stars and none other than Kelly Dodd. She gave us SO MUCH amazing info, and one little fun fact is that Kelly Dodd’s red confessional lipstick and liner are a hue that works well on many skin tones, not just Kelly’s. So if you’re looking to level up your holiday look, just keep scrolling and consider me Santa.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her MAC Lip Pencil in “Cherry”

Click Here for Additional Stock

Click Here to Shop her Pat McGrath Matt Trance Lipstick in “Obsessed”

Click Here for Additional Stock

MUA + Makeup Info: @KatGuevaraMUA

Originally posted at: Kelly Dodd’s Red Confessional Lipstick and Lip Liner

Our five-year-old grandson recently asked my husband and me, “Will we always be together?”

I was stunned that such a small child would ask such a profound question. I’m not sure that he understood the depth of the question, until I realized that it was one of those stream of consciousness thoughts sandwiched in between, “How much longer before the movie starts” and “Does anyone have a snack because I’m hungry.”

But it did get me thinking. We will not always be together. Our grandkids are young, and they have their whole lives ahead of them. I, on the other hand, have more days behind me than in front of me.

What words of wisdom can I give this younger generation, my grandchildren? What life lessons can I tell them that will make their lives happier, more meaningful and more purposeful?

I would like to share with you my thoughts.

Live Life on Your Own Terms

Each of us has special gifts and talents, so embrace everything that is unique about you. As you grow up, you will come to know these talents and you will develop passions – a life purpose and goals that you want to accomplish.

If you want to be a painter, then paint. If you want to be a teacher, then teach. And if you want to be an entrepreneur, then do that. Decide what is important to you and do it.

Whatever You Do – Throw Your Heart Into It

Whatever you decide to do, it is important that you put your whole self into it. Don’t hold back on love, relationships, work and involvement in your community or avocations. Give it your all.

Take the brakes off and embrace your life and all that you do. You will find that it makes life so much more fun and you will get so much more out of it.

No Matter What Happens to You – Take Responsibility for It

Even if it wasn’t your fault. Especially if it wasn’t your fault, take responsibility for fixing it. Life has a way of bringing all of us a great deal of happiness, but it also has a way of hurting us.

No matter what has happened, it is up to you to resolve it. It is up to you to envision what should occur next and to put a plan in place to make it happen.

If you take responsibility and control you will imagine new possibilities and design something that you do want for yourself. You will take yourself out of the past and move yourself to a better place. This will make a profound difference in your life. You will be happier with your opportunities, your support systems and your environment.

Be a Lifelong Learner

Always be open to learning new things. Be curious about the people, the experiences, the events and discoveries taking place in the present as well as those things that we can learn from the past. Decide to continually understand the world around you and expand your thinking and ways of doing things.

Take classes, attend lectures, read books, hang out with others who are interested in what you are. Be engaged. You will find that your life is more interesting, you will have greater opportunities and… you will never ever be bored.

There Are Beautiful People Everywhere

I have moved many times in my life to different places. There was always a sense of sadness when I left the familiar and replaced it with the unfamiliar. It was hard saying goodbye to friends, acquaintances and support systems. It was challenging to start fresh and to meet new people.

I have learned that there are amazing people everywhere you go. People who will inspire you and with whom you will develop a close friendship. You will find people who you will love and who will love you. There are wonderful people no matter where you go. And when you develop a friendship with them, it will feel like you have always known them.

There will be some people who will take some time to get to know, and others that you will be good friends with right from the start.

Always be open to what can happen and you will find them.

Feelings Are Mutual

Someone starts to like you at the same exact moment in time that you start liking them.

A relationship is emotional and the feeling starts with you. It is uncanny. Something happens when you like someone. You lean into them, and you listen to them and care about them. You give the relationship energy and spirit.

I find that the moment when I warm to someone, the feeling is returned. The relationship may develop into a strong friendship or remain an acquaintance, but the feelings of mutual affection and respect will be there.

By the way, the opposite is true. Someone starts to dislike you the moment you start to lose patience with them or to lose interest in them. The whole vibration of the relationship changes and things get strained.

So, don’t wait for someone else to make the first move. If you like someone, be engaged, show that you are interested and stay open to wherever the relationship brings you.

Expect the Best

Say yes to life and be open to new experiences. You may not always get what you want, but you will generally get what you expect.

Laugh Often

Have a great sense of humor. Laughing has a healing effect on you both mentally and physically. We create so many of our problems by taking it all too seriously. Move through this life lightly, take care of yourself, create the life that you treasure – and laugh.

Don’t Forget Your Connection to All of Nature

There is a force, an energy that we all share, and it is the power that connects us all to each other. It is the source that we all came from and it is the energy that we will all return to. Don’t ever forget that you are part of something spiritual and eternal.

Make the World a Better Place

There is so much prejudice, criticism and judgment in this world. Never do anything to add to this negativity. Use your natural gifts and talents to make the world a better place.

It is really a beautiful life – live it!

As Neil Postman wrote, “Children are the living messages we send to a time we do not see.”

What are the messages you would want to remind your grandchildren of? What lessons would you want to share with them? Which are the words of wisdom you would like to share with the future generations? Please join the conversation.

Lately, I have become acutely sensitive to the amount of time we spend talking about money in our everyday life.

“I love your sweater.”

“Oh thank you. I got it on sale for $19, can you believe it? It cost $149.00 originally.”

“Well, this skirt I’m wearing was $5 at the Labor Day sale.”

And they’re off!

How many times a day do you say, “I can’t afford it.”

How often have you asked someone, or wondered, “Are you taking social security at 65 or 70?”

Or said to a friend, “I wonder how they can afford to take so many cruises…”

Money Talk Slips in Everywhere; It Is Insidious

Look at how many articles on Sixty and Me focus on retirement finances, money issues, fear of running out of money, how to earn money when you’re over 60, how to live more cheaply.

My millionaire series of articles, which began with How to Feel Like A Millionaire, is about adopting the attitude of abundance and generosity, of finding pleasures in your life that are not related to monetary expenditures or outcomes. Living a quality lifestyle doesn’t require a fortune. Good taste, attitude and joy are priceless.

So, I tried something last month. I modeled the behavior of a very wealthy friend of mine who has beautiful values. I decided to banish the topic of money from my daily conversation.

It was a revelation. I felt so relaxed, so free. I felt great peace because I wasn’t constantly measuring myself or my finances. Actually, I “just” lived, enjoyed, shared, created, thought, participated. I felt rich in all ways. It was a priceless feeling.

So here are my thoughts about not talking about money.

Talking About Money Only Makes You Feel Better or Worse

Talking about money doesn’t make you any richer or poorer, rather, it makes you feel better or worse. So why even go there?

We’ve been talking about money all our lives. Comparing how much you’re earning and saving to someone else. Taxes, healthcare, college education, retirement savings. Now that we’re retired we’re talking about how long our money will last, how much is our social security check, where to get the cheapest airfare, what states have the lowest tax rate.

My attitude is: It is what it is. You have what you have and it will have to do. Or, you will have to figure out a way to get more. But either way, why have it become the prime topic in our daily conversations?

There Will Always Be People Who Have More Money Than I

There will always be people who have more money than I and people who have less money than I do. We always want to see “how we’re doing,” where we fall on the continuum.

Talking about money brings nothing to the conversation. It elevates no one in any way. You either feel richer or smarter, or stupider or poorer and nothing has changed as a result of the conversation.

There Are More Interesting Things to Talk About Than Money

Like… the soul, art, culture, music, a book, current events, family problems. Money is finite but your soul is limitless, your heart is expandable, your mind can travel galaxies. Feel rich and talk about politics, ecology, global warming, human trafficking, sexual assault, education, theatre, film, poetry. Or feel rich with culture. Feel rich with involvement. Feel rich with pleasure.

There Is a Time to Talk About Money

And that’s when you sit down with your banker or financial advisor, spouse, partner or close friend. That’s money talk time. A dedicated financial, business conversation.

Even Millionaires Worry about Money

Yes, even they feel they don’t have enough, worry about becoming a bag lady. They like bargains and saving money just like everyone else. You are never immune from worrying about money.

Not Talking About Money Makes You Feel Peaceful

Try it and see!

You Have Survived This Long, So Far

You’ve made it through the hardest years of your life. Isn’t it time to stop the struggle? You have what you have and, guess what, it will be enough! So far, you have made it with what you’ve had. You are a survivor.

I’m anticipating some backlash about this article, because people who don’t have as much as they’d like, or need, are obsessed with how they’re going to make it. Please do share your experiences about NOT talking about money. What are your favorite “replacement” topics of conversation? Give them a try!

Kristin Cavallari’s Houndstooth Blazer on Instagram

Kristin Cavallari Instagram Fashion

Kristin Cavallari’s houndstooth blazer is a bit of a contrast from her sexy crop top worn while dancing with the Southern Charm boys, like everything else, it works for her. And while it might not be available in her exact color, there’s another similar version that’s also perfect for making your ex jealous the holidays.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to See her L’Agence Kenzie Blazer

Click Here to Shop it in Brown

Originally posted at: Kristin Cavallari’s Houndstooth Blazer