From the crest of the hill two buildings came into view. On the left-hand side, there was an old gas station with a message painted on its roof that read: Howdy Folks, Welcome to Cow Town.

Then, on the right, a sturdy brick building sat surrounded by thick walls, with an arch above the gates bearing the sign: Home of the Good Shepherd. My mother pointed it out each time we rode by, referring to it as the convent.

The gas station was not slick or modern. It was a clapboard building with a screen door, perpetually loose and hanging by a crooked hinge. The only pump out front, a large round device, looked out of place and not gas station-like at all. When I think of the building now, I remember that it was a grey weathered wood that had been beaten by the seasons and had not seen a coat of fresh paint in years.

Childhood Memories

By the time I was ten years old, Denver was stretching its gangly legs into the plains, and the plains became suburbs. The once solitary buildings that had sat in the middle of those open spaces were now surrounded by commerce and tract homes. I don’t know when the gas station came down. I was probably a teenager by then. It didn’t make much of an impact except for the fact that I missed the sign on its roof: Howdy Folks, Welcome to Cow Town.

The convent is still a ghostly memory. Before my husband and I moved to Oregon, I drove by where it used to stand. The building holds a piece of family history, a story that I never forgot, so when it was gone, I mourned its passing as if it were an old friend.

I didn’t want to forget what it looked like and what it meant in the scheme of things. Seeing a hotel in its place made my heart ache for the sometimes-difficult truth of life that everything changes and ends.

Family Memories

My mother told me a story of being a little girl, and her family falling upon hard times; farmers who had hit a snag, a father too involved with Jack Daniel’s and a lack of money to support three daughters. She recounted the memories of her parents fighting, doors slamming, bottles breaking and the confusion of it all.

She and her sisters were packed up and taken to the Home of the Good Shepherd, where they lived for several months until the family got back on its feet. It is a homesick story of missing her parents, a sense of being adrift in the unknown.

Oh, if I could have changed those difficult times for her and taken her pain, I would. But the other part of her story is that there was a swing set at the convent and she loved to swing, pumping her legs as hard as she could to get higher and higher into the air until she could see over the convent walls out onto the land that butted against the Rocky Mountains, hoping to catch a glimpse of another world.

Longing and discontent would become familiar themes throughout her life. At night, she said, a train whistle would sound in the distance and she would lie in bed imagining where it could take her.

The Past Defines Us

Sometimes there are things that we don’t even notice are gone. And other times, we see the translucent outline of what once was, because of the history it embodies, because of the story it keeps alive in us. The past informs who we are.

At the crest of the hill, there is no longer anything remarkable. The convent and the gas station are long gone. I have tucked them into a memory in my heart where I hold onto the vision of the little girl who managed to soar so high on the swings that she caught the vision of hope and dreams beyond the convent walls.

Memories of places can hold powerful emotions for us. What places do you remember from when you were little that are no longer there or are now something else? Please share your thoughts and feelings in the comments.

She’s been teasing us for months and now, JLo Beauty is finally here. You might not be able to shop it yet but we have all the details so you can game-plan what to add to your skincare routine. Because if the 51-year-old uses her own line, well, we know it seriously works. Just look at that “JLo Glow.”

JLo Beauty was inspired by Lopez’s lifelong mantra, The Five S’s: sleep, sunscreen, serum, supplements and sano—from the Spanish phrase, vivir sano, meaning live healthy. Lopez is all about that life, shunning drink and smoking, eating well, exercising and drinking lots of water. Self-care and skincare go hand-in-hand with this ethos.

Growing up, Lopez’s skincare routine was much simpler: Ivory soap and Avon. Her mother told her olive oil was a cure for everything so Lopez made her it was the base for her skincare line. “It’s all about the family tradition of using olive oil for skin and hair,” she told STYLECASTER. The line aims to give you hydration and a “full, youthful, glowy look.” Not that looking younger is the key to looking beautiful. Lopez tells herself, “I’m beautiful and youthful at any age.”

“I think there’s an unnatural standard with all the filters and fillers in the world right now,” she continues. “Aging in a graceful way is a crazy thought. You look great, whatever age you are. Not great for 50, great period!” Not that she wakes up feeling amazing every day. Lopez is actually human. “I have mornings I wake up and feel like crap,” she admits. “I tell myself, like my idol Barbra Streisand, ‘Hello, gorgeous!’ I tell myself I’m going to have the best day ever, the best day yet.”

Source: Instagram

Keep reading for all the details on the new eight-piece line that officially launches January 1. But set your iCal, because you can get early access to shop on December 8.

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.

JLo Beauty.

That Fresh Take Eye Cream with Peptides

This hydrating eye cream is packed with patented peptides to help smooth fine lines, sugar-derived matrix for firming and a blurring complex to hide the look of dark circles.

JLo Beauty.

That Hit Single Gel-Cream Cleanser

This gel-cream cleanser features the brand’s Olive Complex, an antioxidant-rich, olive blend of
squalane, fermented oil, extra virgin oil and leaf extract for all-day hydration.

JLo Beauty.

That JLo Glow Serum with Olive Complex

Here’s that JLo-glow promise in a tube. It contains the Olive Complex, as well as yeast-derived ferment for softer skin, Japanese rice sake ferment for brightening and sugar-derived matrix for firming.

JLo Beauty.

That Limitless Glow Sheet Mask

Keep the glow going with serum-packed sheet masks.

JLo Beauty.

That Star Filter Highlighting Complexion Booster

Would it be a JLo line without bronzer and highlighter? In three shades, mineral pigments give an instant glow. Use it alone or add it to moisturizer.

JLo Beauty.

That Inner Love

Lopez says “you can’t really have great skin if you don’t do something from the inside out.” This supplement contains olive extract, vitamin E, manganese and copper. Check with your doctor to make sure they’re the right vitamins for you.

JLo Beauty.

That Blockbuster Wonder Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid

Along with the Olive Complex, this “wonder cream” is full of antioxidant-rich peptides, hyaluronic acid and yeast-derived ferment for silky smooth skin.

JLo Beauty.

That Big Screen Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Forget having great skin without sunscreen! Not only does this one have broad spectrum SPF30, but it also contains marine bamboo to help protect skin from blue light, as well as hyaluronic acid,
glycerin and natural sugars for hydration. 

Additional reporting by Alana Peden.

If you were brought up in the 60s and 70s, chances are you were trained to be a strong, independent woman. It’s likely you were taught that you didn’t need a man in your life. You thought that anything a man could do, you could probably do even better.

You proudly took on this masculine energy doing everything you needed to do to get ahead in your career. Yet when it came to love and men, chances are you found yourself struggling.

Men might have told you that you were controlling or demanding. It might have seemed that all men wanted were younger women who fluttered their eyelashes and got their needs met quickly and easily. Something men might not have done for you. This left you at home angry and alone on yet another Saturday night.

Does this sound familiar at all?

What Do Men Over 60 Really Want?

It’s time to set the record straight. Here’s the deal. Most men do want to be in a relationship with women closer to their age. This is because they share a common history with each other. Most men do try out younger women because they feel appreciated by them, something they don’t always feel from women their own age.

You see, men want to be your hero. It’s literally in their DNA coding to keep you safe, protected and provided for. They want to make you happy and will do anything within their power to make that happen for you.

What Is the Best Way to Talk to a Man?

The problem is when you need something from a man; chances are you’re using words and phrases he can’t hear. As women, our DNA coding is one of community. So when you ask a man to help you with something, you probably use words like, “Honey, can you help me move this table?”

If a woman heard this phrase, she’d say, “Of course!” This is because she thinks it’s important to lend a helping hand. She will do anything that helps the community be a better place. A man hears this phrase and thinks you are telling him what to do just like his mom did when he was young.

Why It’s Important to Make a Man Your Hero

Making a man your hero is the secret to getting his cooperation easily. These two phrases will bring out the hero response in a man. They work very well when you need him to do something for you.

Phrase #1 is “I need your help…” then ask for what you need.

Phrase #2 is “Could you do me a favor…” then ask for what you need.

When I’ve used these phrases, I’ve had men tell me they love helping a woman who needs their help. Try this. It will make a huge difference with the men in your life.

Show Appreciation and Get Cooperation

Here’s one last thing you need to know. Men feel underappreciated so thanking them and telling them how much you appreciate what they did for you goes a long way in getting the cooperation of all the men in your life.

Are you back in the dating game and finding it difficult to navigate as a woman over 60? Even prepared with the best advice about men and how to communicate with them, it may seem like a challenging thing to do. Finding love after 60 is possible! Read our article packed with advice from the Sixty & Me community members about dating and finding love later in life.

Have you used either of the suggested phrases when trying to get the attention of an older man? Are there any other tips you can share that might be valuable to a woman who is having problems communicating with a man?

She’s been teasing us for months and now, JLo Beauty is finally here. You might not be able to shop it yet but we have all the details so you can game-plan what to add to your skincare routine. Because if the 51-year-old uses her own line, well, we know it seriously works. Just look at that “JLo Glow.”

JLo Beauty was inspired by Lopez’s lifelong mantra, The Five S’s: sleep, sunscreen, serum, supplements and sano—from the Spanish phrase, vivir sano, meaning live healthy. Lopez is all about that life, shunning drink and smoking, eating well, exercising and drinking lots of water. Self-care and skincare go hand-in-hand with this ethos.

Growing up, Lopez’s skincare routine was much simpler: Ivory soap and Avon. Her mother told her olive oil was a cure for everything so Lopez made her it was the base for her skincare line. “It’s all about the family tradition of using olive oil for skin and hair,” she told STYLECASTER. The line aims to give you hydration and a “full, youthful, glowy look.” Not that looking younger is the key to looking beautiful. Lopez tells herself, “I’m beautiful and youthful at any age.”

“I think there’s an unnatural standard with all the filters and fillers in the world right now,” she continues. “Aging in a graceful way is a crazy thought. You look great, whatever age you are. Not great for 50, great period!” Not that she wakes up feeling amazing every day. Lopez is actually human. “I have mornings I wake up and feel like crap,” she admits. “I tell myself, like my idol Barbra Streisand, ‘Hello, gorgeous!’ I tell myself I’m going to have the best day ever, the best day yet.”

Source: Instagram

Keep reading for all the details on the new eight-piece line that officially launches January 1. But set your iCal, because you can get early access to shop on December 8.

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.

JLo Beauty.

That Fresh Take Eye Cream with Peptides

This hydrating eye cream is packed with patented peptides to help smooth fine lines, sugar-derived matrix for firming and a blurring complex to hide the look of dark circles.

JLo Beauty.

That Hit Single Gel-Cream Cleanser

This gel-cream cleanser features the brand’s Olive Complex, an antioxidant-rich, olive blend of
squalane, fermented oil, extra virgin oil and leaf extract for all-day hydration.

JLo Beauty.

That JLo Glow Serum with Olive Complex

Here’s that JLo-glow promise in a tube. It contains the Olive Complex, as well as yeast-derived ferment for softer skin, Japanese rice sake ferment for brightening and sugar-derived matrix for firming.

JLo Beauty.

That Limitless Glow Sheet Mask

Keep the glow going with serum-packed sheet masks.

JLo Beauty.

That Star Filter Highlighting Complexion Booster

Would it be a JLo line without bronzer and highlighter? In three shades, mineral pigments give an instant glow. Use it alone or add it to moisturizer.

JLo Beauty.

That Inner Love

Lopez says “you can’t really have great skin if you don’t do something from the inside out.” This supplement contains olive extract, vitamin E, manganese and copper. Check with your doctor to make sure they’re the right vitamins for you.

JLo Beauty.

That Blockbuster Wonder Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid

Along with the Olive Complex, this “wonder cream” is full of antioxidant-rich peptides, hyaluronic acid and yeast-derived ferment for silky smooth skin.

JLo Beauty.

That Big Screen Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Forget having great skin without sunscreen! Not only does this one have broad spectrum SPF30, but it also contains marine bamboo to help protect skin from blue light, as well as hyaluronic acid,
glycerin and natural sugars for hydration. 

Additional reporting by Alana Peden.

The coronavirus has infected more than 22 million people in the United States, as of Jan. 10, 2021, according to a New York Times database. More than 373,000 people in the United States have died from this highly viral disease, causing many people to search for a vaccine desperately.

Vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna have released their vaccines onto the market, and Phase I vaccination is underway.

While the vaccine offers hope to many people, it opens the door for fraudsters hoping to take advantage of vulnerable people. Here is what you need to know about current vaccine scams and how you can protect yourself.

What Is the Coronavirus Vaccine Scam and How Does It Work?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the coronavirus vaccine teaches the immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes Covid-19. Due to the limited supply of the vaccine and the high demand for it, the CDC has recommended rolling out the vaccine in phases.

This, however, has given fraudsters the ability to take advantage of people’s anxiety about the virus and the vaccine’s limited availability. Thus, we are seeing a rise in scams such as:

• Selling purported “vaccines” online that are not really vaccines.
• Promising that people can “jump the line” if they pay extra for it.
• Using phishing scams where they pose as reputable healthcare providers or pharmacies to collect personal data.
• Infecting people’s computers with malware upon downloading a “vaccine schedule.”
• Committing ransomware attacks in which access to your computer files is withheld until you pay a large ransom.

If you fall for these scams, these are some consequences that you might face:

• Experiencing adverse health effects brought on by taking some unknown substance.
• Putting yourself in greater danger if you believe you have been vaccinated but actually have not.
• Losing personal data.
• Losing access to your devices.
• Experiencing identity theft.
• Losing funds when you are already in financial distress.

Who Are Vaccine Scammers Targeting?

Vaccine scammers are targeting anyone with anxiety about the vaccine. Mostly, these are vulnerable populations and people who are in greater need of the vaccine, such as seniors, healthcare workers, and people with existing medical issues that make them more susceptible to severe consequences if they contract Covid-19.

These people are more likely to be desperate for the vaccine and less likely to investigate fake offers.

What Is Online Identity Theft and What Are Its Consequences?

Online identity theft is a cybercrime usually aimed at stealing your personal or financial information. This information is often used for the thief’s own financial gain, such as making purchases or cash advances.

In the worst situations, a thief sells your personal data, hacks into your accounts, takes them over, and even sells your information online to the highest bidder. Online identity theft can result in a loss of funds, damaged credit, lawsuits, and years of problems.

What Other Covid-19 Scams Exist?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, scammers have taken advantage of the chaos and tried to benefit from it personally. They have perpetuated a number of scams on consumers, beginning with offering fake cures, fake clinical trials, unapproved at-home testing kits, and of course, fake vaccines.

Like hand sanitizer or toilet paper, items that were in short supply were often sold at inflated prices. In other situations, they were sold but never delivered.

Because there is too much-falsified information out there on the internet, it is hard to keep track of which information is accurate or not. Reliable information about the Covid-19 illness and vaccine has been hard to come by. It is crucial for you to only listen to what experts have to say and not trust anyone else.

How Can You Protect Yourself from Coronavirus Online Scams?

Here are some steps to protect yourself from coronavirus online scams:

Recognize the Warning Signs

A number of federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have posted warning signs of vaccine scams to consumers to watch out for. These include:

• Unsolicited phone calls or emails regarding a vaccine.
• Promises that you can jump the line if you pay a premium.
• Messages asking for your personal information, Medicare information, or financial information.
• Messages that have a sense of urgency or state an extreme negative consequence if you do not act immediately.

Watch Out for Unsolicited Messages

One of the most common forms of vaccine scams involves scammers using emails, text messages, phone calls, and other communication methods to try to get people to give out their private information in exchange for the vaccine.

These phishing scams sometimes purport to come from a healthcare provider. In other cases, they may pretend to be from a federal agency, such as the Centers for Disease Control.

Understand the Vaccination Process

Information is power, so make it a point to understand how the vaccination process can help you avoid becoming the latest victim of a vaccine scam.

The vaccine will start by only being available in limited quantities, giving priority to particular groups, such as frontline workers and nursing home residents. Consult a trusted resource for information on when the vaccine will be available to you, such as:

• Your primary healthcare provider
• Your pharmacy
• Centers for Disease Control
• Food and Drug Administration
• Local health departments

Avoid purchasing any supposed vaccine online and only accept a vaccine through a reputable medical provider.

Increase Your Cybersecurity

Make sure your mobile devices are up to date. Install the latest antivirus software updates. Lock your device when not in use. Avoid clicking on anything that might be from an unknown sender.

While the vaccine is on the horizon for many people, you must still be vigilant about protecting your health and identity. Follow the tips above to do both.

Have you heard about the coronavirus vaccine scams? What do you know about them? Where do you look for information concerning Covid-19? Which sources of information do you trust? Please share with our community.