D’Andra Simmons’ Floral Puff Sleeve Top

Real Housewives of Dallas Season 5 Episode 11 Fashion

D’Andra Simmons is facing A LOT right now on The Real Housewives of Dallas, whether it’s name-changing accusations from her mother or Brandi’s shaman-shaming. And for someone that I don’t feel has done anything wrong in either situation I sympathize with her and am hopeful some some apologies will come her way. Because the only apology she owes anyone is for making us want her floral puff sleeve top that seems to be sold out.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to See her Rotate Kim Floral Puff Sleeve Top

Originally posted at: D’Andra Simmons’ Floral Puff Sleeve Top

Kary Brittingham’s White Twist Crop Top and Pineapple Print Pants at the Luau

Real Housewives of Dallas Season 5 Episode 13 Fashion

While there has been a lot of talk about pineapples from Teresa Giudice on the Real Housewives of New Jersey as of late, Kary Brittingham actually has pineapples in on  her pants on tonight’s episode of the Real Housewives of Dallas. She paired the bold print perfectly with a white twist crop top, dainty necklace and adorable braid for a loveable luau style. And in this look, much like Teresa, she is totally ready to get laid lei’d.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to See her Alice + Olivia Top

Click Here to See her Farm Rio Pants

Photo: @KaryBritt

Originally posted at: Kary Brittingham’s White Twist Crop Top

Cooking in your 60s is different than when you are younger, don’t you think? When we would younger, we cooked because we had to put food on the table. Our kids were hungry during the day and our husbands came home hungry. So, we would just throw something together to make sure that everyone was full and somewhat happy.

If you were a “housewife” back in the day, you had numerous things to do. Dinner, at the end of the day, was just one of those chores. That said, I can’t say it wasn’t fun. I loved sitting around the dinner table and talking with the kids about their day!

Cooking in My 60s Is Different

Now, in my 60s, I am loving my time in the kitchen! I make what I want, when I want it. Sometimes, I eat breakfast for dinner or a salad for breakfast. It’s all about me at this stage of my life! Chuck, my husband, goes along with it. Hey, he does want to continue to eat, after all.

Now, I take my time and make dishes that interest me and my taste buds. I look for different recipes, and I combine the ones I like to make them my own. Also, I can take my time and even make my dishes look pretty. I can make them spicy… or not. It’s totally up to me!

I’m Getting More Passionate About Bread Lately

So, now I’m really getting into bread. Yes, it takes time and effort. But, the end result is so rewarding and comforting.

It’s a hobby now – one I truly enjoy. It’s also something to do if you’re bored or need space to think.

It fills my head with joy. Here are a few of my recent creations.

Let’s Start with the Basics

The first step is adding the yeast to the water. It’s a simple task, and it’s the first step into your science project. It will foam and become yeasty smelling.

Now, add the flour and, sometimes milk or an egg, and salt. You’re already on your adventure into the stuff of life… oh, unless you are gluten intolerant that is! Stop now and check out my savory dishes.

Expressing My Need to Knead

It takes a little muscle power, but you can do it. All of your ingredients come together into a soft and slightly sticky dough. Add more flour, a little at a time, until the dough becomes soft and you can smell the yeast.

By now, your arms are probably tired, and it’s only been 8 to 10 minutes of your life. These could be the most zen minutes of your life, if you let them.

Rolling the dough with the heels of your hands and pulling back with your fingers, it’s mesmerizing and relaxing. It’s almost an art!

Sometimes, I can’t think of anything better than a slice of homemade bread and some soup. Or perhaps I have a graving for a slice of hot bread, fresh out of the oven and smeared with butter. You really should wait until it cools… but I never can!

My Favorite Recipe for Skillet Bread

Ok, I think I’ve said enough about my love of bread. Let’s get baking together! Here’s my favorite recipe for skillet bread.

The following ingredients will make two loaves

• 1 package of active dry yeast or 2 1/2 teaspoons of yeast.
• 2 cups of water. If you measure the temperature, it should be about 110­ F.
• 1 tablespoon of salt.
• 6-­8 cups of flour.
• Cornmeal. I use it under the bread, before baking and sprinkle a little on top.
• 1 egg yolk, mixed with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush this on top of the bread before baking.

Here’s how to get started

• Mix the yeast and water together and let your creation set for 10 minutes.
• Add the salt and mix.
• Add the flour, a little at a time.
• Mix with a spoon and keep adding flour until it’s not too sticky. I use about 6 cups.
• Kneed for about 10 minutes.
• Add flour, as needed, until the mixture is smooth and elastic.
• Shape it into a ball and put this in a large bowl, coated lightly with oil. I use olive oil.
• Cover with a cloth.
• Let the bread rise in warm place until it doubles in size. My dough takes about 2 1/2 hrs – it’s hot here in the jungle. Yours might take longer!

• When your dough has doubled in size, put it on a lightly floured surface and cut it in half. I put one half in my cast iron pan that I have sprinkled with cornmeal and the other half I shape into a baguette.

• Next, I press it lightly into a rectangle and roll it up. I start at the long ends and pinch the seam together, tucking the short end under.

• Place your creation on a cookie sheet with parchment paper, sprinkled with cornmeal. At this point, I use a razor blade and make three slashes on top of each loaf. For this batch, you can see that I got a little fancy with the rosemary and chives. Let it rise again for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.

• Brush the bread with the egg mixture and bake in the oven at 400 degree F for about 40 minutes, or until the temp inside the bread is 190­-200 F. I put a pan on the bottom rack and pour hot water into it when I put the bread in the oven. Close the door fast, so that your water turns into steam.

Now, you’ve made a beautiful loaf of bread at home. Enjoy!

What did your cooking look like back in the day? How is it different now that you’re over 60? Do you think you might start cooking or baking something you really like? What is your favorite bread recipe? Please join the conversation.

While it’s true celebrities get the best professional services out there, they also use products at home to keep up the glam appearance in the comfort of their own bathroom. Luckily, we can cop these items too, no matter where we live. Dove Cameron’s choice? The Foreo Bear Facially Toning Device. The micro-current treatment is FDA-cleared to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

In an interview with Glamour, Cameron says: “I use it every morning as a quick three-minute system, and it’s absolutely amazing. The device uses micro currents to bring out your cheekbones and bring up your jaw. It keeps me from looking puffy, and it wakes my face up. I’m not usually the type of person to rave about a device, but it really, really, really works.

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.

Foreo.

How does it work, you ask? Well, it’s pretty freaking cool. Foreo uses an Anti-Shock System to adjust the micro-current level while you use it so there’s no discomfort. Instead, you’re getting T-Sonic pulsations to lift and contour the face. The brand recommends using the device every day for two months to see desired results. You can then cut back to about three times a week. Yes, it’s a commitment but these devices work when you’re patient.

That’s not even the only device the actress uses. At night, she also likes to use Foreo UFO ($199 at Amazon), a device that combines dermal technologies with Korean masks for a facial treatment in 90 seconds. “At night I also like to use the Foreo UFO, which gives you a little facial, essentially,” she says. “I let the serum from the mask sink into my skin and sleep with it on all night. If you can’t tell, I really love Foreo.”

Several years ago, I launched an aging alone Facebook group. Members bring up hot topics like affordable housing and medical care, transportation concerns, and countering isolation. Housing ranks the number one challenge for people over 60. It is particularly important for women who are aging alone.

This makes sense because many women living alone, on a limited income, are responsible for all costs and expenses. Finding a place that’s affordable is hard to do.

As a woman in the Sixty and Me community, you might be aging alone and on a home search. If so, you are probably looking for new housing that fits your budget, is located in a healthy environment, with good transport and a walkable community.

Nonprofits like AARP and the Milken Institute are working vigorously to make “livable” and “successful” places to age a reality. The Institute collaborates closely with city mayors across the country.

They examine 84 factors that affect the quality of life for older adults. The things measured include health and wellness, crime rates and weather. It also looks at economic and job conditions, housing, transportation, and social engagement factors. These are the things that help create safe, affordable and connected communities.

Four things are essential to older women who are searching to move into a new home. They are cost of living, a community of older people, a walkable environment and healthy lifestyle.

To get a broad idea of what was available, I chose four cities in the United States to examine along these criteria. They were Boulder, Colorado; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Portland, Maine and Dallas, Texas. Here is what I discovered.

Boulder, Colorado

Assessment: Boulder is a beautiful place, but expensive. It is car-dependent with few people over 65.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Assessment: Santa Fe is better than Boulder in some aspects. It has more people over 60 living there. The one fallback is walkability.

Portland, Maine

Assessment: This may be the perfect place for women. Walkability ranks greater than either Santa Fe or Boulder, but the 60 and over population segment is low.

Dallas, Texas

Initial assessment: Not as good as Portland. Plus, it has less people 60 and over. Both, walkability and health ranks low.

Reviewing the data at this level of detail can help an older woman on a home search make a well-informed decision. Of course, you’ll want to visit each location to make certain it suits your needs. If you’re considering a new place, check out Seniorcare.com, we’ve collated data for 8000 city guides and have much more statistics.

What other data points are important to you when searching for a new home? The examples used here are a representative few. There’s so much to learn about a new area before making a move.

Reference: *Monthly housing costs as a percentage of household income provide information on the cost of monthly housing expenses for owners and renters. The report provides an excellent measure of housing affordability and excessive shelter costs. The data also serve to aid in the development of housing programs to meet the needs of people at different economic levels. Source: U.S. Census and the American Community Survey.