Melissa Gorga’s Tie Pajama Dye Set in Lake George

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 11 Episode 3 Fashion

If you haven’t ended up with a tie dye pajama set in your wardrobe over the past year I have to question whether you’ve really lived through this pandemic. I’ve ended up with only two three, and that has taken some definite restraint as I’ve always been a tie dye person who has patiently waited for it to come back in style.

But whether you have bought any or you haven’t now is your chance, thanks to some inspiration from Melissa Gorga’s tie dye pajama set in Lake George. As if she didn’t make cooking eggs look good enough, this set even made serving some sunny-side-ups stylish.

The Realest Housewife,

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Click Here to Shop her Tie Dye Pajama Set

Also Available in Size Small at Vici

Originally posted at: Melissa Gorga’s Tie Dye Pajama Set

It is a common practice to see the world in a binary fashion. For instance, no matter the factor of division, there usually seem to be two types of people. Extroverts and introverts. Meat eaters and vegetarians. In England, Marmite lovers and haters.

My distinction for today is between those who love to laze around and do nothing and those who are happiest when they are doing something useful.

Popular culture would have us believe that the former is the norm, that we are all waiting for the summer holidays so that we can lie on a beach. Anything connected to ‘work’ is to be avoided as much as possible.

I am not so sure. I know a lot of the latter type of people. And I am certainly one of them.

Being Useful

I have always been driven by the desire to be doing something – and, preferably, something of value to someone.

Doing nothing can certainly be pleasurable for a while. But its main use is to ensure that your brain or body is well rested, so that you will be firing on all cylinders when you return to purposeful activity. It is not an end in itself.

There are, of course, a myriad of ways to be ‘useful’. You may be a carer (caretaker) for someone and need to engage in a whole range of activities to meet their needs. You may like building things from scratch or taking them apart in order to understand them.

You may simply want to get things done around the house – clean out that cupboard or make those new curtains.

Alternatively, like me, you may like to engage in creative activity, whether writing books or painting pictures or inventing new recipes in the kitchen.

And much, much more.

You may or may not do these things well. You may or may not be satisfied with the result. But the key point is that the activity is important to you and helps you to feel that your time was well spent. You would rather do them than laze around.

Nature or Nurture

What makes us so clearly one way or the other? I was brought up by a mother with a ferocious work ethic. She was in any case unusual in having worked in a professional job while bringing up three children in the 1940s and ‘50s (no surprise now, but then it was distinctly unusual).

She was not keen on ‘relaxation’, although she would read at times and, in the summer, liked to weed her garden for this purpose. Perhaps I get it from her.

If we are in any way moulded by our schooling, then that, too, pushed in the same direction. I went to a very academic girls’ private school in New York City, whose motto was ‘in truth and toil’ and whose mascot was a beaver. Do you detect a strong work ethic here? Perhaps hard work was imprinted onto my brain by a daily dose of ‘toil’.

But I do wonder. If I had been born with a penchant for taking it easy, I might have rebelled heavily against such influences. As I watched my two very different children grow into adults, I increasingly questioned the impact of nurture in comparison to nature.

I think we come out of the womb with a lot of characteristics that we spend a lifetime discovering. But they were there, just as much as the tilt of our nose or the colour of our hair.

Getting Tired

But returning to the matter at hand, one sad discovery about growing older is that we tend to get tired more easily. We lose the resilience we had when younger and our batteries run down faster and faster.

This starts at different ages for different people but seems to creep up on us when we are not looking. As far as I can see, it increases slowly each year and greatly diminishes our energy for getting things done.

For those of us with an eagerness to be engaged in positive activity, this lack of energy is incredibly annoying. It means we cannot work for long periods without becoming tired. And the definition of that ‘long period’ slowly shortens from a day to half a day to even an hour.

Your body becomes a battleground – your head wants to get something done, but your body rebels. That old saying, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” comes into play.

At the end of a day, you find yourself disappointed with the paltry amount accomplished. You had such great plans, but you got little or nothing done.

It is not so different from the lockdowns we have suffered in the UK and others have done elsewhere. They are a kind of imprisonment where we cannot do what we want, what one grandson called ‘a kind of house arrest’.

A lack of energy is exactly the same.

Do you like to relax of are you driven to accomplish something? What do you want to do with your time? Do you lack energy these days? Do you feel it is getting worse?

When you’ve had a mentally stressful day, a warm bath is a fabulous way to unwind. Some days you may have pushed your body a bit too much overdoing it in the yard, trying to keep up with the dog (or grandkids) at the park, or engaging in a new activity your muscles weren’t used to.

All of these can result in sore muscles and achy joints. A soak in the tub can help relax your body, quiet your mind, and calm your soul.

Get Clean in the Shower, Relax in the Bathtub

If your primary objective is cleansing your body, you’ll likely jump into the shower so all that dirt and grime goes right down the drain. For radiant skin and additional detoxification, try dry skin brushing before showering.

The bathtub isn’t typically where we go to wash up. Most of us think of a warm bath as something designed to create a different experience altogether. Therefore, I want to make certain your bath isn’t doing more harm than good.

Here’s what this article will cover:

1. What are chlorine and chloramines?
2. Why are these chemicals detrimental to your health and skin?
3. How to dechlorinate your water to protect healthy bacteria, and minimize skin aging.

Chlorine and Chloramines: Two Dangerous Toxins in Water Supply

Chlorinated tap water is the norm around the world, but there are several European and Asian countries that do not add this chemical to the water supply. It is added to all water in the United States.

Chlorine is used for the purpose of removing microbes, including bacteria. Chloramines, formed by adding ammonia to chlorine, are also used to treat drinking water.

Not only will these chemicals disinfect the water, they have the potential to do the same to YOU. There is evidence that chlorine and chloramines can kill the friendly bacteria (which are crucial for optimal health) that reside on your skin and in your gut.

If You Wouldn’t Drink It, You Shouldn’t Bathe in It

You’ve probably been drinking purified water for a while now. Removing toxins and impurities from the water you drink is important, but have you considered the water you shower and bathe in?

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so absorbing toxins by daily bathing in unfiltered water has the potential to create more toxic exposure than drinking unpurified water.

Before you even stick your big toe into the bathtub to test the water temperature, do make sure your water is as pure as possible. As you soak in your luxurious bath – if you haven’t taken steps to dechlorinate the water – you will absorb chlorine through your skin. Hot or warm water will cause your pores to open up, increasing the likelihood of absorbing even more toxins.

First, let’s see why these chemicals are so harmful. Then I’ll reveal a simple, low-cost method of dechlorinating your water.

Two Ways Chlorine Harms Your Skin

One: Chlorine kills off beneficial bacteria

Millions of microbes reside on the surface (and in the deeper layers) of your skin. To be optimally healthy, you need beneficial bacteria populating your gut, so you should be taking a good quality probiotic every day. Do you know, however, that your skin (again, your largest organ), needs to have a colony of friendly bacteria as well?

Two: Chlorine can cause premature aging of the skin

As a young girl, I spent most summers swimming in my best friend’s pool. Not only did my naturally blond hair develop a greenish tint, but my skin would become dry and flaky as well.

Today, in my late 50s, if I spent a few hours a day in a swimming pool, my skin would likely become dry AND wrinkled. Whether you swim in a chlorinated pool or not, to keep your skin radiant and healthy looking, you must remove chlorine from your bath and shower water.

If you are like the women I work with, you spend time taking care of your health. You know that reducing stress, healthy eating, exercise, and getting plenty of rest will result in healthier, more radiant looking skin.

However, one activity that you probably consider an important beauty regimen – cleansing your skin – could actually be damaging it. If your tap water has been chlorinated, you’ll need to purify it before using it to bathe. Fortunately, there is a simple way to remove these toxins!

How to Neutralize Chlorine and Chloramine

Dechlorination can be done by using Vitamin C.

Option 1: Purchase Effervescent Vitamin C Tablets

Every Christmas, I bought my maternal grandmother Cecelia (“Grandma Cecil”) a large container of bath gelee from her favorite company, Vitabath.

When I got to visit her, I would take a luxurious bath with her wonderfully fragrant bath gelee. These days, if Grandma Cecil were here, I’d have her use Vitabath’s effervescent vitamin C tablets to dechlorinate her water before adding her gelee. You can purchase these tablets on Amazon.

Option 2: Add 1 teaspoon of powdered Vitamin C

Buy powdered vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid. This is all you need to get the job done.

You could also recreate the Vitabath formula, if you prefer. Once you have obtained your chosen form of Vitamin C for dechlorination:

1. Fill your tub with very hot water.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of vitamin C powder.
3. Wait 5 minutes.
4. By now the temperature should be right; add more hot or cold water if necessary.

Discover the Top 7 Best-Kept Secret Strategies for Aging with Passion, Vitality, & Purpose with Dr. Kathleen’s newest resource for Women.

Do you prefer taking a bath or a shower? Were you aware of the effect chlorine might have on your body? How do you purify your water – drinking and otherwise? Please join the discussion below.

Margaret Josephs’ Leopard Pants and Elton John Tee in Lake George

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 11 Episode 3 Fashion

Margaret Josephs’ leopard (technically ocelot, btw) pants and Elton John tee had a Jersey-girl rocker vibe going on which is very her! And just like her confessional side comments will always keep us laughing, her bold outfits will always keep us shopping.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to See her Pam + Gela Pants

Click Here to Shop them on eBay

Click Here to See her Daydreamer Tee

Originally posted at: Margaret Josephs’ Leopard Pants and Elton John Tee

The days of one spouse taking charge of the family finances are long gone, right? I wish that was the case. Over the years, I’ve edited a number of books aimed at helping women master the basics of personal finance and investing.

Yet even in my house, I have ignored some of my own advice; my husband is the one who handles our finances and, although he regularly updates a “cheat sheet” detailing accounts, passwords, payment dates, etc., I sometimes still feel “in the dark.”

Today, most of us have multiple bank and retirement accounts, pensions, insurance policies and, of course, countless passwords, so it’s important that all family members be able to access accounts easily, especially during emergencies.

It’s difficult enough when you’re grieving for a spouse or other family member. The added stress of having to deal with bills and financial matters can be overwhelming. I’m sharing some pointers based on personal experience and that of some friends who have had to quickly learn to manage their finances.

Expect Everything to Take Longer Than You Anticipate

You probably don’t know this, but the phone waiting time simply to make an appointment to meet with a representative to apply for Social Security can be about two hours. Getting an in-person appointment can take weeks or even months, depending on where you live.

Although you will most likely have to present documents in person, do accept the earliest phone appointment possible. You will be able to start the application process and find out what forms you need to apply for Social Security benefits and Medicare coverage.

Calls to credit card companies as well as phone and cable providers to change account holder names will also involve long wait times and possibly several calls to resolve issues.

Don’t Assume You’re Medically Covered

Dependent medical coverage is not automatically extended for some period after a policy holder dies, nor should you assume that you qualify for COBRA coverage.

If you had been covered by your spouse’s plan but are over age 65 at the time of the spouse’s death, then you may not be eligible for COBRA following your spouse’s death, in which case you would then have to apply for Medicare.

Don’t Forget About Computer Cookies

If a particular bill has been paid from one computer, when you log on from another device to access that account, you’ll likely be asked to answer one or more security questions, (set up by the deceased) which, if you answer incorrectly, will complicate your ability to access the account.

Without a Will or If All Property Isn’t Held Jointly, You May Run into Difficulties

If all your bank and brokerage accounts were held jointly, or you were named as sole beneficiary, then you can probably avoid the need for court authorization to inherit or dispose of any assets owned by the deceased.

However, if your spouse owned property only in his or her name and there is no will, then you will probably have to apply to the county probate court to be named administrator of the estate in order to take title to that property.

For example, if the title to your car was only in your spouse’s name and you want to sell the car, you will need to file an application with the Department of Motor Vehicles to transfer the title to your name before you can dispose of it.

If you’re not planning to use the car, you’ll want to do this quickly to avoid having to pay car insurance premiums.

Be Organized

You’re dealing with a lot, and you’ll be getting snail mail, phone calls, and emails, including paperwork to complete and sign. You can use old fashioned school folders organized by category – phone bill, cable bill, health insurance, etc. If you’re computer savvy, set up online folders to keep track of everything.

You’ll Need to Keep Paying Your Bills Even Though You Have Lost Your Spouse’s Income

Getting your initial Social Security payment may take weeks, even if you start the process immediately after your spouse’s death. Meanwhile, you still have to pay all your bills, such as mortgage and utilities, as well as any costs of upkeep. Don’t assume that late payments will be waived!

Be Persistent and Patient

Keep asking questions. If your spouse was working, contact the employer’s Human Resources department and ask about any death benefits, employer-provided life insurance or any other benefits for emergency situations.

Most employers have death benefit policies but, for whatever reason, people may not be helpful or considerate of your situation. If you’re not getting the answers you need, keep asking.

Follow up or ask to speak to someone else. Keep track of everyone’s name and dates they promised to get you responses.

Don’t Be an Ostrich

Losing a spouse or family member is incredibly stressful, but you can’t ignore financial realities. You don’t want to be reminded of your loved one’s illness or suffering, so you may not want to open up any hospital bills or health insurance statements.

However, you’re still responsible for paying for medical treatment, so don’t ignore hospital bills. Open them or enlist a friend or family member to help you. Remember, an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from an insurer is not a bill.

These EOBs will usually list procedures and medical tests performed, their costs and what your insurance covers. There is often a difference between the billed charges and what the insurer will pay the providers. That difference is usually the patient’s responsibility to pay.

However, an EOB comes from the insurer, not the doctor or institution doing the billing. When you do eventually get a bill from the medical provider, make sure it is consistent with the information on the EOB relating to the service being billed.

If you believe that the bill is incorrect, you don’t immediately have to pay it. Reach out to the billing physician or hospital as well as the health insurer so you understand the bills.

If the situation is particularly complex or you owe a substantial amount of money, consider hiring a billing advocate. For more information, go to https://www.claims.org.

Accept Offers of Help but Don’t Expect Everyone to Follow Through

Initially, friends and family will probably drop off food and offer to assist you, but many of these offers quickly fade away. Consider yourself lucky if you have a few people who help you with all the annoying details of daily life when you’re grieving and also stick around to provide support and companionship.

Who manages your bills and finances? Under what circumstances did you start doing them yourself? Have you had to help any friends or relatives in an emergency situation? We’d love to hear about any strategies that you have used.