Each of us has a powerful life story! Writing that story down helps you identify the core values and beliefs that have been foundational to your success. It gives it a voice. It creates connections. It inspires. As Robert McKee says, “Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.”

The Myriad of Reasons to Tell Your Life Story

Telling your story will help you craft a personal vision that can capture your past and guide your future. It will create a connection and greater intimacy with your readers, allowing them to learn through your knowledge and wisdom.

We have all faced challenges in life. Writing about how you dealt with those challenges helps you feel better by dissolving the matters that sometimes have you stuck in the past.

It is likely to inspire others and help them learn ways to handle their own challenges. It will also demonstrate why life is worth living and will guide you to enjoy reliving the good moments in your life.

It is yet another way to stretch yourself. You will learn something from your own experiences, and you will teach something valuable.

It will make you think and sharpen your mental agility. Your family will cherish the stories and the memories. With each reading, it will bring to life a poignant moment in time.

The Form Your Story Can Take

Storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the reader’s imagination. There are many ways to share your story:

How to Get Started Telling Your Life Story

The first step to get started is to take inventory and begin recording your personal and professional history and accomplishments. Think about what and/or who has influenced you most. Consider your most memorable moments.

What has brought out the best in you? What hurdles have you had to vault? How do others think and feel about you?

When you have assembled the inventory of your facts and feelings, reflect on what you want to say and why you want to say it. Start with the 3Ps – purpose, passion and personality.

Define the message you want to communicate (purpose). Identify what is it that you care for and value most, i.e., why your core message is so important to you (passion). Characterize how you want people to experience who you are – what people will think of you (personality).

After you have taken time to reflect on and consider the parts that you value and those that others will value, it is time to get started.

An easy way to start is to draft a brief action plan which will push you to hold yourself accountable. There are seven questions you need to answer in order to come up with a good action plan.

Create an Action Plan

1. What will be your first step?

2. What do you need to do to get started?

3. What is holding you back from getting started? What can you do to overcome it?

4. What connections do you have/do you need to make this happen?

5. What resources will you need to do what you want to do?

6. When will you have completed the project?

7. How will you measure your success?

Does this simple action plan work?

Yes, it does.

A friend was told me she had a compelling story to tell, but she was challenged with getting started. She finally decided that her first step was to sit down and write a single paragraph. She did that one Friday morning and before she knew it, the first chapter was well underway.

There are a few questions you need to address in the process of writing your story:

Is the story communicating what I wanted to share – purpose, passion and personality? Is the tone what I wanted it to be? What additional detail(s) would make it more interesting? What do I need to adjust? What is my deadline for making the adjustment?

Now, are you ready to get started?

How would you tell your life story in one sentence? Have you ever thought about writing an autobiography? Is something holding you back from telling your story? Have you worked out an action plan to follow? Please join the conversation below!

I’ve said it before and I’ll proudly say it again — when it comes to mascara (whether drugstore, premium or luxury) Essence’s Lash Princess formula, is hands down my favorite of all time. When I found out the drugstore beauty brand was launching a new member to the Lash Princess collection, I knew I had to get my hands on it STAT. While I love the original Lash Princess Falsies Effect Mascara and have been using it for over five years (I always use the waterproof version), I simply had to give the new Lash Princess Curl Mascara a review.

Essence decided to launch this new addition to the Lash Princess lineup because fans had been requesting a curling formula for years — the collection already includes False Lash Effect (my tried and true holy grail), Sculpted Volume, and Volume formulas — each designed with different formulas and brush shapes to help create the desired result. The Lash Princess Curl Mascara is designed with a peanut-shaped wand, which allows you to get from root to tip and build volume while maximizing the curl factor. Best of all, this formula doesn’t flake or clump — sure, sometimes I do like that look, but on the daily — not so much.

Courtesy of Essence.

Buy: Essence Lash Princess Curl Mascara $4.99

Compared to the other mascaras in the Lash Princess line, the Lash Princess Curl Mascara definitely adds more of a lift and curve, but the difference is subtle. With that being said, the formula is still stellar and it wears all day without smudging, smearing, or transferring — and yes, I did try the non-waterproof version and it held up like a dream. For reference, I applied this mascara at eight in the morning in ultra-humid Austin Texas weather before boarding a flight back home to Los Angeles, which made for about a twelve-hour day, so I’d say it passed the long-wear-friendly test without a doubt.

Courtesy of Mia Maguire.

Above see the difference between my bare lashes (left) and two thin coats of Lash Princess Curl Mascara (right).

Buy: Essence Lash Princess Curl Mascara $4.99

Full disclosure: my best pandemic beauty habit was being consistent with my brow and eyelash serum (I swear by both the GrandeLASH and GrandeBROW formulas, BTW), so my lashes are already in good shape, but this mascara really did tighten the curl without having to use an eyelash curler. In comparison to its fellow Lash Princess counterparts, the Curl a drier, thicker consistency, which I personally think helps add more volume to the lashes as opposed to solely length.

Unlike the Sculpted Volume formula, however, the Curl doesn’t allow you to build up as many layers without clumping, but that’s the price you pay for that extra curl. Overall, while the Lash Princess Falsies Effect will remain my ride-or-die, the new Curl Mascara has definitely made its way into my go-to mascaras drawers and you best believe I’ll be taking it with me the next time I travel.

I am on a mission to get people to stop using bottled salad dressings with their inferior ingredients and sugars and all. You can make your own homemade dressings and store them in the fridge for days or weeks. It’s a great way to get creative in the kitchen.

Why, you may ask, have I taken on such a mission? Well, here’s the reason – homemade salad dressing is easy to make and it is 100 times better than anything that comes in a bottle.

Get Creative with Ingredients

The creative part of making your own is that you can experiment with using different oils and vinegars to get different flavor enhancements for your salads. For example, when I make a spinach salad, I like a little bit sweeter, fruity dressing. So I use a raspberry, cherry or pomegranate vinegar and add some extra mustard to the dressing for a little zip to balance the sweet.

When I make tuna or salmon salad, I like to use fresh lemon juice instead of vinegar, and add lots of fresh garlic. Sometimes I use a citrus infused olive oil as well.

For a steak salad, which I love, I add some crumbled blue cheese to the dressing. Follow the basic recipe and then add herbs, fruit, nuts, cheese or whatever sounds good for your salad.

The Basic Recipe

Ingredients

2-5 garlic cloves (according to taste)

¼ tsp both salt and pepper

1 tsp dry mustard or Dijon mustard

1/3 to 1/2 cup vinegar (use one kind or a variety of vinegars or juices)

1 cup olive oil

1 tbsp finely chopped fresh herbs of your choice (parsley, thyme, basil, etc)

Directions:

In a glass jar, press garlic cloves so they are mashed in the bottom of the jar. Use a garlic press for best results.

Sprinkle in salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Add mustard.

Now put whatever vinegar (or citrus juices) you want to use.

Add herbs, if you’re using any.

Put the lid on the jar and shake to mix all the ingredients.

Add in the olive oil, put the lid back on and shake vigorously.

There you have it; the basic homemade salad dressing.

Variety in Flavor

The fun part is interchanging different oils, vinegars, herbs and flavors. Sometimes I use walnut oil or peanut oil when I want a slightly different flavor. I have even used avocado oil for a dressing for salmon salad. It was fabulous.

Using Kitchen Gadgets

I have discovered a little tip that I’ll share with you. At a kitchen store you can buy a little battery-operated device for about $12 that is used for frothing milk for coffee drinks. The one I have is called “Bonjour Caffe Froth Turbo” (model 7025). I have used it for years and it is the best thing for mixing salad dressing in a jar.

Once you’ve mixed the liquid ingredients and herbs, slowly pour in the olive oil while running the frothing device. It emulsifies the ingredients, so you won’t have the separation of oil and vinegar. It’s the best!

How to Store

I make the dressing in a glass jar, then store it in the fridge and it keeps well for up to two weeks. Just shake it again when you’re ready to use it.

When making your own salad dressing you get to be creative. Let’s hear what combinations you’re trying.

Do you buy your salad dressing from the store, or do you make one yourself? Do you have specific combinations you prefer for different salads? What are your best tips for homemade salad dressing? Let’s exchange recipes!

Women are worriers by nature. We worry about our families, our friends and our future. Those of us who live alone have learned to be independent – but that doesn’t stop us from worrying about the years ahead.

As a single small business owner who lives alone, I have spent a lot of time thinking about – and planning for – a potentially solo future. That process produced my book Retiring Solo, which addresses the many issues I considered once I realized that I could very well spend the next 30 years of my life on my own.

On the average, women live longer than men and many of us will spend up to a third of our adult lives living on our own through a combination of choice, divorce or death. It is practical to plan for growing old alone, even if you are happily partnered now.

Four Things That Worry Me About Growing Old Alone

As a single woman, my two greatest fears in life are outliving my money or my ability to earn money to support myself, and losing my health or mobility and becoming dependent on other people or institutions for care. I worry more about the second one than the first. Why? Because I believe that for as long as I remain healthy, I should be able to find a way to earn some income.

I also worry about whether I will die alone, without a supportive circle of friends and family. Recently, I also began thinking about what I would like to be remembered for once I’m gone.

Will I Outlive My Money?

No one wants to outlive their resources. If you’re healthy and active, you could be looking at three decades of retirement, with no guarantee of how far your funds will stretch. How many years of money will you need? At what pace should you spend what you have managed to put away? There really is no way to know for sure.

Will there be enough money to travel? Will there be enough money if you become ill or need extended care and, if not, then where will that money come from?

Retirement may also prove to be costlier than planned for. Many women report that they underestimated the costs of food, taxes and healthcare and found that expenses in the early years of retirement proved to be much higher than they’d expected.

Single women face even greater pressure. There is no spouse or partner to help contribute to retirement savings, bring home a second paycheck or receive a second Social Security or pension check in the mail.

A part-time job or income from starting a business can relieve financial pressure and help fund activities and travel. Continuing to work also helps us remain active, involved and engaged. That’s good for our mental and physical health, all the way around.

Will I Stay Healthy?

I am very much a quality versus quantity type of person – especially when it comes to quality of life. I believe in living healthier, not just longer. I became committed to better health for the first time when I turned 50. I ate better, exercised more, became an avid hiker and started playing pickle ball and other sports. I have never felt healthier.

Yet these questions still plague me: Will my health hold out as I get older? Who will take care of me if I do get sick? Can I afford to get sick? (Can anyone afford to get sick?)

It quickly becomes clear that the best strategy for anyone is to get – and stay – as healthy as possible, starting as soon as possible. Realizing this often leads to remodeling lifestyles and eating habits. Fear has always been a great motivator.

Start walking, join a fitness or nutrition program, exercise with friends. Staying healthy and active is the best way to remain independent as you get older.

Will I Die Alone?

The idea of living with others in some sort of shared housing arrangement becomes more appealing to me with each year – not just for its social aspects, but also for the peace of mind that would come from knowing others would be nearby to help in the event of a medical emergency or illness.

A strong social network also relieves stress, helps us recover from illness faster and can lead to a longer, happier life. People who have meaningful connections and relationships in their lives also tend to be more active and are often healthier.

We all need people nearby to offer advice or support, provide social interaction, get us out of the house and push us to try new things. We also want to know that we have someone we can call on in a crisis or a medical emergency, or when we need a ride, a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on.

Think about the many ways that you can create a support circle in your life. You likely know lots of people who are looking for the same thing. Community is good for mind, body and spirt. It keeps us happy, engaged and active. Ageing alone, without some sense of community in our lives, does not.

What Will I Be Remembered For?

We like to know that we made a difference, that someone cares about us and that they will miss us once we are gone.

As we get older, we also think more about the type of legacy that we will leave behind. It could be a project or accomplishment that leaves the world, our community or someone’s life in a better state than we found it, or something that we create or build that will continue producing benefits long after we are gone.

I am very much focused on creating some kind of legacy that will benefit others and outlive me. I want to make a difference. I like to think that we all do.

Are you looking to create something that will outlast you? Think about what inspires you and how you can offer that inspiration to others. Whether we are solo or partnered, the legacies that we create represent our last opportunity to leave the world a little better than we found it.

Face Your Fears and Embrace Life

Living a full and happy life as we grow older is about planning and choices. It is about planning for financial independence. It is about choosing whether to continue working and, if so, for how long. It is about choosing to create the support circle that we all need. It is about choosing to protect our health, so that we don’t have to fight to regain it in the future.

Do you ever worry about growing older alone? What have you done to relieve your fears? Do you have a support circle in place? Do you see being single as a strength or a liability in your 60s? Please join the conversation.

Kristin Cavallari’s Yellow Paisley Pants on Instastories

Kristin Cavallari Instagram Fashion 2021

Paisley in paradise! Kristin Cavallari served up some serious retro vibes for her last night in Cabo with these yellow paisley print pants. Which are sold out, however we’ve included some Style Stealers down below that are still totally ready to be rocked during summer of ’69 ’21. 

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to See Her Sold Out L’Agence Pants

Click Here to Shop Her Tribe Kelley Tank

Click Here to Shop Uncommon James Jewelry

Photo & Tank Info: @KristinCavallari

Originally posted at: Kristin Cavallari’s Yellow Paisley Pants