Kristin Cavallari’s White Floral Halter Dress on Instagram

Kristin Cavallari Instagram Fashion 2021

Looking fly! With travel back on many of our radars this summer, Kristin Cavallari has been providing the perfect style inspa on Instagram with her Cabo vacation lewks. And although her white floral halter dress may cost you the same as a first class ticket, we’re very happy to report that her feet are still sitting in economy. 

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Zimmermann Dress

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Photo: @KristinCavallari

Originally posted at: Kristin Cavallari’s White Floral Halter Dress

I have spent my 67 years residing in the state of Florida. I have to live with the fact my state is the punch line of late-night talk show jokes more frequently than other states. Our mythical mascot is “Florida Man” whose bizarre real-world antics personify the craziness of life in the Sunshine State.

The world relishes tales of Florida Man (men and women) crashing their lawnmowers into police cars; pulling alligators from their yoga pants, or setting fire to their homes while barbecuing in the nude. Such a distinction! FloriDUH is the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Twitter handle, “a sunny place for shady people.”

Access to the Birth Control Pill Came Later in Florida

Florida also has the distinction of being one of the states prohibiting doctors and pharmacists from prescribing the birth control pill to unmarried girls 21 years of age or younger. I turned 21 in 1974. I remember where I was standing when I popped that little game changer in my mouth for the first time.

It was around 4:00 in the afternoon. I was visiting my friend, Joanne. Her kids were watching an episode of the Brady Bunch in the living room. I remember the hopscotch pattern of light playing across her kitchen floor.

“I’m free!” I cheered. She shared in my excitement. We were liberated from the fear and the sinking dread of late periods. No longer were we required to secure permission from parents or husbands. The pill empowered young women to make decisions for themselves.

Getting the Covid Vaccine Was Reminiscent of Taking the Birth Control Pill for the First Time

A recent conversation with my friend Peggy brought this memory back into full relief. “Robert and I are fully vaccinated! I feel the same way I did the first time birth control pills became available. I took a photo of my sorority sister putting the pill on her tongue for the first time.” Peggy is my age. We were one in our collective relief then, and equally so now.

Post Vaccine Euphoria – “I’m Finally Able to Spend Time with Grandchildren!”

I feel as euphoric post-vaccine as I did when the pill became available. Of course, the pill did not take away the need for additional precautions, as is the case with the vaccine. I’m certain masks and hand sanitizers will be with us for quite a while. But May 18, 2021, found me on a Southwest Airlines flight to Chicago to celebrate my son’s birthday.

His sister and I planned a rendezvous with him last year at this time. The virus nixed that visit, but the vaccine enabled the current one. “I’m finally able to spend time with my children and grandchildren,” has been a collective cheer among friends.

Interesting that both miracle drugs provided some freedom from fear and freedom to make choices for ourselves. Absolute Game Changers both.

What about you? Do you remember the first time you took the birth control pill? Do you remember how you felt at the time? Is the feeling similar to what you now feel with the vaccine? Let’s reminisce together!

Lavender, the “blue gold” of Provence! Did you know that from the end of June to the end of August, the summer months of Provence are the best time to experience the world of lavender? The fields are in full bloom starting in June and the air is perfumed as the hot Mediterranean sun bakes the plants and releases their perfume.

I imagine a flyover of a lavender field would look something like this: a sea of different shades of blue colors dancing in the breeze.

Lavender is actually a member of the mint family with over 39 different varieties from deep blue-violet to white blooms. Southern France provides the perfect growing conditions with its sandy, rocky soil, hot humid summers, cool or cold nights and high altitudes. Lavender is also quite easy to grow once the plant is established. It requires very little care.

Who First Brought Lavender to Provence?

Some believe that around 600 BC a group of traders from a Greek outpost on the French island of Les lles d’Hyeres brought the plants to the mainland. Others tell us that over 2500 years ago the ancient Egyptians were the first to use the plants for mummification of their loved ones, but most likely it was the Romans who brought lavender plants to Provence.

Romans, as we know, were bath enthusiasts and regularly added lavender products to their bath water. They were skilled at extracting the essential oils from the plants to add to soaps, candles, foods and medicinal herbs. In fact, the very word “lavender” comes from the Latin word “Lavare,” translated as “to wash.”

What Is the Most Prized Type of Lavender Grown in Provence?

As stated before, there are numerous different varieties of lavender grown around the world today. Most are hybrids from the original plants. Provence grows three main varieties of lavender: Lavandula Augustifolia Mill or “real” lavender, Lavende Fine or “fine” and lastly, Lavandin a hybrid that grows at a lower altitude than the 2 previously mentioned plants.

When and Where in Southern France Is the Best Time to See and Experience the Magic of Lavender?

Generally, early in June you will find plants blooming in the Rhone Valley, but by the end of August, on the Cote d’Azur, all the fields are completely cut and the harvest has ended. In Haute Provence, the fields in June are still blooming and the harvest has not started.

Remember, climate conditions during the months before the blooming season will always affect the timing of the growing and harvest season. All the departments (regions) do not bloom at the same time. Make sure you do your homework before you leave home if you plan on going to the lavender fields.

There are four main growing departments in Southern France to have a memorable lavender experience:

• Hault-Alps
• Drome
• Vaucluse
• Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Lavender’s Virtues

Besides that heavenly scent, lavender has many other virtues. It can repel insects as a natural repellent when outside or in a closet inside. It has for hundreds of years been used as an antiseptic and has properties as an anti-inflammatory (always consult with your doctor before using).

It can relieve itching from a bug bite and some believe helps speed up the healing of a scar. Let us not forget its ability to help with sleep and lastly, today we are even using it in food preparation.

Be aware that during lavender season in Southern France you will not be alone. One must get up early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Many brides even plan their weddings years in advance to have their photo op in the lavender fields.

There will be heavy traffic with many tour buses and there will be bees buzzing around the fields. But I can guarantee you will have the experience of a lifetime!

Have you already had the experience of visiting the lavender fields in Provence? If so, what month did you go? If Provence is too far away, where do you go to enjoy the lavender blooming? What do you use lavender for? Which of its properties are the most beneficial to you? Please share with the community!

Still Alice, published in 2007, was a tough book for me to read. My dear mother-in-law suffered from Alzheimer’s, and the novel hit way too close to home. As I muddled through the touching story, a combination of neurological facts and heartbreaking family dynamics, I could barely keep a dry eye.

Since then, I’ve read every single book, all bestsellers, by Dr. Lisa Genova. As she combines meticulous research with heartfelt stories and beloved characters, the Harvard-educated neuroscientist introduces us to brain disorders most of us know nothing about.

I hope you enjoy these recommendations (all by the same author) – and learn a few things along the way…

Remember

After racing through this latest release – non-fiction – I feel better about all those details I can’t remember!

According to Dr. Genova, like our bodies, our memories age. They don’t work as well as they did when we were 30. And our processing speed slows down.

But… I can’t remember the reason I walked into the bedroom? Can’t find my phone or keys? Cannot remember the name of the person I met five minutes ago? This is normal. I am normal. These irritating events do not indicate the beginning of Alzheimer’s.

In her engaging style, Dr. Genova dives into how memories are made and offers interesting factoids as to why we aren’t designed to remember all the tiny details. And – thank goodness – checklists and notes and visual cues are fine to use to prod our memories.

Although no magic pill exists, Dr. Genova outlines steps we can take to improve our memories and enhance brain health. Nothing shocking or new here but, coming from this expert, I may embrace the practices more. 

Still Alice

A 50-year-old Harvard professor, mother of three children, and devoted wife, Alice has a lot of life left to live. When she forgets routine words and loses her way home on a run, worry and fear set in. At 50, Alice learns she has early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Genova was in her 20s when her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Witnessing her bouts of disorientation and frustration, Dr. Genova wondered what ran through her grandmother’s mind. Did she understand any of what she was going through?

Written from the perspective of the person afflicted with this horrid disease, Still Alice shows readers how Alice feels as her memory slips away. Julianne Moore won the Best Actress Oscar for the film version of this novel. I recommend the book and the movie.

Every Note Played

Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a progressive disease of the nervous system. Because it causes loss of muscle control, eventually the stricken individual cannot move his/her limbs, speak, eat, or breathe. Sadly, no cure exists. 

For Richard, a world-famous concert pianist, the disease begins in his hands. As he becomes increasingly paralyzed and can’t live on his own, his ex-wife cares for him. 

A heartfelt story of how the former couple copes with, and understands, their past.

Left Neglected

If this book doesn’t make you ignore your phone pings while driving, I don’t know what will…

Sarah, a multi-tasking mom and high-powered career woman, glances at her phone for just a second. And that’s all it took. 

Because I’d not heard of Left Neglect Syndrome, this may be my favorite in Lisa Genova’s book series. After an injury of this sort, an individual’s brain does not recognize one complete side of the body. With Left Neglect, Sarah did not see the left side of her face in the mirror. She didn’t realize she had a left arm or hand. She doesn’t eat the food on the left side of her plate.

The left side of her body, and everything else, does not exist.

Love Anthony

Last year, almost 1 in 50 children in the United States were diagnosed with autism. We all know families touched by the autism spectrum disorder and its tendency to severely limit social skills, relationships, speech, and communication.

In this moving novel, readers meet Anthony, a non-verbal little boy with autism. As his young mother comes to terms with his diagnosis, she faces an even tougher challenge.

A gripping novel of unconditional love. 

Inside the O’Briens

Joe is a 43-year-old Massachusetts police officer when he starts to worry. He’s increasingly confused, angry, and his body moves when he doesn’t want it to.

Huntington’s Disease is a rare neurodegenerative disease with no treatment or cure. As the disorder progresses, an individual will suffer physical, mental, and behavioral decline. And each of Joe’s four children has a 50 percent chance of inheriting this from their father. 

Would you want to know, before the disease manifests, if you carry the defective gene? 

Have you read any of Lisa Genova’s books? Are you familiar with these diseases? What do you do to keep your memory as healthy as possible?

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.