Many women I talk to say that creativity and self-expression is something they cannot live without, and that perhaps it has become even more important in their life as they age. How do you express yourself? And how do you incorporate creativity in your daily life?

As a busy mother with a full-time job, I took a long break from knitting, which I learned from my mother at a young age and used as a creative outlet until I got married and had kids.

Now that I have more time to myself, I find that creating things with my hands adds a very special satisfaction to my life. Creating knitted items to wear – in favourite colours and materials – is for me a great way of adding that extra spark to my life and to the wardrobe.

Creative Knitting and Self-Expression

Does this type of creative self-expression become more important as we age? Many women look back at their lives to find out who they really are. They know themselves better and remember how their grandmothers, mothers, aunts and friends built on tradition to create beautiful items of quality.

For me, my self-expression and creativity is all about knitting and yarn. I have always been passionate about working with natural fibers and scrumptious yarns. Knitting has a long tradition, which I cherish.

For many centuries, before factories and industrialisation took over, women were self-reliant on their spinning, weaving, knitting and sewing skills to create garments for themselves and their family, and household goods too. The techniques and styles were passed down from mother to daughter. Men knitted too, but for women the activity was closely related to their role as nurturers in the family setting.

In today’s world, knitting has seen a huge upswing in popularity, and women and men are taking up knitting and posting photographs of their creations and patterns on social media. This vibrant community of knitters from all corners of the world shares its inspiration online, along with online knitting and yarn businesses.

Many women I know talk about how fun it is to finally have the time to be obsessed about materials, styles and designs. Why not build in the creative aspect of our fascination and “make” the object of our desire ourselves? This is a great way of truly expressing who we are. And it is an exciting and meaningful journey to explore all the possibilities for what we can create with our hands.

Enjoying the Journey

When I look for an item to knit, I search for different designs and materials to get inspiration before investing my time. My advice to new knitters is to enjoy the process of exploration, when you have honed your basic skills as a knitter.

Rushing to the yarn shop without a sense of what you are looking for and a fairly firm idea for a project might put you in the group with thousands of other knitters: You will end up with an unfinished project and stashes of yarn at home, but “nothing to knit,” because you’ll never have the right yarn in your stash for your newest fabulous idea.

Enjoy the journey of researching your next knitting project and the creative process: use the Internet to look for similar designs and compare colors, fiber types and patterns. Take notes about why you like a certain design, and what you want to use it for. Create a small corner in your home where you keep a collection of things you like. After a short while you will be surprised at how you are gravitating towards your special preferences.

Getting Started with Creative Knitting

Here are three things you can do to get started in the world of creative knitting, or restart your knitting as the case may be:

First, find out what you are fascinated and inspired by and spend time exploring your preference and interests. Collect examples of styles and find colors that are right for you – they can be mood boosters – a soft pink for example, or a special yellow. Draw inspiration from your own lifestyle and focus on things that will make you excited and happy.

Second, join a local knitting circle to get in touch with other knitters to share ideas and get feedback on your creations. Knitters are very generous people who love to share their tricks and techniques.

Third, start expressing yourself – one lovely item at a time, or several all at once! As you become better at seeing and assessing the crazy fabulous market of yarn and fiber out there, you will learn to tune into your own special creative juices.

For knitting inspiration, start small with mini cowls for all occasions with patterns available in many Etsy shops. Search Pinterest for knitting, or go to Ravelry with its large selection of knitting patterns made by amateur knitters work-wide.

Tell me what you especially like in modern day creative knitting and crocheting? First of all, do you yourself knit or crochet, and do you have a special style or preference? How do you find inspiration? Please share in the comments.

As your grandchildren grow, they need adults less and less.

If you enjoyed babysitting them when they were small, there are so many things to miss when they grow out of that period, and even more so when they start craving more independence in their teens.

However, despite the endless yearning for independence that teenagers exhibit, there are also many opportunities for cross-generational bonding.

So, maybe your teenage granddaughter does not ask you to read bedtime stories to her, but there are many wonderful grandmother and granddaughter date ideas that you can try out. Here are some of them.

Allow Her to Invite You to Her World

Don’t expect her to show initiative and care for the time you spend together just because you are her grandmother. She is probably more interested in spending time with her peers. She is going through a transformative period of her life and an important part of that phase is to let go of tight family ties and step into a more independent way of living.

Still, even though it sounds paradoxical, what she needs from the family that she probably constantly fights, is the assurance that she will be always safe to come back.

This paradox can provide ample opportunity for you to be the balancing factor in the complex relationship between her and her parents. Allow her to invite you to her world. Go for a soda and cake and just let her talk about what interests her. It may not be as fascinating to you as it is to her, but remember that her world will expand with time just like yours did.

Go to an Outside Concert Together

Whether it is your choice of music or hers, going to a concert together will give you time to enjoy the preparations and the event. Let her choose the dress for you and do your makeup. If you both enjoy it, this can become a tradition and something to look forward to. Even if her choice in music is completely unpalatable to you, make the effort and go with the flow. It is rejuvenating.

Go on a Picnic

Cooking together for a picnic is a great activity. Try not to patronize the situation with your experience and allow her to learn. Who doesn’t remember the recipe they learned from their grandmother? And the lovely prize of eating outdoors in a location that you both like and enjoying the nice weather together is a bonus. For me, this was my favorite grandmother and granddaughter date with my late grandma.

Make Biking Excursions

If you are both active types, going on a biking excursion is a perfect date. Choose an easy route that is good for both of you and pick a warm day, but not too hot. You can also plan for hot cocoa and cake stops for an energy boost and some conversation. If you live in an area where there are many biking routes, you can explore them regularly on your grandmother and granddaughter dates.

What are your favorite grandmother and granddaughter date ideas and why? What have you found works best in connecting with your older grandchildren? Please share your date ideas and tips in the comments.

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is just around the corner. It’s also commonly known as the Fall Open Enrollment Period. From October 15 to December 7, beneficiaries can sign up for Medicare Advantage or Part D plans, switch from their current plan to a new one, or cancel their existing coverage.

Leading up to this seven-week window, there are some things to know before making these changes.

Changes Made During AEP Go into Effect on January 1

Here’s a breakdown of some of the changes you can make during AEP:

• Disenroll from Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare
• Enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan if you have Original Medicare
• Swap from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Sign up for a Part D prescription drug plan
• Change from your existing Part D prescription drug plan to another, or cancel this coverage.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to enroll in Parts A and B (Original Medicare) before signing up for Part C (Advantage) or Part D. If you have been on Medicare for a while and are just now picking up a Part D plan, you may be subject to a late enrollment penalty for lacking creditable coverage.

Creditable coverage is coverage that’s as good as Medicare – the most common example being employer group plans for 20 or more employees.

While you can make multiple changes during AEP, the final change you make before December 7 will be effective on January 1.

Your Annual Notice of Change Letter Is Important

Each September, Medicare Advantage and Part D carriers mail out an Annual Notice of Change (ANoC) letter to their beneficiaries, summarizing changes to the plan for the following year. Contact your plan’s carrier if you don’t receive this letter by the end of the month.

For Advantage and Part D plans, the ANoC outlines changes to costs and coverage. For Advantage plans, the letter includes changes to out-of-pocket costs and whether your doctor will remain within your network. Also, changes to the plan’s drug formulary and preferred pharmacy are mentioned.

If Your Coverage Will Be Sufficient for Next Year

Along with any shortcomings you may have noticed in your Advantage or Part D plan throughout the past year, your Annual Notice of Change will help you determine if you should take action during AEP. Maybe you can find a drug plan with a more affordable monthly premium, or an Advantage plan with a lower maximum out-of-pocket amount.

Even larger financial concerns than your premium are prescriptions missing from the formulary or your preferred provider leaving your Advantage plan’s network. If either happens, you could be paying a lot more in the next year by remaining on the plan.

Keep in mind whether your health and medication needs have changed over the past year, or if you expect them to change within the next year. In this case, your current coverage may no longer be sufficient for the near future.

You Shouldn’t Fret if You Pick the Wrong Advantage Plan

Suppose you choose an Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period that you think will fulfill your needs. Yet shortly after it goes into effect on the first of the year, you find that it isn’t what it was cracked up to be – or it’s just not for you.

Luckily, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives you a chance, from January 1 through March 31, to rectify such a situation. Available only to current Medicare Advantage enrollees, during this time you can switch to another Advantage plan or drop your current plan.

Further, if you drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare, you can also pick up a Part D prescription drug plan at the same time, so you don’t go without sufficient drug coverage.

If You Miss AEP, You May Qualify for a Special Enrollment Period

Now, Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) only apply following certain life events for people who have Medicare Advantage or Part D. Each SEP has different rules when it comes to the timeframes and changes you can make.

Life events that qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period include:

• Moving outside your plan’s service area
• Losing health insurance through your or your spouse’s employer
• Moving back to the United States after living abroad.

Avoid Mistakes During the Annual Enrollment Period

The biggest mistakes to avoid during AEP include not doing your research or utilizing your resources. For instance, not understanding the late enrollment penalties or changes affecting your plan can lead to preventable out-of-pocket costs. The Annual Enrollment Period can seem complex, but if you understand the basics, you’ll be in good shape.

Are you currently on Medicare? Do you think you will need to change your plans this year? For what reasons? Did you know you could do that during the Annual Enrollment Period? Do you have specific Medicare questions?

When you want to support POC founders in the beauty world, it can be a little tough to figure out who actually owns a brand. HSN is making it easy with its Shades of Beautiful Event. From now until September 22, you can shop 30 percent off Black- and latinx-owned brands for 30 percent off. The sale also includes some bigger companies that might not have POC founders but hawk products with shade ranges great for all skin tones.

Some of our absolute favorites are included in the sale. Celebrity hairstylist Vernon François’ haircare line includes shampoo, conditioner and styling mists for curly, chemically treated and afro hair. His line rarely goes on sale. There’s also Mented makeup — blush, lipstick, highlighter and more! — that will take you right into fall and winter. Don’t miss out on Carol’s Daughter, Taya and Better Not Younger.

There’s so much to choose from but we got you started with some of our favorites, below.

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. HSN is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

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Mented 2-piece Highlighter with Angled Brush Set – $21 Off

Those with darker skin tones know the struggle of finding a highlighter that gives your face the right amount of warmth without ashy undertones. This 4-shade highlighter palette looks good on everyone and comes with a perfect angled brush for ease of application.

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Mented 3-piece Semi-Matte Lip Set – $23.50 Off

Lipstick is back! This 3-piece set is less than $8 per lipstick — a deal that can’t be beat. The long-wearing, lightweight formula is ultra-pigmented and so comfortable. You get Pretty in Pink, Peach Please and Nude Lala.

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Vernon Francois ReVamp Shampoo and Conditioner Mist – $8.50 Off

Moisturizing plant oils help make this hair duo ultra-moisturizing and detangling. If you have dry, damaged or chemically treated hair, you’ll love the results.

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Carol’s Daughter Monoi Ora Layering 2-piece Body Set – $50 Off

This body cream oil and eau de toilette both have the fresh scent of Monoi Oil. Notes of tropical florals, exotic vanilla, bergamot and orange flower make you feel like you’re on vacation even if you’re stuck in an office.

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MasterPeace Body Butter 4-piece Discovery Set – $8.45 Off

A luxe blend of exotic oils and butters in this body lotion turns the dryest dermis into smooth, hydrated skin. This set gets you Energize Body Butter, Sweet Attraction Body Butter, Clearing and Releasing Body Butter and Peace and Calm Body Butter.

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Taya Amazon White Clay Thickening 3-Piece Set – $11.60 Off

Turn your fine, thin, lifeless hair to one of fullness and body with this 3-piece set. Taya’s legendary Amazon white clay and cacay oil thicken hair while leaving it soft and touchable. Get Amazon White Clay Advanced Blend Thickening Shampoo, Amazon White Clay Advanced Blend Thickening Conditioner and Amazon White Clay Advanced Blend Thickening Booster.

Hiking in the woods isn’t just a great way to stay fit.
It can also help your emotional and mental health. While just spending some
time out in nature can be great for you, you can go a step further and practice
the Shinrin-Yoku – the Japanese forest
bathing therapy.

Don’t write it off as some woo-woo science. It was
developed in the 1980s by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and
Fisheries and since then there have been multiple studies citing the health and
wellness benefits of the practice.

The best part is that you don’t need a ton of time or
money to get into forest bathing.

What Is Forest Bathing?

As the name suggests, this therapy is focused on
getting out in nature. There’s no ‘goal’ for Shinrin-Yoku. Unlike hiking where
you try to reach the summit, the point of forest bathing is to slow down and
practice mindfulness while under the forest canopy.

It’s not just about enjoying nature, though. It’s also
about using all five senses to experience the world around you.

When choosing a location for this nature therapy,
avoid anything that might seem too strenuous. After all, the whole point is to
practice mindfulness, which is hard to do when you’re struggling to climb a
mountain.

Find a location that has well maintained paths with
gentle inclines and declines that is close to your current location. Forest
bathing is not a one-time activity. You should repeat it at least once a week.

What to Bring?

The whole point of forest bathing is to reconnect with
nature, so you should avoid bringing too much stuff. With that said, there are
a few things you should bring:

• If you usually need a cane to get around, you might want to consider getting a pair of walking poles for better stability on dirt and gravel paths; 
• A water bottle;
• Good shoes – you might not be trekking for miles, but you’ll still want to wear comfortable shoes that provide the necessary support; 
• Sunscreen;
• Bug spray.

How to Forest Bathe

You don’t need to spend hours a day in the forest or
park. In fact, you can reap the benefits of forest bathing in as little as 15
minutes. With that said, for best results, you’ll want to set aside an hour or
two. 

For first time forest bathers, you should check the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy resources to see if there are any programs in your area you can join.

The people guiding these walks are certified and are
great for beginners as they can provide guidance on the trails and can direct
your attention to points of observation.

If there isn’t a program near you, you can always get
started on your own by following this simple guide:

No Phone

Avoid bringing your phone
with you. If you must bring it, avoid using it unless there’s an emergency. It
might be tempting to take it out for a picture, but avoid your instinct to do
so and instead just enjoy the beauty of nature.

Use Your Senses

Stop often to take in the
entirety of the forest. This means looking around at your surroundings and
observing the sights, sounds, and smells. Make note of certain smells you
prefer.

Don’t Meddle with Nature

You also want to ensure
you leave the forest in the same state as when you arrived.

Explore while Staying on the Trail

Let your body be your
guide and allow it to lead you on your path, to an extent. Make sure you’re
still on a trail, especially if you’re in a national park!

Take Your Time

Move slowly and quietly.
Try to mirror the rhythm of the forest.

Watch Your Breathing

Focus on your breathing
while you’re walking, and match it up with your steps.

Adopt a Concluding Ritual

Conclude your session with
a ceremonial activity, whether that’s drinking tea, writing your thoughts,
feelings, etc. in a journal or, if you’re forest bathing with others, conduct a
light conversation about the experience. The point is to slowly reintegrate
back into the rhythm of your daily life rather than jump back in. 

Benefits of Forest Bathing

Forest bathing isn’t just about enjoying
nature. It also has numerous health benefits that everyone can enjoy regardless
of age such as:

• Reduced blood pressure
• Lowered cortisol levels
• Improved concentration and memory
• Improved immune system
• Increased energy level
• Improved sleep
• Improved mood

Of course, let’s not disregard the intangible benefits
such as a deeper appreciation for nature, an overall increased sense of
happiness and, if you forest bathe with other people, deeper friendships.

In today’s connected world, it’s all too easy to fall
into a frenetic pace where you’re always on the move. That’s why it’s important
to take some time out of your day to slow down and enjoy the world around you.

What do you know about forest bathing? Have you
practiced it before? Is it something that you will add to your weekly routine?
Let’s discuss more about the topic in the comments below!