If you’re like me, I like my beverages to do double duty. There simply isn’t enough time in the day to get in all the nutrients I need to feel on my A-game, so you’ll find me sipping on mood-boosting adaptogenic lattes and the like all day long. My latest obsession? Zolt’s Collagen Boost plant-powered superfood drink mixes, which not only encourage me to get my daily water intake, but give my hair, skin, and nails a much-needed glow up at the same time.

I’m sure you’ve tried those boring collagen powders that you can add to your coffee or directly in water, but most are way too chalky to get down, and I end up just tossing it (and my hard-earned money) down the drain. Not to mention, most are unflavored, so they’re not exactly enjoyable to drink either. But with Zolt’s next-level collagen drink mixers, you can truly have your collagen and drink it too. And unlike traditional collagen powders, these game-changing ones are made with adaptogens, vitamins and botanicals to help round out your overall wellness routine on the daily.

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. Zolt 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.

Image: Zolt.

I recently tested out their variety pack, which includes three yummy flavors targeted for different needs: Well for immunity (Meyer Lemon Tea), Dreamy for sleep (Ginger Honey Tea), and Even for everyday balance (Lime Mint). So long, boring Vitamin C powders! These ones come with the added bonus of collagen to keep my nails, hair, and skin strong and healthy thanks to hyaluronic acid and tremella mushroom (vegan collagen).

I like to start my day with Well, which is made with natural caffeine to help jumpstart my morning. Even’s the way to get me over the mid-day slump, and then when it’s time to hit the hay, I enjoy Dreamy to soothe me to sleep (it’s the ultimate way to consume melatonin if you don’t like taking a pill).

Simply mix one mixie pack with 16-ounces of water, and you’ll be on your way to feeling and looking your best in no time. And best of all, the individual packets make it a breeze to stick to my routine wherever I am—even when I’m traveling or running around the city all day. You can buy the variety pack to try them all (I’d recommend this to take them all for a road test) or you can purchase a single box of one flavor for $25.

Now, you won’t wake up with Rapunzel-like locks after drinking these a few times. You’ll need to be consistent with them, and I’d recommend drinking them every day for at least a month until you start to see a difference in your nail or hair strength.

Everyone’s results will vary, so be patient (easier said than done, I know!) and stick to it. Perhaps make it a little challenge and consider it your New Year’s goal in January? Who said resolutions couldn’t be fun?

So you want to make improvements to your beautiful home? Do you want to update, add on or just make some changes? To improve or not to improve seems to be a lingering question among homeowners.

I often love to make changes or improvements to our home when I look at a decorating magazine, watch a “how to” home improvement show, or just because. My husband will come home and find me gluing paper bags to the wall and say, “Okay, where did you get that idea?”

How do we know that the amount we spend on our home improvement will add to the value of our home? Or is it even important that our improvements add value to our home? I am frequently asked which home improvements add the most value to a home or even if an improvement will add any value at all. The answers I give may surprise you!

Personal Value Improvements

First, there may be some home improvements that can be made to a home that most likely will add little or no value to the home. Why would anyone add an improvement that adds no additional value? Simple, because they truly want that improvement for their enjoyment, and they fully understand and accept that the improvement cost may not be recovered.

One good example… my husband is a huge fan of astrophotography. He has captured some amazing photos of planets, galaxies and nebulas from our backyard. Photos he has taken of the craters of the Moon continue to amaze me!

He would absolutely love to add a towering 20-foot tall observatory to our home. The observatory would look like a tower attached to our home and would house his telescope and photography equipment at a cost of just over $18,000.

We need to consider how much enjoyment my husband would get from the observatory addition to our home. He eagerly tells me at least $18,000! Seeing how much he loves astrophotography and the enjoyment he and our friends get from his photos, he is most likely right. So how much more will our home be worth to future homebuyers after an observatory addition?

Recovery Value

Let’s look at determining a home improvement’s resale or recovery value. I’ve given you the observatory improvement to ponder. Here are a few more examples to think about. Let’s say I want to install stone pavers over my existing concrete driveway.

I love the individual stone paver look and there are some neat patterns that can be utilized. The stone pavers will cost me $7,500 to have installed. I also want to add a covered 10 x 20 screened-in porch to my home. The estimated cost of the screened-in porch is about $10,000. Which of the improvements will add the most value and which improvements will add little or no value?

Real estate appraisers use complicated methods of analyzing recent home sales and extracting improvements to determine their estimated contribution to value. However, homeowners can use a very simplified method of comparative analysis to help determine if that home improvement you are considering may or may not add value to your home.

How to Calculate?

To start, simply pretend you are a home buyer looking at two identical homes for sale. Imagine that Home A and Home B are identical homes on identical lots.

Example 1: Observatory

Home A is a nice home and lot with no observatory. Home B is a nice home and lot with an added observatory.

How much more would you offer to pay for the home with the added observatory?

Unless you are into astronomy, most likely you and most other buyers would not pay additional money for Home B with the observatory. However, an astronomer might pay the full $18,000 cost for the observatory.

The key in determining the most accurate estimated value of the observatory is to consider the added value the majority of your market buyers would give.

Example 2: Concrete Paver Driveway

In this example, Home A is a nice home and lot with a solid concrete driveway. Home B is a nice home and lot with a concrete paver driveway. How much more would you offer to pay for the decorative stone paver driveway, or do you prefer a solid concrete driveway? Both driveways function as a hard surface driveway.

This comparison is not quite as simple as the conservatory addition. In this case, some folks may prefer a solid surface concrete driveway, and some may prefer a stone paver driveway. Both have their pluses and minuses.

As a potential buyer, how much more would you offer for the stone paver driveway, if any? Would you offer only $2,000 to $3,000 more for the stone paver driveway? If so, then your offer of value indicates the stone paver improvement may only add an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 to the value instead of the $7,500 cost.

Remember, you are only one buyer’s opinion, so the more opinions you can garner from others, the better your chance to get a fair average.

Example 3: Screened-in Porch

What about my covered screened-in porch improvement? Seems simple! Who wouldn’t want a screened-in porch added to their home, and of course it should add full replacement cost to the value! Let’s again look at our Houses A and B.

Pretend House A has no covered screened-in porch and House B has a nice 10 x 20 covered screened-in porch. Most everyone would pay extra money for a 10 x 20 screened-in porch, right? How much extra? It depends on a buyer’s wants and something else I want you to consider is location!

I personally love outdoor spaces, so I am quick to say that I would offer at least the $10,000 replacement cost extra for House B’s new porch. But, consider this, I might only offer $3,000 to $4,000 more for House B with the new covered screened-in porch if the porch location has an unsightly view of a parking lot or trash collection bin.

As you can see, not all 10 x 20 covered screened-in porches will add the same value to every home. The estimated values that we gather by comparing identical homes is useful in helping to determine what we can expect from improving or adding on to our homes. You can use this analysis for kitchen or bath improvements or most anything you may be considering.

Start thinking about that next home add-on or improvement and gather opinions of value from others. You might be surprised that the new kitchen farm sink you’ve been wanting is not really a big deal to other buyers or on the other hand, you may find that it adds more value than you imagined!

What was the latest home improvement you made? Do you think the sum you paid for it will add more value to your home? Was there an improvement you considered making, but reconsidered upon more thoughtful reflection?

We all know Tatcha as a celeb-loved brand, making fans out of the biggest A-listers of the moment. Jennifer Aniston, Meghan Markle, and Doja Cat are just a few of the stars who have proven to be the brand’s biggest supporters. You likely want skin like the celebs, too, but sometimes, Starbucks and Jeff Bezos take all your money and leave you with only a small amount of pocket change. Lucky for you, Tatcha is hosting a Days of Delight sale event, where each day brings a new and exclusive offer. 

Days of Delight is happening this week only, and seeing that it’s Friday, you’re going to want to shop today’s deal ASAP. It shouldn’t be a hard decision, though, because Tatcha is serving up the amazing Treatment Kit. It comes with two best-selling serums and the one and only Kissu Lip Mask that is oh so dear to Jennifer Aniston. 

With a value of $151, you’ll be relieved to save a whopping $40 on this set, thanks to the deal of the day. Whether you’re treating yourself to The Treatment Kit or gifting it to a loved one (or doing both), shop the set in the name of better skin and saving the big bucks. 

RELATED: Jennifer Aniston Uses This Tatcha Lip Product To Get Her Plump Pout 

Photo: Tatcha.

Let’s break down what exactly you get when you buy the discounted Treatment Kit. You get two mini versions of the brand’s best-selling serums, The Dewy Serum and Violet-C Brightening Serum. On top of that, you get a full size Kissu Lip Mask. We can tell you now that you’re going to want these miracle workers in your skincare routine.

The Dewy Serum is the multitasking product of our dreams. It resurfaces, plumps, and retains your skin’s moisture in one fell swoop, according to the brand. If your skin’s looking dry and dull from winter’s wrath, this serum is your new hero product. Tatcha’s own signature Hadasei-3 complex makes up 73 percent of the formula, which is great news because it contains superfoods Uji green tea, Akita rice and Okinawa algae. Together, they help stimulate skin surface turnover to leave your skin looking smoother and your lines looking way less visible.

If you’re on the market for a new vitamin C serum, check out the Violet-C Brightening Serum. It’s composed of 20 percent vitamin C and 10 percent AHAs, helping to brighten, soften, and illuminate your skin. You might also notice the fading of dark spots and hyperpigmentation after applying this serum.

We couldn’t forget to rave about one of Jennifer Aniston’s favorites, The Kissu Lip Mask. Japanese peach extract, Japanese camellia oil, and squalane join together to create one of the most hydrating and plumping lip products. You’ll want a jar or two of this lip mask for year-round use, but especially for the colder months ahead. 

Now that you know what’s in store when you buy The Treatment Kit, all that’s left is to try out the three products and watch your skin transform. Tatcha is the gold standard for dewy, glowy, plump skin, and you’ll soon have a front row seat to these results.

Zodiac Sign Holiday Gift Guide 2021

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But also the worst because shopping the perfect holiday gifts for the people on your list can be such a pain. However not if you shop according to their zodiac signs, which in our opinion is the best way to guarantee that the fiery Aries or practical Capricorn loves what you picked out. So without further ado, scroll on down below to see our picks from the ultimate holiday shopping destination, Bloomingdales, because giving the perfect present should never just be left up to Serendipity.

Fashionably,

Faryn

P.S. If your birthday falls between November 22nd and December 21st, make sure to also check out our Sagittarius fashion horoscope below (especially if like Lisa Barlow you’re a Sag who likes to have fun). 

Click the Images to Shop! 

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Sagittarius Fashion Horoscope :

★ Get a Cute Holiday Look From Bloomingdales! ★

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Stay Tuned For Our Next Post on Capricorn!

Photo Credits:

@MelissaGorga, @CarolineStanbury, @WendyOsefo, @DoritKemsley, @LisaHochstein, @SuttonStracke, @WhitneyWildRose, @Paige_DeSorbo, @LisaBarlow14, @KyleRichards18, @CrystalKungMinkoff & @CynthiaBailey

Originally posted at: Zodiac Sign Holiday Gift Guide 2021

Honey. I didn’t like it when I was young, and I don’t like it now. Adorable? That’s for someone you might want to hold on your lap. Sweetheart? That’s for a special someone, not a customer in a grocery store.

Old bag, crone, geezer, battle-ax, old-timer all fall into the category of disrespect for older people. It’s called Elderspeak.

It All Can Be So Confusing

Companies lure us into thinking we all can be young forever if we use their products. Forever young is the message, as if the alternative is unspeakable. Whether you go that route or settle more comfortably into a self-care routine that focuses on your health and vitality, it’s inevitable that you will be treated differently as you grow older in many subtle and unintentional ways.

It’s called ageism.

Consciousness has risen regarding sexism, racism, homophobia and other ways of discriminating. Ageism needs to be looked at as well. After all, it’s the only “ism” I can think of that will affect every human lucky enough to live a long life. 

Ageism Is Everywhere

Can you think of a situation where you have experienced ageism? It can be expressed in a person’s choice of words anywhere, including the workplace. It can happen in a doctor’s office when a medical symptom is attributed to your age, when its actual cause might be an injury, or perhaps your lifestyle.

Is your high blood pressure – or your achy knees – attributed to your age, when the real cause may be your diet or too much or too little exercise?

Very Old People Can Be Sources of Great Wisdom

I spent many hours talking with my aunt who lived to age 98. She had many ailments toward the end of life, but she chose to talk about current events in the family and beyond. Sage advice was integrated into our conversations. She remained proud and confident to the end. That’s a model I treasure.

In the public realm, Dolly Parton, Gloria Steinem, Diane von Furstenburg, Tony Bennett and other notables demonstrate the richness of a long life. They expand rather than limit their experiences. You can too if you surround yourself with people, young and old, who see you first for who you are and view your age as only one part of you. Look for people who inspire you and live with vitality and enthusiasm.

Chronological vs. Biological Age

We each know our chronological age. It’s the number of years we have been on the planet. What’s more important is our biological age. It’s how old or young our body is based upon how it’s been cared for. That is the true key to vitality and will influence our future.

Growing older in a youth-obsessed culture can trigger all sorts of fears and feelings of powerlessness. Instead, think about what you want to be doing with your precious life. What gives you joy and mojo? What excites you enough that you can’t wait for morning to come? If you take care of yourself, you’ll have far more chance of fulfilling your dreams. 

As a lifelong wellness coach, I’m pretty convinced that our thinking, our attitudes, our actions – and the thinking, attitudes and actions of those around us – greatly influence our chances of maintaining lifelong wellness and happiness.

Our thinking may manifest in thoughts that support or negate the chances for lifelong wellness. “I support my body with nourishing foods” or “It’s too late for me – my body’s a train wreck.” Which is closer to your thinking? Which might increase your chances of staying well through your older years? 

We all have days when we wish we were younger. When you are feeling down or anxious about it, stop and look at your thoughts and how they may be triggering these feelings. Thoughts belong to you, and you have the power to change them when they are not working for you.

Pay attention to your thoughts, be proud of who you are and know you have gifts to share in the whole time you are here on the planet. And don’t let strangers call you honey if you don’t want them to.

Have you been called ‘honey’, ‘darling’ or ‘sweetheart’ by strangers? How did that make you feel? Are there younger people in your life who consciously try to treat you with respect for the wise woman you are?