Jewellery, in all its forms tells the story of our life. Whether we choose a necklace or a bracelet, they all tell people more about who we are, and they remind us of places and people, events and special things.

Extending that idea, and compensating the fact that as we get older our memories sometimes need jogging, my jewellery now has a hidden agenda.

Replace Lists with Beauty

I am taking a health coaching course and learned that aide-mémoires, which are used to remind one to change one’s habits, are called anchors. I now have an anchor on my wrist which often gets in the way and so keeps jogging my memory about things I have chosen to change.

It is a beautiful crystal and a private signal for me and me alone. Ingrained habits plus a sieve-like memory need positive anchors. They are important, for if you don’t change the process you will never change the outcome.

The Trick Is in the Trinket

The Catholic church has used this jewellery system for years in the form of a rosary. If I want to remember a series of things when I go shopping, I use a beautiful rosary-type bracelet with lots of different coloured beads.

Each colour is assigned to a different category: blue for washing products, yellow for fruit and green for vegetables. I can check each category and remember what I need. No more leaving the list on the side in the kitchen!

Choose a Beautiful Object

If I have a friend in need, I light a candle in the kitchen. I choose one of the lovely scented ones that lasts for hours which keeps me in mind of that person.

Flights of Dietary Fancy

On my food cupboard I have stuck a stunning butterfly which reminds me that there are some foods I am not eating at the moment – either to lose weight or reduce allergies.

There is nothing more irritating than setting course and then forgetting, in the melee of everyday life, that a food is not on the list. As we get older, quite a few of us have sensitivities we never experienced earlier in life or weight gain that is new to us.

One Foot Firmly on the Ground

A beautiful ornament placed in a certain position can act as a reminder. As a Bowen practitioner, it was important that I leave the room after each part of the treatment.

Running a busy school surgery as medical matron, I once forgot one of the gardeners I was treating and luckily, he slept for the hour in which I forgot about him. After that, I made it a practice to always place a large wooden cat on my diary in the office whenever I was treating a patient!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

I would love to know about your aide-mémoires, your hidden agendas and how you use objects d’art to enrich your life. We can make every situation beautiful to enrich the soul, even the mundane shopping list! Please share below!

Heather Gay’s Pink Jumpsuit & Clutch

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 3 Episode 11

Going into this episode of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, I can barely remember who is fighting with who! And then, just when I thought it couldn’t get more confusing, all of the ladies put blonde wigs on for a super random Marilyn Monroe party! I could barely tell who was who, but you’d better believe I’d recognize Heather Gay’s pink terry clutch anywhere. And while you won’t be getting your hands on her jumpsuit, if you love the bag, you can get that shipped to you Express, just in time for Christmas.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her Bottega Veneta Clutch in Pink or Purple

Click Here for a Fab Amazon Style Stealer

Click Here to See her Express Jumpsuit

Originally posted at: Heather Gay’s Pink Jumpsuit & Clutch

Heather Gay’s Pink Jumpsuit & Clutch

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 3 Episode 11

Going into this episode of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, I can barely remember who is fighting with who! And then, just when I thought it couldn’t get more confusing, all of the ladies put blonde wigs on for a super random Marilyn Monroe party! I could barely tell who was who, but you’d better believe I’d recognize Heather Gay’s pink terry clutch anywhere. And while you won’t be getting your hands on her jumpsuit, if you love the bag, you can get that shipped to you Express, just in time for Christmas.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her Bottega Veneta Clutch in Pink or Purple

Click Here for a Fab Amazon Style Stealer

Click Here to See her Express Jumpsuit

Originally posted at: Heather Gay’s Pink Jumpsuit & Clutch

As a dating coach, I frequently hear this question: “Andrea, why am I still single? I’m successful, have plenty of friends, a solid social life and interests, and when I put my mind to something, I generally accomplish it.”

So, what is the real reason? Actually, despite all of the above, my answer based on 25 years of experience might sound a bit harsh. But – it’s YOU! You are keeping yourself single. Yep, it’s all you. It’s not the universe, it’s not the lack of single men out there, it’s not your age, it’s not where you live.

I know we all like easy excuses, but I prefer to be direct (graciously!) because I want you to find a loving, fun, happy relationship.

So, here are the top 5 reasons why, in my experience, single people remain single even though they don’t want to be so:

You Don’t Work at It
Yep, work. You’re probably successful in your professional life but that didn’t come from wishing it so. You worked. You had a plan. You knew where you wanted to end up and had a strategy. Perhaps a mentor. It wasn’t luck, right?

Why should dating be any different? Well, it isn’t. If you don’t put in the work, you won’t get the results.

Stuck in Your Comfort Zone
You have a routine, a lovely home, you walk your dog daily, have wine parties with your friends, etc. But, essentially, you are doing the same old, same old. You are stuck and don’t even realize it.

When was the last time you went out to do something new?

No Plan, All Procrastination

Many people think, “Next year I’ll meet someone. I’ll make it my New Year’s resolution.” And we all know how those go! Most are broken the first 10 days of January.

You need accountability and maybe a cheerleader (who isn’t a friend) to break this rut you are in. Think about it: When you pay a golf or tennis pro for lessons, you show up. When you do private Pilates or Yoga, you show up. Why? Because you’ve invested money. You took the step to better your game or health.

I ask the question again: How is dating different?

A relatively new client, Melissa, signed up with me a month ago. She’s 66, pretty, divorced for the last five years, her kids are at college, and she’s super skeptical. Her excuses?

• “Men want to date younger.” Ok, 20% do, according to Pew Research, but that leaves 80% in the game.
• “I want to meet someone organically.” What the heck does that mean? The produce aisle? Walking the dog? Playing tennis with your girlfriends?

I get monthly research from a top-notch research firm that tracks all sorts of industries. My report yesterday said that 52,876 singles in the 50–70-year-old age category signed up for online dating LAST WEEK on ONE DAY on one site alone! Do you know what those numbers do in December and January? They rise exponentially! Yep, normal people like you and me.

Back to Melissa for a second. In the past month, she’s gone on six first dates; five of which were right up her alley. She’s been on three second dates and having a blast.

Unrealistic Expectations

He must be 5’9”, slim, no baggage, athletic, well-traveled, etc. etc. etc. Ok, get over your expectations. We all have baggage, though I like to call it Life Experience. Don’t make lists of wishes. Instead, go straight back to the most important factors in a relationship: Chemistry, Communication and Common Values. So, what if he’s 5’7” and skis and you golf? Do you really want a mirror image of yourself? You’ll be bored to death.

Fear of the Unknown

Unfortunately, many are afraid of internet dating or just getting back out there in general. I have the cure – practice. If you’re suffering from insecurity about dating or just general nerves or angst, get help. My cure? 5 dates in the first few weeks will restore your faith in the dating world and make it much less acscary.

And dare I say fun? Because I hear that all the time!

Please help us improve Sixty and Me by filling out our short annual survey!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What’s holding you back from dating? Why do you think you are still single? Are you listening to single girlfriends instead of diving into dating? What would give you the most confidence to date again?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

As soon as the temperature dips below 50, my oily skin rebels. Dry patches and scaly texture are its go-to ways of showing its disagreement with the chilly weather. Both love to show up on my face, lips, hands and legs (a.k.a. everywhere), and for a while, I just ignored them. That is, up until I moved to Boston for college. That was like a skincare awakening for me because I started to do my research. With lots of trial and error, I have found five products that soothed my dry skin so well that I continue to repurchase them time and time again.

Keep reading for five tried-and-true dry skin saviors that you can shop at Amazon—and keep an eye out for the one that even Hailey Bieber swears by. Almost all of them are from drugstore brands, meaning they have drugstore price tags. You won’t be breaking the bank with any of these must-have formulas, so whip out your wallet for the sake of preventing and repairing dry winter skin.

RELATED: The 10 Best Face Moisturizers For Avoiding Dry, Cracked Skin This Winter—According To Dermatologists 

Photo: Neutrogena.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer 

If you’re wondering if the Hydro Boost moisturizer is worth the hype, it 100 percent is. Every time I try a new moisturizer, I can’t help but compare it to my little blue jar of Neutrogena heaven. 

Its gel-cream texture is absolutely divine, especially if you have oily skin like me. The moisturizer glides right on and immediately hydrates my skin. It’s like a tall glass of water for my complexion, which is exactly what my skin needs during the winter.

What makes its formula so universally loved? It quenches dry skin in a heartbeat thanks to the hero ingredient, hyaluronic acid. Glycerin also helps a ton with increasing hydration. The goop is super lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly. This face moisturizer never misses. 

“It is a reliable, cooling gel that delivers hydration and is great for everyday use, especially in warmer weather,” Dr. Corey L. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama, previously told StyleCaster.

“It hydrates, is not oily, and is good for all skin types. It is also non-comedogenic,” Jeanine Downie, MD Director of Image Dermatology PC in Montclair, New Jersey and board-certified dermatologist, also previously told StyleCaster.

Photo: Aquaphor.

Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment

You might think I have a problem after hearing this, but I have gone through almost 15 tubes of this magical balm. Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment is a product I will never—I mean never—leave the house without. I’m sure this sounds dramatic, but I promise I’m not the only one who is a lifelong Aquaphor stan. None other than Hailey Bieber, who’s known for her plump pout, uses Aquaphor. She previously told Glamour, “It just does the job every time.” I couldn’t agree more.

The formula taps castor seed oil, glycerin, panthenol, shea butter and other nourishing ingredients. Aquaphor carries a chapstick version as well as one with SPF, but the O.G. balm is my ride-or-die.

My pro tip is to buy a few tubes and put them in places you go to often. That could be your everyday bag, bathroom and nightstand. Or maybe it’s your desk, gym tote and car. It’s whatever works for you and is most convenient so that you never have to find your lips chapped and without a quick solution.

CeraVe.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream 

After applying CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream for the first time, my legs never felt softer. Even if I accidentally skip days, my skin still feels silky smooth. That just goes to show how the body moisturizer really does provide long-term results. It strengthens the skin barrier with the help of three essential ceramides, while hyaluronic acid delivers deep hydration. 

I rub this body cream all over my arms and legs and boy does the product deliver on its promises. Make sure you get the big tub. Trust me, it’ll last forever.

Photo: Neutrogena.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

I just bought two more boxes of the Norwegian Formula Hand Cream because my other drugstore hand cream wasn’t cutting it. There’s a cool story about how this product came to be, but I’ll tell you the abridged version. Decades ago, Norwegian fishermen created a glycerin-powered hand cream to help their hands endure harsh winters. In 1969,  Lloyd Cotsen, the president of Neutrogena at the time, was tasked with advertising the fishermen’s O.G. recipe. He tried their concoction on his own hands and couldn’t believe how well it worked. That’s the birth story of the Norwegian Formula Hand Cream and why you’ll notice Norway’s flag on the product’s packaging.

With a 40 concentration of glycerin, all you need is a tiny dot of product to feel its moisturizing effects right away. Per the brand, each tube contains around 200 applications, so basically, you’re set for the entire year. 

I can attest to this hand cream’s superpowers and have liked it so much that I put my mom and sister onto it. I know buying a six-pack seems excessive, but I swear it’s worth it. They’ll get a lot of use, and just like my Aquaphor tip, you can put a tube in all of your most-frequented places for easy access.

Photo: BeautyStat Cosmetics.

BeautyStat Cosmetics Universal Moisture Essence

This last product is my most recent find, and it’s made by a brand that Hailey Bieber uses. BeautyStat Cosmetics’ Universal Moisture Essence smoothed this one extra stubborn dry area on my face when no other product could. I tried a shea butter product that has previously helped vanish dry patches for me; I tried a TikTok-viral balm; I tried even my beloved Neutrogena Hydro Boost. When one of my coworkers handed me this essence, I didn’t think much of it. 

Now that I’ve been using it for some time, I realize I should’ve never underestimated it. After the very first application, I noticed the dryness around my nose had disappeared. I was so shocked that that was all it took. Since then, I’ve been using it every day, twice a day on my face. Although the dryness pops up every now and then, this essence has it under control for the most part.

It’s made from 100 percent pure squalane that comes from sustainable plant sugars. Squalane is a skincare essential, since it’s known to provide lots of moisture, support the skin barrier, fade hyperpigmentation, minimize visible signs of aging and (somehow) more.