Angie Harrington’s Satin Ombre Robe and Slip Dress

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 3 Episode 13 Fashion

Though spotted during a flashback scene, Angie Harrington’s satin ombre robe and slip dress are worth noting because they’re super fabulous. Angie has a way of wearing pieces that are unique and bold, and not letting them wear her. And while her exact pieces are sold out, there are some some Style Stealers in the same print and fabric that will leave you looking amazing, just like Angie…H.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to See Angie Harrington’s Fe Noel Slip Dress

Click Here to See Angie Harrington’s Fe Noel Robe is Sold Out at Matches Fashion

Originally posted at: Angie Harrington’s Satin Ombre Robe and Slip Dress

Ladies,
remove the word “retirement” from your vocabulary. It is antiquated and
ill-suited. You may not want to bring money into your life through the career
track or job you have been in, but we need to shift or perceptions and
perspectives on this season of life.

There’s More to Life Than Retirement!

When you
have 20 to 35 years ahead of you, the research is conclusive that a healthy, proactive
and productive lifestyle will not only provide the foundation for living
longer, but this time in life will be more rewarding and fulfilling.

The
financial services world and the media have fabricated a story touting that
happiness is found by drawing a line in the sand, getting to “your number” retiring
to a life of leisure and self-indulgent pursuits.

This has
been solely a financially oriented goal that has missed the bigger context and
the construct of living a meaningful life.

While there is nothing wrong with
R&R and self-care, balance it with creating an astonishing life.

“Leisure is a beautiful garment for
a day, but a horrible choice for permanent attire,” Shakespeare

Your Purpose

Why are you here today? Why will you be here tomorrow?

Viktor Frankl, the Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, author
and Holocaust survivor, ascertained the deeply profound truth that:

“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life;
everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein
he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone’s task is as
unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.”

The traditional narrative around retirement and building
wealth sets us up to miss the opportunities and to take the risks necessary to
fulfill your unique mission in life. As you look into the future, do you want
to live an astounding life? I do. And the formula is simple – don’t stop!

What Is an Astounding Life Made of?

It is astounding what we can create if we don’t stop dreaming.

It is astounding what relationships we can experience when we
don’t stop listening.

It is astounding what communities we can live in if we don’t
stop engaging.

It is astounding what businesses we can build if we don’t
stop working.

It is astounding what health goals we will realize when we
don’t stop making good choices.

It is astounding what wisdom we can find if we don’t stop
seeking.

It is astounding what kind of world we will live in if we
don’t stop caring and sharing.

The Numbers Are Important

More than ever, if you want to realize
and sustain your life potential, the monetary assets you have built over time
need to be optimized.

The economic environment is going to
change, the political climate is always dynamic, the tax terrain is evolving
and your life circumstances continue to unfold. There will be strategic, course
corrections in every aspect of your financial life as you “rewire” instead of
“retire.”

Kick 2023 into gear! What areas of your life do you want to make astounding? Keep dreaming, listening, showing up, working, making good choices, seeking, caring and sharing.

Align your financial decisions
around how you bring it in, how you share it with others, how you grow and
protect it and how you spend it with joyful intention, undergirding your
astounding life.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What astounding aspects have you
discovered in your life? How do you maintain them? What financial decision have
you had to make to keep living a life of meaning? Please share with our
community!

Have you always wanted to learn how to play the piano, or regretted quitting piano lessons as a child? Perhaps you have been hesitating because, with the threat of Covid, you are uncomfortable with the idea of going into a piano teacher’s home?

Maybe you have heard that learning to play a musical instrument keeps your brain sharp, but you have felt too intimidated to start? If any of these are true for you, 2023 could be the year that you make your musical dreams come true.

My name is Gaili Schoen, and I will gladly take you through a set of free video piano lessons on Sixty and Me starting this January! I have been teaching piano privately for 35 years, and I am so excited to offer these video lessons to the Sixty and Me community!

Yes, research shows that learning an instrument is the very best way to boost brain health, and playing the piano is just so fun! Most people also find practicing to be calming and therapeutic. Most of us love the music from our youth, and being able to play our favorite songs on the piano feels amazing.

Here are some questions you might have:

What Kind of Music Will We Be Learning?

You will learn the skills that will enable you to play all types of western music: classical, popular, rock, jazz standards, blues, rap, country, folk, soul… you name it!

What Will I Need to Start?

A Piano or Keyboard

If you don’t have a piano or keyboard, you will need to get one. Put the word out that you are looking, and you might find a friend or family member willing to lend or give you theirs. You can also buy a used one on Craigslist, Ebay, or Facebook Marketplace. If you want to buy a new keyboard, here are my recommendations.

Piano Lessons Book

After trying out the first couple of lessons, for which you will receive all needed materials, if you want to continue, you’ll need a copy of the Upper Hands Piano book. You’ll hear more about that on the video below, and you can take a look at some sample pages at UpperHandsPiano.com.

Page Holder

There is also a gadget called a Page Holder that helps keep music sheet books open. Large clips work too, if you have some handy.

Is It Ok to Learn on a Keyboard?

Yes, it’s fine to learn on a keyboard, as long as the keys are full-sized, touch-sensitive and weighted or semi-weighted, to feel like a piano. You need a minimum of 61 keys, but 73, 76 or 88 would be better.

Am I Too Old to Start Piano Lessons?

No! Older adults have learned many concepts (applicable to music) that have become intuitive to them, which are not yet intuitive to children, such as knowing the first 7 letters of the alphabet (ABCDEFG) forward and backward, and the various combinations of numbers that add up to four (3+1, 2+2, etc.).

Most importantly, mature adults have listened to music for many years, and musical experience helps guide the ear in playing melodies and rhythms.

How Much Time Do I Need to Practice?

Short daily piano sessions are much more effective than one long weekly session. If you can begin with just 10 minutes, 4 days per week, you will make progress.

How Are These Video Piano Lessons Unique?

My method applies the latest information about how mature adults think and learn, to get you playing the piano as quickly and easily as possible. The Upper Hands Piano book uses cognitive tools such as mnemonics and brain games, and features larger type and notes.

You learn all the basic chords right away (which is something you won’t find in any other piano method), so that you can play songs with chords quickly. I also offer lots of encouragement. No guilt or expectations, just motivation and support!

Why Are Piano Lessons So Great for the Brain?

Involve Multiple Senses

Playing the piano is a multi-sensory experience; it integrates the visual (reading), auditory (listening) and tactile (touching) senses, with spatial and rhythmic awareness, and a full range of emotions. Multi-sensory activities are the best way to enhance brain plasticity, meaning that they can increase the number and vitality of brain cells and neural connections.

Improve Memory and Concentration

Taking piano lessons improves memory and concentration, expands psychomotor coordination (fine motor skills controlled by the brain), helps to organize thoughts, makes the brain operate better and faster, and can raise the IQ.

Engage Both Brain Halves

Unlike other instrumentalists and vocalists, piano players read multiple notes for two hands, which is an incredible brain workout!

Reduce Stress

Music is a proven stress-reducer, which is significant because stress can damage and kill brain cells. Listening to music chemically triggers a wonderful sense of well-being and is known to reduce physical pain, to lift or prevent depression, and to enhance the benefits of exercise. Some also play the piano as stroke rehabilitation, or to ease the stiffness of arthritis.

Watch my video to learn more, and to get an idea of what piano lessons with me will feel like.

Thanks for watching, and I hope you decide to learn along.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you thought about learning to play the piano in 2023? If you already play, what can you tell us about the benefits you have noticed to your brain health and stress levels?

“How’s this for a New Year’s resolution?” I said to a dear friend, “I want to bring my best self to 2023.” “It sounds good,” she replied, “but what does it mean?”

Hmm. Good question. One’s best self could mean many things, so I gave her question some thought. After all, I couldn’t very well put my best-self resolution into practice if I didn’t thoroughly know what it was. Finally, after a few days of mulling it over, I got it. Bringing my best self to this New Year simply means that I intend to bring the best of me to every situation I will encounter.

The Challenge

The concept may be simple, but the execution is daunting. Bringing the best of me to a situation means I can’t be grumpy about it. I can’t complain or groan about how hard it’s going to be or how much I don’t want to do it. I can’t put it off or avoid it or otherwise procrastinate. I have to take it on, whatever “it” is, cheerfully, wholeheartedly with enthusiasm. What have I gotten myself into?

How about better health and longevity? More success? Science has long shown that optimists live longer with an increase of easily 11% to 15% beyond their average life span.

In addition, research shows that optimists do better at work, school and sports, recover from setbacks more quickly, and are less likely to become depressed. They are happier, calmer and generally at peace with themselves and life. Overall, studies show that optimists tend to be healthier, live longer and age well.

Qualities of an Optimist

Among the qualities of optimists are their belief that they have control over their fate and that they can create opportunities for good things to happen in the future. In turn, this means that optimists approach situations assuming that there will be a good outcome.

Not perfect, maybe, but good. As in, good enough.

With success in mind, it’s easier to come at situations with enthusiasm, eagerness and hopefulness. In other words, with one’s best self at the helm – which is what optimists do, time after time.

Take Betty Sandison, for example, who at 84 proudly received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, an accomplishment she had dreamed of for decades. Although Betty had started attending classes in the 1950s, she was unable to continue with her education at the time, given the need to raise her two children.

One divorce and a decade or so later, Betty became a registered nurse and practiced in the profession for 30 years. In her heart, however, she always longed to get that BA from the University of Minnesota. So, four years ago, at 80, Betty applied, got accepted, and voila. She graduated with her much younger classmates, much to her – and their – delight.

There’s no way Betty could have walked that stage with diploma in hand if she’d allowed anything but her best self to take the lead. Think about it. Applying to university at 80? Studying, taking tests, having to remember all that she learned? And then taking just those few years to earn her degree?

That means Betty had to bring her best self – her courageous, brave, enthusiastic self – to the endeavor. I am sure Betty had some doubts and worries along the way, but she clearly never allowed them to be front and center.

Best of Me

How about you? What defines your best self? As you go into this New Year, start by making a list of your “best of me” characteristics. Include all that is good and hopeful about yourself. It could be your kindness, compassion, smarts, courage, love of adventure, communication skills, positivity or openness.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t exhibit these characteristics all the time or even fully. What matters is that you identify them, that you know your best self well enough, and that you can make the deliberate choice to live accordingly – to the best of your ability, as often as you can.

And with that, you will have a very good New Year!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What are the characteristics that make up your best self? How have your best-self characteristics pushed away negative thoughts and moved you in the right direction? Give an example.

As a writer, my audience consists of women of a certain era. Those
of us who now occupy the years beyond youth, which is also the title of my website.

I am my own demographic, and I write from personal experience
about exploring options and deciding what we want at this stage, now that we
have a little more time and freedom.

I write about how to determine what interests us and how to pursue
it, how to live life fully and with purpose, engaging in what moves us and
ignites a fire within. I also write about what is inevitable and how to embrace
it.

But curious things appear when you google keywords like “mature
women,” “women of a certain age,” “aging women,” etc. Some of what I read get
my ire up.

Here’s the thing. I feel very strongly that living well is not
about appearance, hairstyles and what we should and shouldn’t wear after 50, or
60, or beyond.

It’s not about skincare and elective procedures to trim away the
effects of living a long life. It’s not about how we look to men, or other
women. It’s not even really about how we look to ourselves. It’s more than
that, much more.

Living fully into an era when we can focus on our own life, after
sacrificing and taking care of all those around us, shouldn’t be about standing
in a mirror analyzing each new wrinkle, waddle and jiggle.

The constant struggle to remain young can ruin this time for us.
Denying our true selves, pretending to be a different age, deprives us of being
fully alive at the age we are now.

But how do we resist the temptation to focus on the outside rather
than the power and potential that lies within? Shouldn’t we go deeper, looking
beyond to what’s underneath, to our hearts, passion and intellect?

Here are a few thoughts that presented themselves as I pondered
these questions.

Turn It Off – Tune It Out

We need to censor what we watch, witness and are exposed to. Dump
the magazines, online ads, Facebook pages and other influencers hawking all the
latest “anti-aging” products.

Skip the headlines about how we should look young, dress young,
etc. We’ve earned the freedom to look and dress however we choose.

Go for Substance

We need to seek out articles that highlight women of our era who
are living vibrant lives, pursuing creative endeavors, starting new careers,
embracing their passion, finding love and satisfaction in their everyday lives – any topic that inspires us.

Then, support and promote the sources that feature these articles.
Help them go viral and get the attention they deserve. Lift them up above the
din of superfluous yammer.

Spend Time with Those We Wish to Emulate

It’s essential to associate with people we admire. We naturally
imitate those who surround us. So, keeping company with women who are happy and
enthusiastic helps us have a brighter outlook.

We benefit from investing ourselves in social circles with women
of shared interest. Choosing an activity, hobby or interest that intrigues us
and reaching out to women engaged in it can help us realize our true potential.

Get Busy

Staying engaged and busy is a great antidote for the doldrums of
aging. We won’t have time to scrutinize our appearance while on your way to
something more fulfilling. Stepping out of ourselves and into the world can
lead us to incredible possibilities.

Shift the Focus

Focusing on our health instead of our
appearance changes everything. Making good dietary choices and exercising
regularly to have more energy, feel stronger and be more able-bodied shifts our
perspective so we look more to how we feel rather than how we think we look.

It’s Not Easy But You Can Do It!

Making these changes takes initiative
and discipline. But it’s not that hard once we start paying attention and set
the stage for a new way of seeing ourselves and each other.

We need to do this, not just for us
but for the women coming up behind us. Shifting how we are seen, how we are
valued and remembered can change not only the present but the future, and may
well be our generation’s legacy to the next. Wouldn’t that be something of
which we could be proud?

So, the next time you catch yourself
gazing too long, or making some disparaging remark about your appearance, why
not stop, shift and be the change.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What do you see when you look in the
mirror? What do you want to change about yourself? Is it superfluous, or is it
a deeper change? What do you get from the content you’re exposed to? Do you
fight the stereotype of the “mature woman”? Please share with our community.