Month: June 2026

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Top Posts

Amanda Batula’s Brown Suede Bag

Ariana Madix’s Beaded Flower Appliqué Mini Dress

Ciara Miller’s Gingham “Cherries” Top

Ariana Madix’s Pink Sheer Crystal and Feather Embellished Gown

Amanda Batula’s Grey Zip Up Hoodie

Lindsay Hubbard’s Khaki Jacket and Red Sunglasses

Ariana Madix’s Turquoise Mesh Dotted Turtleneck and Pants

Amanda Batula’s Season 10 Reunion Look

Lindsay Hubbard’s Navy Blue Denim Collar Sweater

Madison LeCroy’s Barrel Leg Jeans

Amanda Batula’s Light Blue Striped T Shirt

Amanda Batula’s Brown Suede Jacket with Lindsay

Amanda Batula’s Black and Polka Dot Maxi Dress at the In The City Premiere Party

Georgina Ferzli’s Navy Blue Sheer Dress

Originally posted at: Lindsay Hubbard’s Black One Sleeve Dress

A few years ago, my writing partner, Lillie Evans, and I were notified that our full-length play script, Grandmothers, Incorporated won a playwriting competition. Our work was selected from over 600 submissions from 33 countries. Nobody could tell us that we weren’t hot stuff. We were ecstatic, on top of the world. We were also reluctant to tell people the name of the contest we won. It’s called the Old Lady Project.

To Be or Not to Be – Old

We knew the name of the contest when we entered it, but the fact that the competition called for play scripts featuring female-identifying characters ages 50 and up overrode any reservations we might have had about the title. You see, in the world of television and film, good roles are hard to find for seasoned actresses. Women over the age of 50 are considered “old,” over the hill.

According to a 2020 study published by the Geena Davis Institute, a nonprofit organization that analyzes media representation, only one in four of all television and film characters are women ages 50 or older. Theatrical roles account for a mere 15-20%. Too often, roles for women of this age are marginal or stereotypical. But, as writers in this age range, we decided that this wasn’t going to happen, not on our watch!

As authors and playwrights, Lillie and I created the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy book series about three crime fighting widows in their 60s. Our characters are smart, funny, clever, and resilient. These women are like us, our friends and family members. They’re probably like people you know. Our creative efforts have resulted in our lively characters being featured in four published novels, and three award-winning plays – one of which appeared Off Broadway.

Recently, we co-wrote and produced The Funeral, a short comedic film, based on our first Grandmothers, Incorporated novel. Everyone involved in that production was ages 60 to 80. We’ve been touting how fabulous women 60 and over are for years. The word “old” was never a consideration.

What’s in a Word

The Old Lady Project was launched as a competition in 2022 by the city of Evanston, Illinois, located not far from Chicago. I’ve often wondered why such a negative sounding label was put on such a worthwhile venture.

In youth-obsessed America, calling someone old could lead to a fight. Being “old” is too often associated with the idea of being wrinkled, decrepit, washed up, and even useless. The dictionary defines “old” as “having lived for a long time, belonging to the past, and being of a specific age,” although it doesn’t say exactly what age defines one as being “old.” Isn’t that interesting?

It’s Time for a Reset

I don’t like the way people use the word “old,” especially when describing women. Until the negative perception about the word changes, if ever, I’ve decided that I’m incorporating another word in my vocabulary when referring to myself. I’m calling myself a Queenager.

I first heard the word when award-winning producer and director Lisa Maydwell came to my house for a meeting. Lisa, who is in her 60s and launched her successful film career in her 50s, brought her mother with her to the meeting. Her mother was a beautiful woman, whose age I couldn’t begin to guess. As we talked, I heard her refer to herself as a Queenager, and I was immediately intrigued.

Looking up the word, I found that it is a contemporary term, coined by Eleanor Mills, a British journalist. Defined, “a Queenager is a term for a confident, active, and independent woman in midlife (typically in her 40s to 60s) who is stepping into a new phase of empowerment, financial freedom, and self-discovery. The word blends “queen” (maturity and authority) with “teenager” (youthful energy and curiosity).”

I love it! The word describes everything I am and have been for quite some time. I consider aging a privilege. The years have brought me wisdom and peace of mind. I know that there are other words that I could use, less triggering, to describe myself at this stage in my life. But I like the word Queenager. For me, it’s time to bring in the new and toss out the “old”!

Your Turn:

What about you? What do you think about the word Queenager? Do you see yourself as one?

As a real estate agent, I often talk to people who are thinking about downsizing in retirement. They are not always looking for something tiny. They are looking for a home that fits their life now, and the energy they have to keep it up.

In their research journey, downsizing into a tiny home will come up as an option.

When people first think about tiny homes, the first question is usually, “Could I really live in something that small?”

It’s a fair question. Most of us were raised to believe that more space means more comfort.

A bigger kitchen.

A bigger closet.

A guest room.

A dining room.

A garage.

A place for everything we might need someday.

But after working in real estate and spending a lot of time studying tiny homes and smaller housing options, I think the better question is not, “Is this too small?”

The better question is, “Does this space fit the way I want to live now?”

Maybe a tiny home is not too small.

Maybe it is just different.

We Are Used to Measuring Homes by Size

For years, we have been taught to judge a home by square footage. Bigger often sounds better.

A 2,500-square-foot home sounds more impressive than a 399-square-foot park model or a 500-square-foot tiny home.

But square footage does not tell the whole story.

A large home can still feel crowded if the layout is poor, the closets are packed, or the rooms are not being used.

Sometimes, the problem is not the size of the home. It is that the extra space slowly fills up, and the clutter starts to feel heavy.

A smaller home can feel peaceful if it is well planned, easy to clean, and fits the way you actually live. Especially for those moving into the seniors age group.

Tiny Living Is Not About Giving Up Everything

This is one of the biggest misunderstandings about tiny homes.

People often picture a life with one coffee mug, two shirts, and no room for family photos. That may work for some people, but it is not the only way to live smaller.

Tiny living does not have to mean giving up everything you love. It may mean choosing what earns a place in your home.

You may still have your favorite chair, family photos, a soft blanket, and the coffee mug you reach for every morning.

That is a very different feeling.

The question becomes, “What do I want close to me every day?”

Not, “How much can I squeeze in?”

Different Rooms May Serve Different Purposes

In a traditional home, each room often has one job.

The dining room is for dining. The guest room is for guests. The office is for work. The laundry room is for laundry.

In a tiny home, rooms usually work harder and have to function in many more ways.

A dining table may also be a desk. A guest bed may be a sofa. A bench may offer storage underneath. A kitchen island may be the prep space, eating space, and mail drop zone.

That can sound like a compromise, but it can also be smart.

Many people live this way without realizing it.

You may have a formal dining room you use twice a year. You may have bedrooms that only hold boxes. You may spend most of your time in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom.

That extra bedroom may not need to sit empty for guests who visit twice a year. It may need to work as a sewing room, reading space, office, or place for the grandkids to sleep when they visit.

A tiny home simply makes you more honest about how you use space.

The Real Issue Is Usually Storage

When someone says, “A tiny home is too small,” what they often mean is, “Where would I put my stuff?”

That is a real concern.

Storage matters, especially if you have spent decades building a home, raising a family, saving furniture, and collecting memories.

But this is where expectations need to change.

A tiny home may not hold every holiday decoration, every serving platter, every old file, and every piece of furniture from your larger home.

That does not mean it cannot work.

Look for built-in storage. Look under beds. Look at closets. Look at kitchen cabinets. Look at outdoor storage options. Ask where the vacuum goes, where the luggage goes, and where the Christmas tree goes.

Pretty is nice. Practical is what makes you stay.

Tiny Homes Are Not One-Size-Fits-All

Some people love a tiny home on wheels. Others would feel safer in a park model, small cottage, condo, or accessory dwelling unit in a family member’s backyard.

That is why I do not think everyone needs to “go tiny.”

I think more people should consider “going smaller.”

There is a difference.

For one person, smaller may mean 400 square feet. For someone else, it may mean 900 square feet with no stairs and a small yard.

For another person, it may mean moving from a large two-story home into a one-level cottage near family.

The goal is not to win a tiny home contest.

The goal is to create a home that supports your life now. That is exactly what Allison is doing in her journey.

Try Reframing the Question

Before you decide if a tiny home is too small, walk through your current home like a detective. Notice where you actually sit, cook, read, sleep, and relax.

Instead of asking, “Could I live in a tiny home?” try asking:

• “What parts of my current home do I actually use every day?”
• “What spaces do I maintain but rarely enjoy?”
• “What items would I miss if they were gone?”
• “What do I keep because I love it, and what do I keep because I feel guilty?”
• “What would feel easier in a smaller home?”

These questions are more helpful than starting with fear. They give you information. And when it comes to downsizing, information is much better than pressure.

Enough Is a Powerful Word

A tiny home is not for everyone. Some people need more space. Some people want more privacy. Some people have hobbies, family needs, or medical equipment that require a larger home.

That is okay.

But I do think many of us have been trained to see “enough” as settling. It is not.

Enough can mean fewer rooms to clean, fewer repairs to manage, and fewer things quietly asking for your attention.

Enough can mean more time, more freedom, and more breathing room.

A tiny home asks you to think differently. Not smaller in spirit. Not smaller in comfort. Just smaller in wasted space.

And for some people, that may feel like exactly the right size.

Final Thoughts

A tiny home may be too small for your old life. But it might be just right for the life you are trying to build now.

That is the real question.

Not “Can I fit my whole past into this space?”

But “Can this space support the next version of my life?”

Let’s Think This Through:

Have you ever thought about living in a tiny home, park model, or smaller home? What part feels most exciting, and what part still makes you hesitate?

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1 Amanda Batula’s Season 10 Reunion Look 2 Ariana Madix’s Turquoise Dotted Look 3 Ariana Madix’s Pink Sheer Feather Gown 4Amanda Batula’s Cartier Watch from Kyle 5 Ariana Madix’s Black Cutout Gown 6 Ariana Madix’s Beaded Flower Dress 7 Lindsay Hubbard’s Navy Blue Collared Sweater 8 Jo-Ellen Tiberi’s Green Fringe Cutout Dress 9 The Valley Season 3 Episode 11 Fashion 10 Dorit Kemsley’s Turquoise Necklace and Hoop Earrings

Originally posted at: Best of June 2026

Photo: @lindshubbs

Style Stealers

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Top Posts

Amanda Batula’s Brown Suede Bag

Ariana Madix’s Beaded Flower Appliqué Mini Dress

Ciara Miller’s Gingham “Cherries” Top

Ariana Madix’s Pink Sheer Crystal and Feather Embellished Gown

Amanda Batula’s Grey Zip Up Hoodie

Lindsay Hubbard’s Khaki Jacket and Red Sunglasses

Ariana Madix’s Turquoise Mesh Dotted Turtleneck and Pants

Amanda Batula’s Season 10 Reunion Look

Lindsay Hubbard’s Navy Blue Denim Collar Sweater

Madison LeCroy’s Barrel Leg Jeans

Amanda Batula’s Light Blue Striped T Shirt

Amanda Batula’s Brown Suede Jacket with Lindsay

Amanda Batula’s Black and Polka Dot Maxi Dress at the In The City Premiere Party

Georgina Ferzli’s Navy Blue Sheer Dress

Originally posted at: Lindsay Hubbard’s White Bow Halterneck Mini Dress