Just in time for the start of summer, Bath & Body Works’ Semi-Annual Sale for 2021 is officially live and shoppable to help you refresh fragrance and candle set-up without breaking the bank. RN, You don’t have to drop major coin this year to refresh your home with 3-wick candles, multi-use fragrance mists, heavenly-scented body lotion, and aromatic shower gels or test out some of their newest drops, including an array of throwback scents (who remembers their cult-favorite cucumber melon fragrance line?).

One of their latest collections, A Sunny Summer of Seltzers, is inspired by 2021’s favorite refreshing beverage of choice and includes an array of lotions, mists, premium candles, and more in flavors inspired by all of our favorite fizzy drinks like Cherry Limeade, Strawberry Soda, and Watermelon Lemonade. More of a dessert lover? Check out the delicious Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake candle — trust me, you won’t regret stocking up on this one.

This Bath and Body Works sale literally has something for everyone (oh, and if you haven’t tried their scented hand sanitizers, now’s the time to add several to your cart while they’re on sale). Bath and Body Work rarely holds sales, but right now you can score up to 75 percent off throughout the site, with new markdowns being added each week (in-store and online). Happy shopping, y’all!

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. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Courtesy of Bath & Body Works.

Cucumber Melon Fine Fragrance Mist

This O.G. scent was all I wore back in high school. It’s also available (and on sale) in body wash, hand soap, and hand sanitizers too.

Courtesy of Bath & Body Works.

Berry Waffle Cone 3-Wick Candle

Trust me you guys, this makes your house smell like you’re at a summer carnival looking for the aromatic ice cream parlor around the corner.

Courtesy of Bath & Body Works.

Strawberry Pound Cake 5-Pack Hand Sanitizers

You will never go back to a boring, unscented hand sanitizer after you get a whiff of these.

Courtesy of Bath & Body Works.

Pistachio Ice Cream 3-Wick Candle

Guys, I can’t even begin to tell you how obsessed with this scent I am. I literally want to eat it (don’t worry, I won’t).

Courtesy of Bath & Body Works.

Coconut Palm Ultra Shea Body Cream

Prepare to get addicted to this ultra-rich body cream.

Everyone seems to be concerned with healthy eating these days. And for a good reason! With so many hidden ingredients in our foods, it’s hard to ever really know for sure what we are putting into our bodies.

Thankfully, the warmer seasons offer us an abundance of produce options that require no nutritional label or added ingredients. Pure as pulled from the ground or from the bush – with of course, the necessary washing – produce is fresh and ready to eat!

5 Deliciously Healthy Summer Recipes to Bring to Your Next BBQ

And as the summer season quickly approaches, we can expect to hang much more around the BBQ and pool. So why not take advantage of the fresh food options and jazz up your seasonal menu with these easy and healthy summer sides!

Zesty Kale Salad

Zesty Kale and Lemon Poppy Seed Salad is a great alternative to the typical side salad! Both low in calories and high in fiber, this healthy dish will be sure to impress your guests.

Ingredients:

1 bunch fresh kale

1 cup of shredded carrots

1 cup lemon juice

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

½ cup canola oil

½ cup tahini

Note: If tahini isn’t handy, hummus is a great substitute! Just mix in a bit of water to create a dressing texture.

1 tablespoon poppy seed

1 tablespoon agave or honey

1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Wash and chop kale into bite size pieces. In large mixing bowl add kale and shredded carrots. Toss and mix the remainder of ingredients until well blended. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours and serve!

Deliciously Dill Potato Salad

This delicious dish goes great at a BBQ but also has health benefits. Dill is a natural anti-inflammatory and apple cider vinegar lowers blood pressure!

Ingredients:

10 red bliss or white potatoes cut into small chunks

water to boil potatoes

¼ bunch dill

1 red onion chopped or 2 scallions

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Directions:

First, wash and chop potatoes into chunks. Boil potatoes until soft, drain water and leave to cool in large mixing bowl.

Once at room temperature, add the dill, chopped red onion or scallions and apple cider vinegar and mix until well blended. Keep in refrigerator for two hours to chill and then serve. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Fiesta Black Bean Salad

This is a fun and colorful dish that can be served as a dip with tortilla chips or as a festive side dish.

Ingredients:

1 16-ounce can cooked black beans

¼ bunch chopped cilantro

1-2 corn cobs

2 diced tomatoes

1 diced red bell pepper

1 diced red onion

¼ cup lemon juice

¼ cup lime juice

1 teaspoon salt

1 diced avocado

Note: This dish can be spiced up with some jalapeno.

Directions:

Cook the corn in boiling water for 5-10 minutes and then let cool. Cut kernels off the cob and add to mixing bowl.

Rinse and drain black beans. Combine the black beans and all the veggies except the avocado into a large mixing bowl. Toss with the lemon, lime juices and salt.

Add the avocado at the end, mix and serve.

Summer Slaw

A sweet and light play on traditional coleslaw, this will complement anything off the grill.

Salad Ingredients:

1 head of cabbage

2 cups shredded carrots

2 cored and chopped apples

2 peeled and chopped pears

Dressing Ingredients:

¾ cup red wine vinegar

5 tablespoons veganaise or mayonnaise

1 tablespoon celery seed

1 tablespoon garlic powder

4 tablespoons agave or honey

a sprinkle of pepper

Directions:

First, make the dressing by combining all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mixing until well blended. Let cool in refrigerator for one hour.

Next, wash all the fruits. Then, chop cabbage, apples, and pears into bite sized pieces and toss in mixing bowl.

Add shredded carrots. Add dressing. Mix until all ingredients are covered in dressing. Place in refrigerator to cool for two hours.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

This salad is just as healthy as it is appealing! Kalamata olives are a great source of fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamins.

Salad Ingredients:

1-2 cups canned or cooked chickpeas

1 cup pitted and chopped Kalamata olives

1 diced red onion

1 diced red bell pepper

1 diced tomato

½ bunch parsley

Dressing Ingredients:

¾ cup olive oil

¼ cup red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon agave or honey

½ tablespoon oregano

½ tablespoon basil dried

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

½ tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

For the dressing, combine ingredients in a small mixing bowl and mix until well blended. Let cool in refrigerator for one hour.

For the salad, add canned or cooked chickpeas to a large mixing bowl. Pit and chop olives and add to bowl. Dice the red onion and red bell pepper and add to bowl. Cut tomato into bite-size chunks and add. Add parsley and dressing to bowl and toss with salad.

Enjoy Every Moment of Your Summer

These five recipes show just how easy it is to eat deliciously healthy! There’s no need to scour over labels, plus these meals can be made in just about 15 minutes active cooking time, giving you plenty of time to get outside, enjoy the beautiful weather and create wonderful summer memories with friends and family.

What are your summer recipes or dishes? Do you have a go-to dish that is always popular with family and friends? Which of these recipes are looking forward to trying? Please share your thoughts – and recipes – in the comments!

Summer means an escape from the rigid schedule and dedicated study that school imposes – a time to have fun. However, exploring and expanding knowledge through reading should continue year-round.

Barefoot Books state this:

“…children lose an average of 1-3 months of learning over the summer. Summer learning loss is even more of a threat after a year of disrupted childcare and school experiences. School-age children, preschoolers, and even infants and toddlers need intellectual stimulation over the summer in order for their brains to grow optimally. Research tells us that the best way to do this is to keep them reading all summer long.” 

Stimulating Grandchildren to Read

As grandparents, you can make reading and learning exciting – even during the lazy days of summer! One way to do this is to create a summer reading program with your grandchildren. Pick topics you are knowledgeable about or subjects of interest to your grandchildren so you can learn together. Find books and create entertaining activities that relate to your themes – and have fun!

However, some of you may not have the time to make a DIY summer reading program for your grandchildren. Fortunately, the independent children’s book publisher Barefoot Books is offering a free summer reading program. Once you sign up, you will have access to free resources, ready-made activities, tips, and a 20% discount (valid through June 30, 2021) on books and subscription book boxes.

Each month will have a different theme, such as mindfulness, STEAM learning, kindness, and global awareness. Below are the topics for June.

Ages 0 – 2: Explore the Outdoors!

Ages 3 – 5: Outdoor Discovery

Ages 6 – 9: Maker Kids

To tie in with the monthly themes, you can check books out from your local library or buy age-appropriate books from your local independent bookstores or Barefoot Books.

Reading, just like any skill, requires consistent practice. Unfortunately, summer reading is a chore and a bore for some kids, so they slack off. But adding yourselves to the mix might be just the ingredient needed to make summer reading fun and engaging for your grandchildren!

Ages 0 – 2 years

Listen, Listen by Allison Jay

Listen, Listen is a lovely lapboard book that takes the readers on a journey through the seasons. It is not only a celebration of sounds. Beautifully detailed pictures by renowned artist Allison Jay (known for unique style and perspectives) are a feast for the eyes. There is so much to see and talk about with your young grandchildren.

Out of the Blue by Allison Jay

Out of the Blue is another gem from the children’s book illustrator Allison Jay. It is a wordless book that gives you and your grandchildren the opportunity to use your creativity and imagination. Guess what the storm will bring up from the ocean.

You will help your grandchildren “…develop visual literacy, boost vocabulary – and think about the importance of marine conservation and being a friend to animals. Includes educational notes about marine life, tide pools, lighthouses and more.”

Ages 3 – 5 Years

Poop! by Beatriz Gimenez de Ory

Poop! is a book about a subject that fascinates young children because it is gross and funny to talk about. However, this book turns the topic into a science lesson. Through a series of riddles, children learn what animal produced the pictured poop.

Tiered layers lift to reveal answers to the riddles, making the book interactive and entertaining. The text is lyrical and rich. Endnotes contain facts about the poop from different animals “…and its purpose in the ecosystem.”

A Rainbow of Rocks by Kate DePalma

A Rainbow of Rocks contains photos that depict the vibrant colors of rocks and minerals. Using color as a springboard, the author uses “lyrical, rhyming text” to inform readers about rocks and minerals. Endnotes provide more details for your curious grandchildren.

Skip Through the Seasons by Stella Blackstone

Skip Through the Seasons is rich with layers of learning. This book gives each month a two-page spread depicting the prevalent weather during that month. The illustrations are bright, engaging, and replete with details.

Skip Through the Seasons is an interactive seek-and-find book containing terms on each page that children can locate in the illustrations – a great feature for emergent readers. The vocabulary is lyrical, leaves descriptive and rich: “Whirl into March…the wind is whistling down the street.” “Jive into July.” “Sweep into November…leaves are dancing as they fall.”

Endnotes include information about different calendars, including Babylonian, Roman, Aztec, and Ancient Egypt; names of the days of the week in French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Anglo-Saxon; the derivation of the names of the months; and a scientific explanation of the changing seasons. So much to talk about with your grandchildren!

Ages 6 – 9 Years

Chandra’s Magic Light by Theresa Heine

Chandra’s Magic Light is a multi-layered book. Teach your grandchildren about the value of optimism, persistence, resilience, and empathy through this cultural tale set in Nepal. Chandra’s journey to replace her family’s kerosene lantern with a solar-powered one is the perfect springboard for discussing environmental issues.

Create a math activity by comparing the cost of items in Nepalese Rupees to US Dollars. The language is rich and lyrical, and the story is “…brought to life with luminous acrylic illustrations of the mountains and markets of Nepal.”

Endnotes include pages of factual details about Nepal’s mountains, rivers, weather, religion, and more. Also included is a fun science-based activity to do with your grandchildren – creating a solar-powered oven. Use the oven for cooking a recipe together.

The Bread Pet by Kate dePalma

A perfect summer book, The Bread Pet tells the story of a young girl taking care of her uncle’s bread pet (sourdough starter) while he goes on vacation. At first, the girl does not understand why her uncle calls it a pet. However, she soon learns that the bread, like a pet, needs constant care and feeding because of microscopic entities growing in it.

But the uncle leaves out one critical instruction for his bread pet, and soon the bread pet grows out of control. In this warm tale, a young girl demonstrates responsibility, problem-solving, and empathy for her community.

The Bread Pet offers opportunities to introduce a variety of topics. Math skills such as exponential growth and measurement are introduced and can be further explored. For the curious young scientist, you can delve deeper into the concepts of bacteria, fungi, microbes, and fermentation mentioned in the story.

The story also is diverse and inclusive, featuring a main character who wears glasses and is part of a same-sex family. And the endnotes include instructions for making your own sourdough starter and sourdough bread. Add in fun and whimsical illustrations, and you have the perfect recipe for a delicious book!

The Beeman by Laurie Krebs

The Beeman opens with a sweet rhyming poem about bees. Then, mimicking the style of “The House That Jack Built,” the grandson follows his grandfather, the beekeeper, as he tends to his bees. Bits of information about bees and the process of beekeeping are sprinkled throughout the book, with key terms bolded. These tidbits are discussed in fascinating detail at the end of the book. The illustrations are playful, and the pages are not text-heavy, making it easy to share with younger children too.

This book can lead to so many activities with your grandchildren. For example, visiting a beekeeper in your area is fun and educational. Bees are vital to the health of our planet and are a relevant topic to discuss with your grandchildren.

Did you know that the taste of honey varies with the environment in which it was made? Have a honey-tasting activity with your grandchildren. Your farmer’s market or specialty grocery should have kinds of honey from different locations that will vary widely in taste.

Do you take part in your grandchildren’s summer reading? Have you prepared a list of books to read together? What’s on your list? Are you in need of help picking up relevant titles? Please share how you engage your grandchildren in the summer.

I have raised 3 children from Generation Y, including one who is a stereotypical millennial guy sitting on the couch in his apartment playing the video game World of Warcraft into the wee hours of the morning. It seems to have the makings of an addiction that his entire young life revolves around. From his job schedule to meeting with friends and family, his World of Warcraft guild comes first.

Over the last few years, I’ve also noticed a lot more of my more senior friends getting in on the fun. Despite the fact that those of us who are Baby Boomers often make fun of our lack of tech skills, grandkids and even a few great grandkids are discovering that their grandmas are online playing one of their favorite games.

Video Gaming’s Not Just for Men Anymore

While men have traditionally been more likely to play video games, in 2016 the AARP reported that among those 50-plus, women lead men in gaming:

• Women are more likely to be gamers than men – 40% of women are gamers vs. just 35% of men.
• Female gamers are more likely to play daily than male gamers (45% vs. 35%).
• Women (57%) are significantly more likely than men (43%) to say they play more today than they did five years ago.
• Card/tile games (46%) and puzzle/logic games (44%), followed distantly by trivia/word/ traditional board video games top the list of respondents’ three favorite types of video games.

I must admit even I can take up minutes and even hours some days playing Word Calm, Word Collect, Solitaire and Bedazzled Classic on my iPhone. I began to wonder if I too could be susceptible to video game addiction or would it just be good for my aging mind.

Is There Such a Thing as Video Game Addiction?

Video game addiction, also known as gaming disorder or internet gaming disorder, is defined as the problematic, compulsive use of video games that results in significant impairment to an individual’s ability to function in various areas of life over a prolonged period of time. The main criterion set forth by the World Health Organization is lack of self-control.

How Many Seniors Play Video Games? 

A majority of older adults state that they play video games to keep themselves mentally sharp, to be challenged, and to have fun. A study conducted by Big Fish Games in 2015 found that more than 25% of all gamers are now adults aged 50 and older.

Just like my 28-year-old son and his friends, some seniors have even organized their own video game tournaments to connect with other seniors online.

How to Know It’s Time to Put Down the Controller

One good reason to give it a rest is our eyes. Even younger people report damage to their eyes from playing video games for a high level of time. Those of us over 60 need to take even more breaks from the screen.

Video games can cause repetitive strain injuries – especially playing those with movement like Nintendo Wii or those on the opposite end where you sit a long time with no movement. For those with carpal tunnel syndrome or hand issues, playing for long periods without taking a break can make injuries worse or more painful.

Far from more practical reasons are these signs of a video game addiction to watch for:

• Playing video games rather than getting outside for fresh air, sunshine and exercise.
• Playing video games more than 4% of your time (6 hours) each week.
• As our minds age they can be tricked into thinking that video games are real. Watch out if you play aggressive games and your own temper is becoming shorter.
• You find your friends are all online and you are playing video games instead of socializing with friends or family in person.
• Snapping at people when you can’t fit video gaming into your schedule for long periods of time.
• You find yourself drinking or taking drugs while alone and video gaming.
• You are gaining weight from lack of exercise due to sitting all day gaming.

Where to Find Help

There is help for women who have a gaming addiction, including free 12-step programs like those offered by Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous – a recovery program and fellowship for compulsive video gamers.

For those with a co-occurring gaming and substance use addiction, programs offering gender specific recovery, like the one at New Directions for Women in Costa Mesa, CA, can help.

Video Games in Moderation Can Be Good for You

While researchers go back and forth on the drawbacks and benefits of video games, recent studies show that certain games, especially those designed to improve memory and brain function, can have a positive impact on older folks.

According to a 2015 study run in Great Britain, after six months, the over-60 group that took part in brain training using video games was found to have significant improvements in the ability to carry out daily tasks. Those over 50 also recorded better verbal learning and reasoning. According to the report featured in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, “The improvements were most effective when people played brain-training games at least five times a week.”

Studies in France and the University of Montreal in Canada also revealed that changes in a senior’s video game playing could be used to detect early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. They also found that playing online or video games actually increased “grey matter” in some older people in “at risk” categories.

One of the key findings was that playing and learning new games had more benefits over playing the same game over and over. They also tracked the benefits of video games for handicapped seniors, including those confined to wheelchairs, finding extreme mental benefits as they could still enjoy playing favorite games like tennis and bowling despite their handicaps.

What Online Games May Be Best for You

Exercising the brain for us seniors is just as important as physical exercise, and video games can certainly provide this type of stimulation. There’s been a lot of research about which online games are best for seniors and I was truly taken aback to learn that World of Warcraft, NeuroRacer, and War Thunder are all excellent video games for seniors to play.

Perhaps my son will be mortified if I choose the screen name Scottsmom shouldI decide to take the bold step to join him in playing World of Warcraft to fight off my family history of early onset Alzheimer’s. At least for now, it’s a screenname I’m not likely to forget.

Do you play video games online? Why? What benefit of video games have you enjoyed the most? Are you feeling a little addicted to online games? How are you fighting the negative effects of video games? Do you think your children or grandchildren will be horrified or pleased to learn you play the same games they do? Let’s swap experiences!

Kristin Cavallari’s Orange Cut Out Maxi Dress on Instastories

Kristin Cavallari 2021 Instagram Fashion

Let’s cut to the point, we are obsessed with Kristin Cavallari’s orange cut out maxi dress. She never fails to give us the ultimate vacation inspiration. I mean this girl doesn’t seem to sit still and is never in one place for too long. I think I can speak for us all when I say we are constantly keeping an eye on her Instagram to see where she’ll be next and, of course, what she’ll be wearing. And this time did not disappoint for two good reasons. One because this dress is obviously gorg, and two because it is in stock. So even though we can’t steal Kristin Cavallari’s fabulous life, at least we can steal her fabulous style.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

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Photo Credit: @kristincavallari

Originally posted at: Kristin Cavallari’s Orange Cut Out Maxi Dress