As we know after all these years, it’s challenging to maintain a commitment to change. And it gets worse as we age. Younger adults achieve their goals to readapt at a percentage twice as high as those over 60. This is true with New Year’s resolutions as well.

We could rephrase ‘Live and Learn’ to ‘Conscious but Change Avoidant.’ It’s not just me and you. It’s not even just older folks. Avoidance to transform is statistically startling. Overall, 90% of resolutions aren’t kept. Even that may be an optimistic figure.

More shockingly, studies indicate that 25% of all fresh resolves don’t make it a week. Clearly, that dismal record is why so many authors, bloggers and self-help instructors take time to help us discover new avenues. They seek unique roadmaps that might lead us down the path we claim we want to travel.

Rewarding yourself is not always the ‘no brainer’ it seems to be. One tactic we don’t concentrate enough energy on is reward – not reward for success, but reward for our effort. We are looking for progress, not perfection. Our determination itself deserves recognition, even if it lastly briefly.

What Do We Get from Keeping a Resolution?

There’s the bigger question as well. What do we get for keeping a resolution? Satisfaction? Less weight? Greater knowledge? Less TV? Improved strength? Healthier diet? Better use of time? More friends? Better self-esteem? Maybe.

Often, deep down we aren’t truly motivated by the end goals we assert in our resolutions. Secretly, we might even develop conscious or unconscious ways and reasons for sabotaging ourselves.

All this can become very complicated and in need of greater self-examination or professional guidance if one wishes to pursue it.

One Step at a Time

Less complicated is an on-going scheme of rewards – big or small – just for making some effort. What’s great about this method is that no one needs to know how tiny your baby-step effort is.

The thinner you can slice the efforts to earn rewards, the greater your chances are of success and enjoyment. Again, the aim is progress not perfection. If we agree that our aim is simply to try, then after the smallest exertion we have already progressed to some degree.

In the meantime, we have enjoyed a slice of life. Especially so if we choose rewards that are personally pleasurable – and neither contrary to our goals, nor based on someone else’s ideas of success and reward.

Here Are Some Reward Examples

1. Call a friend long-distance and chat over a cuppa.
2. Plan a trip (just the planning is fun – the date can be TBA).
3. Treat yourself to a ‘Maid for the Day.’
4. Get your car washed.
5. Give yourself a couple hours at the library, browsing whatever strikes your fancy: books, art and magazines. Whatever. Just people-watching there can be fun.
6. Take an extra-long nap.
7. Get together with a friend and a joke book.
8. Go bird watching (whether you can name one bird).
9. Go on a games picnic – board games instead of food. If weather is not permitting, plan a last-minute game party at a friendly coffee shop where no one must ‘host.’
10. Refurbish that ‘whatzamajigger’ item in the garage or attic or make a trip to the Salvation Army with it.
11. Buy a piece of desired new software.
12. Visit a comedy club.
13. Light a fire in the fireplace.
14. Hire a chimney sweep, so you can safely enjoy that old fireplace if it’s just sitting there unloved. (Hint: You could sneak this onto both the ‘to-do’ and reward list stimulatingly.)
15. Take a ride on a swing.
16. Go fishing.
17. Create a personal mandala.
18. Move the furniture in your home to a new position – just for a change of view.
19. Take a drive on a road you have seen but never taken – the road less traveled.
20. Treat yourself to a guilt-free hour of watching YouTube videos – just watch out that you don’t get addicted.

These rewards can be luxurious in time, money or sensation. You can adjust them to meet your pocketbook and the level of ‘effort’ you feel you have made. If you are reluctant to admit progress, let it be the reward you would offer a friend if they did the same thing.

And if you have put a resolution on your 2021 timetable – or prematurely put it to bed, more likely – consider penciling in some periodic prizes to encourage you onward.

If you resist making resolutions due to common failure rates, perhaps label a desired change with a more innocuous or contemporary sounding name. Maybe use ‘gold star’ points or ‘BSB’ (baby-step bonus) points instead. ‘Resolution’ can seem so daunting.

Still, no matter what the lingo, get the rewards in your datebook – a real date on your calendar – to enjoy yourself as deserved. The best thing about the baby-step bonuses is that you can’t lose.

With the right list, if nothing else, you are making extra time to enjoy life. And if it is something ‘more’… well, then you may get further ahead with changes than with your usual approach.

Either way, you win something. It may be like an honorable mention award for good attendance in second grade. Not a big deal, but I bet most people don’t throw that away. It’s acknowledging an effort.

I’d love to hear small rewards others have developed. Got a good one? Remember, it need not be big. And ‘inexpensive’ is an added benefit. Others may enjoy the same things as you but may not have considered the engaging power of certain activities. For now, here’s wishing you a baby-step in February.

What small rewards have you given yourself for making progress with your New Year’s resolutions? Have you been able to keep a resolution? Please share your tips and insights below.

Have you ever sewn yourself a garment? I’m sure that you at least know the basics of sewing. It was only in recent years that sewing (“home economics”) was no longer taught in public school. Sadly, this seems like a dead art, but one that is slowly being resurrected.

Thanks to the explosion of the Internet, and sites like YouTube, many are relearning this trade. Some set out to simply hem their own pants. Others truly want to learn every single meticulous trick in the book.

Let me share briefly my personal experience… and give you some tips if you want to learn how to sew or revisit this as a new hobby.

A Passion Rekindled

I was about 16 years old and my mother purchased a used sewing machine for me. I had learned the basics in junior high, although my attempt at making a pillow the first time was awful. My mother barely knew how to sew on a button, so she hired a retired tailor to teach me the basics.

He came to my home and taught me for a short time until I was comfortable with my machine. I later went to study fashion design and took clothing construction courses. However, I was still not good at all.

I think there are some people who are naturals at sewing, but mostly it just takes a lot and LOT of practice to get it mastered.

Years passed and I did not sew often as I was a young, busy mother for most of my 20s and early 30s. When I was 31, I was suddenly diagnosed with cancer (lymphoma). My kids were 9 and 2 at the time.

After finishing the treatment, I really did some soul searching and decided I wanted to go back to my passions. So I started offering custom children’s clothing online and locally – a lot of fun.

I was also using my vintage sewing patterns that had been given to me years ago and experimenting with different eras of sewing. Shortly after though, the cancer came back, and I was forced to take it easy while I was getting much harsher treatment.

I would always return to sewing for an escape. It really helped me get through some of the darkest times of my cancer battle and the PTSD that followed.

In 2019, I decided to take a break from sewing for others. I was beginning to get burnt out from sewing for money and missed the joy of creating my own pieces!

I broke out the boxes of beautiful vintage patterns, and before long I had made myself a closet full of gorgeous, well-fitted garments tailored to my own liking and fit.

In fact, I haven’t stopped sewing pieces for myself since. I do sew for others again, but not without a treat to myself!

How to Start Sewing or Pick It Back Up

If you want to start or restart sewing, you’ll need a few things:

• a sewing machine (used or new, but no need to splurge)
• sewing kit that includes pin cushion, tape measure, straight pins, and seam ripper
• decent quality fabric shears
• a comfortable place to sew with good lighting (does not need to be a sewing desk)
• thread scissors
• place to cut fabrics
• iron and iron board
• colored pencil or tailor’s pen/chalk
• clear grid marked ruler

Optional but helpful items:

• cutting table with gridboard
• serger
• organizational cubes to store patterns or fabric

Now that you have your supplies, you will need a teacher. You can go on YouTube and look up various sewing tutorials. You could also get a book and teach yourself. I would advise doing what you are most comfortable with.

If possible, you could hire a sewing instructor or go to a local sewing center to inquire for classes. If you remember the basics, you could start with a pattern purchased from your local dealer.

Simple Beginner’s Projects

Do not overwhelm yourself by picking a difficult first project! I would advise a simple skirt (such as an A-Line or circle), an apron, or a home decor item like a pillow or decorative towel.

Once you achieve success with a few easy projects, add in some intermediate level ones. If you follow the steps and are patient, you will be pleased with your work!

Tips to Remember When Starting Out

I will leave you with a few necessary steps in sewing ANY piece.

Always:

• backstitch at beginning and end of stitch (this secures the seam)
• press (iron) neatly your seams as you go!
• finish your seams step by step (serging, or zig zagging, or other techniques) for beautiful garments inside
• sew darts first
• for fabrics that may stretch, stay stitch the neckline and waist areas by simply sewing a seam near the edges
• follow the seam allowance on patterns. It is almost always a half-inch or five-eights of an inch. You can also mark the seam by using a clear ruler with a grid and a colored pencil or tailor’s pen.

Never:

• NEVER, EVER use your fabric shears for paper!
• Do not use cheap or cotton thread for sewing apparel. I advise only 100% Polyester thread.
• When first starting out, do not attempt stretchy knit fabrics such as jersey or 2-way stretch fabrics.
• Use woven cotton, such as quilting cotton for the first few projects. You can get these on sale at Jo-ann year wide, or even find them at garage sales super cheap!

I Hope That You Are Inspired to Sew!

If you decide this journey is for you, have a lot of fun and enjoy the process.

My final word of advice is, BE PATIENT. Please take your time and the results will speak for themselves.

If you want to view more of my sewing projects, feel free to check out cherrishmarievintage (facebook) or view my current shop here.

What sewing projects have you done in the past? Are you working on one right now? Do you have any sewing questions? Is there a certain pattern or project that you have always wanted to make but haven’t?

Thanks to Los Angeles’ salon closures and stay-at-home orders, I haven’t gotten highlights in months. That’s probably why I’m loving Bella Hadid’s new hair that feels like both a current look and a throwback style at the same time. When I saw Hadid’s orange highlights photos, I was pretty surprised since the model usually keeps it pretty simple. She was spotted on the streets of New York with her hair pulled back so the chunky highlights were on full display.

It’s a bit hard to see her new hair color in these street style photos, but she also showed off the hue on Instagram in a series of photos in which she’s licking show, shot by Renell Medrano. Her hair looks much more ginger there, making it seem like more than just highlights. It’s very possible these are two different hair colors. Her chunky Christmas highlights could be different from this strawberry blonde wig. Either way, she’s definitely feeling red hair this season.

Jose Perez/Bauergriffin.com/ MEGA.

Friends and fans are obsessed with the new hue, calling her ginger with “Jessica Rabbit vibes.”

Source: Instagram

After years of highlight trends going more and more natural-looking, it seems we’re heading back to the early-2000s’ heavy, high-contrast color. It’s likely we’ll see this on younger celebrities who were too young to love Jessica Simpson’s popular chunky highlights in 2005. (Bella Hadid was born in 1996.)

Since I was a teenager during that time, I’ll probably tread lightly into the throwback trend without going as drastic as Hadid. Money pieces and overall more contrast is a nice change as we head into 2021.

There are some makeup products that stand the test of time. It Cosmetics’ CC Cream is one of those favorites. It has the perfect hydrating medium-to-full coverage with skincare ingredients. Many believe it’s well worth the $40 price tag. But for those who don’t have the budget right now or who are watching their coins, a new option is going viral and it’s way less expensive. According to TikTok, E.L.F.s new Camo CC Cream is a dupe for the It Cosmetics favorite and these videos prove it to be true.

Just like It Cosmetics CC+ Cream, E.L.F.’s Camo CC Cream features a medium-to-full formula infused with vegan collagen to boost skin’s elasticity, hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration, niacimide to brighten and even skin tone and peptides to help smooth skin. It Cosmetics’ version has SPF 50+ and E.L.F.’s has SPF 30 but you should add a sunscreen first before applying either. E.L.F. has 15 shades at Ulta while It Cosmetics has 12.

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.

E.L.F.

Of course, it’s not the same exact formula. Dupes are just simular products that may or may not take the place of the pricer one. Some are going to try E.L.F. and run right back to It Cosmetics while others are going to love this more affordable option. They’re both great foundations so there’s something for everyone.

Ulta.

Over on TikTok, makeup lovers are pleasently surprised by E.L.F.’s coverage. Of course, we haven’t seen a wear test or the product on multiple different skin tones. But it looks to be a pretty great dupe to us. User Lalaluvbeauty looks gorge using both of the foundations.

Already have an It Cosmetics CC+ Cream in your beauty kit? Pick up the E.L.F. Camo CC Cream to do your own test. While you’re at it, grab the E.L.F. 16HR Camo Concealer. We hear it’s a lot like Tarte Shape Tape.

Jennifer Lopez just might be the hardest working woman in show business right now. While everyone else is laying low during the holiday season, Lopez is out there launching coffee brands, skincare lines and now, releasing a music video. Hairstylist Chris Appleton shared a photo of Lopez’s ‘Unicorn Barbie’ hair over the weekend, which gave us a sneak peek into the video for ‘In The Morning.’

In the teaser, Lopez has a Lady Gaga-style Chromatica vibe (in the best way possible) in a futuristic silk dress wearing a multicolored wig with shades of pink and purple. Her pastel makeup even perfectly matches the purple in her hair. You can thank makeup artist David Velasquez and Nars eyeshadow for that. In her own photos, Lopez also tagged her new skincare brand, JLo Beauty, so it’s safe to say she’s doing a little two-for-one promotion. We told you the woman works hard!

Source: Instagram

Of course, this being a Jennifer Lopez production, she’s rocking way more than one look in the video. Appleton also shared a photo of Lopez wearing a blunt blonde wig featuring an actual  floral hair stencil. It’s extremely unique and like nothing we’ve seen before from the duo. To complete the look, Lopez is wearing red lipstick that matches the color in the flowers.

Source: Instagram

And she’s not slowing down anytime soon. She recently announced, while wearing a Dior bucket hat, gold hoops and a neutral sweatsuit, that she’ll be performing at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021.

Source: Instagram

It’s safe to say JLo is sending 2020 out with a bang.