Even if you’re going to be celebrating the holidays differently this year, getting dressed up should be on the agenda.

Of course, as a fashion blogger, I’m biased about how clothes make us feel one way or another. Then again, if you don’t believe me – google it!!! There have been many studies to show how our clothing impacts not only our own thinking but also how people respond to us.

Here is a fun activity to do to test out my theory. Go to your closet and try on your fanciest dress. Make sure to style it how you’d really wear it if you were going to meet your most favorite person.

Now stand back and admire your effort by looking in the mirror or better yet take a selfie. Don’t you feel more uplifted and positive? Don’t you just want to go out somewhere and strut your stuff?

In fact, if your holidays are with a limited number of family or friends, those people are even more important than strangers. Those loved ones deserve to see the best you there is. Even more important is that YOU deserve to feel fabulous.

While we can’t control some of the outside factors, the holidays are still a time to remember and celebrate. Let’s chase away the blues by doing something to make us feel marvelous.

Dressing Up

Let’s talk about what dressing up really means. Fashion and style have always been a subjective pursuit, so let’s explore how it may work for you.

And with these crazy times, I think we all should plan on taking some photos (even if they are only selfies) this holiday season to show we actually lived through it!

Make Up

Makeup may not be on your agenda during these times of masks and things. But let me remind you of the magical properties of lipstick. It has something to do with brightening our face and putting the emphasis on our smile.

So even if you aren’t ready to put on the makeup you normally wear, I hope you put on a bright lipstick along with your holiday look. Because you do have to remove your mask to indulge in the food and drink being served.

And if you hate the idea of lipstick rubbing off on your mask, then the all-day lipsticks are the way to go. I researched over 10 different products to find the best ones.

Outfit Ideas

Especially if you’ve been living in leggings or loungewear most of this year, it’s time to let the rest of your clothes get out and have fun.

If it’s hard to think about what to wear, let me suggest a few ideas.

I know that a red sweater and black pants are always a holiday favorite. The three of us on my blog have showcased ways to add a little spice to that basic look.

How to Style a Red Cardigan Outfit

Styling an Outfit with a Red Sweater for Mature Women

Styling a Red Top and Black Pants with Personality

Another idea would be to pull out any sparkle or sequins you have. Sure, it might seem silly to wear sequins during a time of isolation, but hasn’t the year been crazy? I say, all things are possible this year!!!

In fact, I would consider this time to be perfect to try out wearing items that you would normally have never thought about pairing together. Why? Because you have limited number of eyes on them, so if they aren’t a hit, then who is the wiser?

This is a great way to actually expand your closet and give it new life.

Insider tip: If it’s too hard to restyle your own items, ask a friend for help. You can video chat, and your friend can style you from your own closet. I know this sounds silly, but it was quite eye opening when the three of us styled each other.

Now when you put together an outfit, don’t forget the shoes and accessories. This puts intention into the exercise and really gives you a feeling of normalcy.

So, the question is, what are you going to wear?

Have you considered your Holiday outfit? What will it consist of? Will you need help styling it? Which of your friends will be best to help in the fashion department? Please do share!

For a long time, it felt like everyone was rocking ’90s hair and makeup trends. Unsurprisingly, the decade is taking a backseat to early-2000s style whether we like it or not. As someone who went through those trends the first time, it’s hard to believe anyone would want to go through these again. But even I have to admit that Chrissy Teigen’s blonde highlights look fresh and cool—and seriously pretty—in all their 2000-style glory. Everything comes back, you know.

It’s not just Chrissy Teigen‘s chunky blonde highlights that evoke Jessica Simpson’s in 2005. (Even Beyoncé and Mary-Kate Olsen had them, too!) The high-contrast color starting right from the roots seriously evokes the time. But it’s also her choppy layers that have us reminiscing about the styles we loved so much on Gabrielle Union and Hilary Duff and so many other celebs we begged our hairdressers to make us look like. In fact, this cut is giving us total Rachel Green from Friends vibes.

Los Angeles-based colorist Tracey Cunningham is responsible for the new ‘do, just like she was for Teigen trendy shag last year.

Source: Instagram

Since hair salons are closed in Los Angeles right now on the county’s stay-at-home orders, it’s likely Cunningham made a housecall for this look. (We’re jealous.) Fans are loving the look, many even calling it “The Rachel.” One fan wrote: “Totes getting some Rachel/Jen Aniston vibes!!! Love it.”

Now, with all of Teigen’s many jobs—model, author, cook, entrepreneur—she tends to switch up her hair a lot. The next might be ultra-long with glam hair extensions. But for now, we’re loving this throwback look and all it took was Teigen to make it feel cool and fresh again.

It wasn’t until after my husband died that I realized how much I relied on him for home maintenance tasks. Whether it was unclogging the toilet or patching holes in the drywall, he did it all.

Now that he’s gone, it’s fallen to me to get all these tasks done. Some have been easy to take over while others are still far beyond my skills. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the point of being comfortable changing a light fixture or installing a new faucet.

The question is: How do you find someone to help when you have no idea the going rate or whether someone’s work is really any good? You don’t have to be a widow like me to have this question either.

In the years since my husband died, I’ve found the following are the best ways to ensure I don’t get ripped off when I’m hiring someone to help around the house.

Start with Handy Family Members and Friends

For small jobs, a family member or friend may be willing to come over and help for free. However, if the person makes their living as a carpenter, plumber, electrician or other tradesman, offer to pay for their services.

Also, if you have a major project that needs to be done, make sure your helpful friend or relative has the skills to get the job done right.

Ask for Referrals from Others

Even if your family or friends can’t help do the work, they may be able to provide referrals to professionals they’ve used in the past. Getting a personal referral is one of the best ways to find a handyman or contractor whose work is tried and true.

Avoid Craigslist and Door-to-Door Salesmen

I’m not saying there aren’t good people advertising on Craigslist, but I have heard many a horror story about people misrepresenting their skills or outright scamming others on the site. So much so that I don’t recommend hiring a contractor or handyman from Craigslist.

The same can be said for people who go door-to-door peddling new windows or other home repair items. In my experience, their services – even if legitimate – are often overpriced.

Look on Review Sites for Home Maintenance Services

Instead of looking in the classifieds, head to websites like Angie’s List or Yelp. There, you can search for the type of professional you need and read reviews from other customers. Access to reviews is free, but paying members of Angie’s List can also take advantage of the company’s fair price guarantee and conflict resolution service.

Check Licensing and BBB Listings

Don’t take a person’s word that they’re licensed to do work in your state. Confirm it. Most states will let you check the status of a person’s license online, and the online listing may also report any complaints received about the individual’s work or business practices.

Search for your state’s licensing department to see if they offer this feature. Another option is to look on the Better Business Bureau website for a company’s rating and complaint history.

Start with a Small Job

If possible, ask a handyman to do a small job for you before hiring him for a larger or ongoing project. That way, you can witness firsthand the person’s punctuality, demeanor and quality of work.

That’s not an option for contractors performing larger renovations, but you should still meet with these individuals in person to get an estimate. That discussion may give you some clues as to their professionalism.

Get a Written Estimate for Major Repairs

Small jobs – like unclogging a sink or minor appliance repairs – are usually completed on the spot for a service charge in addition to the professional’s hourly rate. While you should ask about rates prior to scheduling an appointment, don’t expect an estimate in advance. However, for any major repairs or renovations, you should get the total cost, timeline for work and payment terms in writing.

Compare Costs to Industry Averages

Once you get a written estimate, it’s a good idea to see how it stacks up against industry standards. Home Advisor is one place on the web where you can go to compare your estimate against average prices for the same service.

A good quality local contractor may charge a little more, but if the estimate is significantly more than the average cost, you may want to ask why or at least get an estimate from a second professional for comparison.

Walk Away if Upfront Payment is Demanded

It’s a red flag if someone insists on being paid upfront or says they need money to cover the cost of materials. For a service call, the standard is to pay at the time of the repair but only after the work has been done.

For larger jobs, contractors may require periodic payments as the work progresses, but only after certain milestones have been hit. A reputable firm will also have enough capital to cover their materials and tools. They shouldn’t need your money to buy supplies at the start of the project.

Pay with Your Credit Card

Many workers don’t take credit cards or, if they do, charge an extra fee to cover the cost of processing the payment. However, if it’s an option, you may want to consider it. Most credit cards come with fraud protection that could be useful if you later find a contractor has mispresented his work.

What strategies do you use to find reliable home maintenance services? Are there review sites other than Yelp or Angie’s List that you have found helpful?  What kinds of jobs do you feel comfortable taking on yourself? Please join the conversation.

How can you tell what’s important and what is not? All day and night you have choices to make about the signals that stream in, creating feelings and thoughts. They demand that you either accept or reject the ideas that they represent.

Family situations, relationships with your neighbors, something at work that needs to be handled or your own feelings and thoughts… or all of the above. It’s usually a combination of things you care about and things you don’t care about, but have to deal with anyway.

Stop for a Moment and Look at the Flow of Signals

What responses are being requested? Are they in alignment with your true priorities in life? Are you being asked to step out of your comfort one? Who is served by your going there?

Is what is being asked of you out of alignment with your true values? Or, are you being asked for your own best wisdom? Who will benefit from the actions you take or do not take?

It’s a challenge to make the distinctions, since there are so many types of responsibility. Each day requires changing your point of view at least a few times to accommodate the needs of the moment.

Ask yourself what purpose is being served by each of the signals. This way, they will become easier to decipher and prioritize. What is your role in the train of events? If you are being asked to play a role that is out of touch with your values, in order to make things work for someone else, how much value does that add to your life and that of those you care about?

When is the Right Time to React?

There are times when it’s best to just let sleeping dogs lie. At other times, a sharp distinction needs to be drawn and you need to decide whether you point it out to others or not. When you are clear in your own mind about your feelings, you can adapt your responses to create the result you desire, without getting caught up in other people’s processes.

Have a look at who is doing the asking. What will happen to them – and to you – because of how you placed your priorities?

You are the one who will make the priorities that shape your life and relationships. When you are clear within yourself about your values, you can see that the urgency that is often projected about small things is an energy drain.

Be Aware of the Risks of “False Urgency”

False urgency drains away mental and emotional energy and keeps true solutions from being generated. Think about what true inspiration is like. It’s not urgent.

True inspiration is gentle and has plenty of time to unfold. It has room for everyone. It just appears, without asking you to do anything except notice it.

As we gain spiritual awareness later in life, we can let go of the need to engage with some of the urgency that others project. We can cultivate a calm perspective. Life does contain truly urgent situations, but they are relatively few.

Don’t Forget to Look at the Big Picture

Taking a larger view of things serves you and those around you. It makes the world a better place. You can be an island of calm where true solutions are generated and save your energy for things that are more meaningful and long-lasting. It’s more efficient to look for the long view of things and let the moment unfold.

What is your purpose in doing what you are doing today? Do you have opportunities to make small changes that expand your wisdom? What choices can you make to improve your live and expand your role in your community?

Make that First Little Change and See What Opens Up for You

Your first change can be as simple as not telling people what you think until you are sure they are ready to hear you. It could be that you have a chance to let the moment ripen until the other person is ready to hear what you have to say.

You can be the example who doesn’t say a word, but, instead makes things work. You can let others become curious about what you are doing. Eventually, people will ask you questions, ready to listen to what you have to say. You will have silently demonstrated your priorities without explaining anything.

It’s Time to Make Room in Your Life for Your True Self

When you make room for yourself and nourish your own values, at the time when you are required to be flexible and change your ideas or responses in some way, it’s not a big deal. You already understand that you are bigger than the thing in front of you. You are more important than the matter at hand.

The moment opens up and gets both bigger and smaller. You have what it takes to light up the time. It’s another moment that contains the seed of better understanding and you can step into it with confidence.

The gift of time allows you to see the opening in the moment and, rather than rushing through it, you see the opportunities it presents and are calm and flexible enough to act on them.

Then you can select the action that is best for you and make the most of everything that the moment represents.

Do you agree that life after 60 should be a time for aligning all of your actions with your values? What would you do with your life if you knew that you could not fail? Let’s start a conversation.