Since I have more time on my hands than usual, I decided to get creative and I made a dream travel vision board.

Positive energy is stored in visualizations. When you visualize something, it becomes a real and more-attainable goal. In this case, I created my travel board to pin down where I want to go when the coronavirus pandemic comes to an end.

In the process of making my travel vision board, I felt excited, rejuvenated, and refreshed – all in the comfort of my own home, despite social distancing. Making my travel vision board was like taking a mini vacation, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Materials

Supplies you’ll need to make a travel vision board include:

• Pictures – from magazines, newspapers, or the Internet
• Scissors
• Glue
• Background paper

You can make a travel vision board in your head, but putting it on paper adds that priceless, “tangible goal” element. This element will fill you with hope and motivate you to look forward to bright days ahead; for those reasons, I highly recommend making one.

Travel Goals

To start creating your travel vision board, consider the following: 

• Where do you want to go? 
• Do the tropics or mountain refuges call your name? 
• Do you long to take a self-guided, independent trip or join a group with a local guide? 
• Where would you go if coronavirus and money weren’t issues? Dream big! 

Once you’ve visualized your dream vacation, it is time to gather pictures that remind you of your dream destination. These could include photos of famous locations, things you hope to see, foods you hope to taste, and souvenirs you want to bring home.

What’s on My Vision Board

At Alpenwild, we just launched a campaign, “Dream Big. The Alps Await.” The European Alps have existed for millions of years. Their slopes are rich with people, culture, and traditions. The Alps have been standing before the pandemic started and will stand strong after welcoming all who come to visit.

I’ve been to the Alps once before and can’t wait to go back. I am an adventure traveler. I crave the off-the-beaten path tours with small groups, and hands-on experiences that introduce me to the locals. I had the Italian Dolomites on my travel list for this summer but due to the pandemic have moved those plans to next summer.

On my vision board, I included the Matterhorn. I dream of returning to Zermatt where the iconic peak looks so majestic. I also included the Italian Dolomites; peaks I’ve never been to but hope to explore next summer.

I used photos of myself and others in the Alps experiencing the peace, joy, and excursions that are available with the locals. The foods remind me of the flavors I’ve tasted and missed, the trains bring the timely, safe transportation back to memory.

The suitcase reminds me that on an Alpenwild tour I can pack and rely on luggage transfers to do the heavy lifting. The massage and spa are at the top as a reminder of the soothing rest available at hand-picked hotels. I also had some fun and cut out wildflowers to go with the cow. I can’t wait to get back to the Alps.

An Amazing Feeling

When I finished, my fingers were sticky but there was a smile on my face. I documented the process of making my vision board in a short video. I know the pandemic will subside, but it will take time. For now, I have my travel goals visualized, a smile on my face, energy in my soul, and art for my wall. 

It’s easy! You can make your own travel vision board, too. This project has turned my longing for adventure into hope. Longing and hope seem similar. However, they are not; longing has difficulty seeing that times will change, hope is filled with patience and courage that things will change.

Making a travel vision board will show you the difference.

What places do you want to add to your travel vision board? What are your travel goals? I look forward to hearing your bucket list items in the comments below. 

If my niece’s bedroom—which might as well be a warehouse for the best affordable Ulta products—is any indication, Gen Z is serious about skincare. With more resources than ever at the tips of their well-manicured fingers, kids aren’t just feeling empowered to inspect and review their products. They’re also game to keep it real about everything, including the need for regimens that don’t cost an arm and a leg to keep up with. I’m more impressed than nostalgic for my younger days when I think about it.

Speaking for the millennial set (and anyone with bills to pay), I think it’s fair to say we agree, even though our younger cohorts have the advantage of growing up in an era that’s more accepting of honest dialogue about anything beauty-related. Gen-Z-ers and millennials probably disagree on a lot of things too, but I know most of us believe skincare equals self-care.

Or in the words of Nick Stenson, SVP of Ulta Beauty Services, “it’s not only important to have a routine but also to see it as an activity to look forward to.” In fact, the allure of self-care has made skincare generally less intimidating and more fun, because if we don’t Instagram our 24K gold face mask, was it even there?

“Brands like florence by mills, which was created by Millie Bobby Brown, is a perfect example of a brand that Gen Z’ers love because it was made for them by someone they can identify with,” adds Stenson. Understandably so, the fun stuff is a welcome reprieve from current times. At-home everything is on an upswing and dinner dates have been replaced with DIY projects. (And I know I’m not the only one who wishes she could get a facial, like yesterday.)

Source: Instagram

“The best thing you can do for your skin during this time is to upkeep your normal at-home skincare regimen,” suggests Stenson. “Remember to be patient and leave the facials and advanced skincare treatments such as chemical peels or extractions to the professionals.”

So what’s a girl to do when she wants to spoil herself, pay rent and stick to a schedule for sanity’s sake? I love Ulta, but it’s easy to scroll yourself into a black hole of face masks and forget why you were there in the first place. Because I know you’re looking for an excuse to treat yourself, here are five budget-friendly finds handpicked by Stenson for your next TikTok, Instagram live, or private Netflix binge.

(Pro-tip: If makeup is more your vibe, Ulta also offers guests the opportunity to virtually explore, try on, and test makeup colors and shades through the virtual GLAMlab® within the Ulta Beauty app.)

ULTA Beauty.

ULTA Beauty Turmeric & Ginger Superfood Mud Mask

“Ulta Beauty Collection has a great assortment of face masks starting at $3.00 as well as a series of Superfood Mud Masks.”

ULTA Beauty.

ULTA Beauty 24K Metallic Peel Off Mask

He also highly recommends this camera-ready 24K Magic Metallic Gold Peel Off Mask.

I Dew Care.

I Dew Care Let’s Get Sheet Faced Set

“You can also try a sampler like the I Dew Care Let’s Get Sheet Faced Sheet Mask Set which gives you 14 days’ worth of masks.”

ULTA Beauty.

ULTA Beauty Joyful Jelly Overnight Lip Mask

“It’s important that you’re taking care of your lips. Since we’re not outside as much, you may not be wearing your lipstick or lip balms as often, which provides a layer of moisture and protection,” says Stenson. “In order to protect your pout and keep lips hydrated at home, try an overnight lip mask.”

Sara Happ.

Sara Happ Perfect Pout Kit

“We also recently launched Sara Happ’s Perfect Pout Lip Kit which includes a Brown Sugar Lip Scrub to help exfoliate lips, while the Lip Slip One Luxe Gloss adds moisture and shine. Separately these two items are $24 each but you can get both in the kit for $32.”

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.

Leah McSweeney’s Flag Print Dress in The Hamptons

Real Housewives of New York Season 12 Episode 4 Fashion

There’s no questioning the fact that Leah McSweeney was seriously waving her fashion flag on last night’s episode of RHONY in The Hamptons with this super chic flag print dress. And while the Morgan yacht has sailed it may be sold out, you should still definitely go ahead and grab your passport wallet because a ship-ment of one of the Style Stealers down below is definitely coming in.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to See Her Sold Out Sandro Dress

Click Here to Shop Her RHUDE x Thierry Lasry Sunglasses in Many Colours

Originally posted at: Leah McSweeney’s Flag Print Dress

About 250 people live in our continuing care retirement community, in six apartment buildings and two nursing facilities. Now, in pandemic mode, you don’t see many residents in the walkways and corridors, and the restaurants are closed.

Our patio overlooks the pocket park on campus featuring a parcourse that no one is using. The occasional walker passes by the patio, sometimes masked, sometimes not.

Nobody stops to comment about the dog sitting at my feet, as they used to. A far cry from the conviviality we’d enjoyed since moving here last July.

The Ritual Dinner

Back then, Tom and I had lived in our new apartment for just a few days when the couple three doors down invited us for dinner.

“Dinner” meant meeting at the host table in the main dining room to be seated together, each ordering separately from the menu and using their own food points to pay. Jim and Carol proved to be pleasant and welcoming.

Ten more get-to-know-you dinners followed in close succession. I initiated a few myself, like with the couple I kept bumping into during my early morning dog walks.

Other dinners were initiated by people curious about the woman who used to run museums and now writes novels. A few times the dining room hostess seated us with residents she thought we should meet.

The get-to-know-you dinners were hard work: everyone gave a biographical sketch, and because we’re all old, those sketches were loooong.

When we would have a second dinner with a couple, the conversation would become more natural, if not yet candid. After a few months of sharing meals, we had learned with whom to sit to have a good time.

We Up the Ante

Six months in, when we were finally able to retrieve furniture from storage and set up our apartment to our liking, we decided to celebrate by holding an open house for everyone we’d enjoyed eating with.

I left invitations at 50 doorways, expecting 25 people to come, based on my experience with events the past few years.

I was wrong.

Nearly everyone RSVP’d “yes” and two replied, “Can I bring my daughter?” How was I going to fit all those people into our living room? I asked friends for advice.

One weary guy said, “Don’t serve shrimp because they’ll disappear immediately.” A more sympathetic woman said, “Can you ask some people to come later?” I followed her advice and asked half the invitees to come at 3:30 instead of 2:00.

It Worked

The weather that afternoon couldn’t have been better. Our guests came when requested, ate and drank modestly, wiped up their own spills, overflowed seamlessly into bedrooms and patio, and enjoyed each other’s company.

Three guests brought flowers, three brought wine, two brought daughters, one of whom brought citrus from her backyard. My only task was to keep food platters full and bottles uncorked; the assembled company made their own fun.

Afterwards, I asked some of my favorite neighbors why everybody had showed up. Out of a sense of obligation? Or curiosity about our apartment? Or to fill the time?

They said none of the above; they simply liked Tom and me. “At our age,” they said, “no one cares about social obligations. We just like to get along.”

And in Corona Time?

Getting along is the secret sauce of CCRC living. I am watching my husband wither now that he can’t go to his exercise classes (especially important for Parkinson’s sufferers, like Tom) and have lunch afterward with his pals.

Some people in this community seem to place such a high value on contact that they meet in the gazebo for cocktails and chatter, sitting much closer than six feet apart. Of course, connecting on social media is not an option for most 80-year-old widows.

When this is all over, I’m going to offer to teach everyone here how to Skype or Facetime or Zoom. You shouldn’t have to risk your life in exchange for a good laugh.

How are you connecting and coping in this difficult life situation? What do you miss the most from live before the pandemic? Let’s have a conversation.

Ladies, step away from the chocolates. Step away from the cookies. The quarantine will end, and we will all emerge from it a little, well, juicier than we were before.

Now, I have to admit that it has been a great relief to wear my most comfortable casual and leisure wear. But all good – and bad – things must come to an end.

So, to guide you on the path back to what might be a little more fashionable life in the future, here are some ideas that can help you make that transition.

Start at the Bottom

Ah, how we have enjoyed the great comfort of our sneakers. Well, they are still in fashion. But when you want to dress up a bit, consider shoes that have a lower cut vamp than a higher cut one. Shoes with higher cut vamps make your feet look shorter and pudgier.

The same goes for Mary Janes. Any shoe that has one strap across the ankle, especially one wider strap, will shorten and widen the look of your feet. Some great options right now are simple ballet-type flats, sling-backs in flats and lower heels, flip-flop type sandals, and multiple thinner strapped sandals.

Now, heels elongate the look of your legs and make every outfit look a little, well, sexier. But frankly, I just don’t have any desire to wear them anymore.

Stockings and Leggings

If you’re dressing for something more formal, match your stocking color with the color of your shoes. This will both make your legs look longer and your feet smaller.

If you are wearing leggings with something like a tunic-type top or a skirt, match the color of the leggings to your shoes. You can also wear them in the same color family as the top but of a lighter or darker shade.

And that brings up an important point. Any time you break a line with a new color you are going to attract the eye to that point. So if, for example, your calves are particularly wide, avoid capri leggings that end at the widest point of your calves.

Perfect Pant/Skirt

It’s fairly easy to have the waistband on a skirt altered. It’s next to impossible to do that on a nice pair of pants. So, if you need to purchase a new pair, look for one of the straight-leg or wide-leg styles that are very much in style this year.

Those work better when you’re carrying a few extra pounds compared to skinny, cropped, or capri length pants and jeans.

Now, pull-on stretchy pants are a practical option. But quality is crucial. A lot of these types of pants are made from knit ponte fabric that tends to stretch out pretty quickly and look baggy. The last thing you want when you’ve added a few pounds is to look baggy and saggy.

You’d think that synthetics would hold their shape better, but in fact, the opposite is often the case. So, look for a high percentage of cotton or rayon as part of the blend for this type of pant.

As for skirts and dresses, your favorite LBD might still work, since darker colors are less reflective of light. That means new bulges won’t show up as much.

Darker colors, in general, tend to be more slimming. But be sure to look at yourself from all angles, including from the back. This is important if you tend to carry your weight on your backside, hips, or thighs.

Fuller skirts can hide wider hips. Pleated ones will tend to emphasize bulk at your hips and bottom. The currently very popular midi and maxi skirts and dresses are another great option.

And then there is the pocket conundrum. In-seam and angled pockets will “pooch” out when you walk or sit down. Patch, welt, or flap pockets are better for pants, jeans, dresses, and jackets when you’ve added a few pounds.

Add a Top

The shape of a neckline can make a big difference in how slim or pudgy you look. There are some that are just more slimming than others.

Any V-neck top will lengthen the look of your torso. That also goes for surplice tops. They are both slimming and elongating. They also add a little allure because they emphasize your bust line.

But if you wear a simple V-neck top, make sure it ends at least a little further down than the top of your breastbone. Too short a V-neck can make your bust and the upper half of your body look larger than it is.

Shorter sleeves also draw attention to the size of your bust, your upper body, and any arm flab you might feel awkward about showing. Three-quarter sleeves are universally flattering. Just make sure they hit a few inches below your elbow where your arm starts to narrow a bit.

Outerwear

The oversized, bulky menswear type jackets are still very popular right now (frankly, I can’t figure out why). But if you’re carrying a little extra weight, they can make you look heavier than you are.

It takes a lot of boldness in your personal style to carry them off without looking as though you just made a mistake or borrowed ъоур husband’s jacket.

A more traditional blazer, especially one that is slightly longer than your hip line, can elongate your figure. If you tend to gain weight in your middle, look for one that indents at the waist.

If you like the look of a double breasted version, just wear it unbuttoned. Otherwise you can tend to look boxy and heavier.

There are some really cool shorter trench-like coats available this spring. They hit at about mid-thigh and work great with pants and jeans. As an alternative, a duster jacket is a terrific solution for creating a longer and leaner-looking line.

The longer knit sweaters can work too, but only if your body shape, regardless of your weight, is more rectangular than curvy. When you have curves, those sweaters tend to hang up on your bum and hips as you move and walk.

Timeless Tips for Looking Slimmer

There are a few secrets to looking better in your clothes regardless of your weight. For one thing, stand up straight. A lot of us have gotten a little lazy in that department because we’ve either been slumping over our iPads or computers or watching way too much TV or movies.

So, take note if you find that your shoulders are curling forward. If they are, just gently bring your shoulder blades slightly closer together and lift your sternum and chin – also slightly.

And try sitting on a hard surface so you can find those “sit bones” at the base of your bum. It might require wiggling a little bit and moving your pelvis away from your tailbone. That automatically sets your spine in motion to sit taller.

You’ll be amazed what a difference those two little things will make in how you look… and how you feel!

Have you gained a few pounds while locked at home, or have you been exercising regularly? How do you intend to dress differently when you emerge from quarantine? Do you have any pieces of clothing in your wardrobe that will help you look slimmer? Please share the strategy you think will suit you best.