Lisa Vanderpump’s Crystal Embellished Blazer

Vanderpump Rules Season 8 Episode 14 Fashion

When I started on this post about Lisa Vanderpump’s crystal embellished blazer it was really the first time it really hit me that I won’t see her face on the upcoming season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. And guess what? I realized I am totally going to miss it. But one thing I might not miss is totally falling in love with a blazer she is wearing and realizing the price tag is $6890. With that in mind, seeing fewer of her outfits that I can’t afford might just be a silver lining.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her Alexander McQueen Embellished Blazer

Originally posted at: Lisa Vanderpump’s Crystal Embellished Blazer

It might seem like May 10 is far away right now but trust us—a gift for Mom is not one to rush at the last minute. It’s going to come up even faster this year. Luckily, Bath & Body Works’ Mother’s Day offerings for 2020 are here to help. The retailer just rolled out 150 (!!) products for the new season and many of them are perfect for gift-giving. Of course, we don’t blame you if you grab some goodies for yourself too, from the eight new fragrances, 20 new moisturizing products, two new aromatherapy blends. And that’s not all. We told you it was a lot!

Fans are also stoked to see a favorite home fragrance, Fresh Cut Lilacs, join the body care line. Have a mom in your life (grandmother, aunt, step-mom, chosen mom, etc.) who loves flowers? If you can’t bring her a bouquet this year,  there are 120 floral products that would make great gifts, including items from the new fragrance, Perfect Peony.

A whopping 28 of the new products are candles, both the 3-wick and single-wick candles everyone loves. You can also shop all the body wash, body lotion, hand soaps (not surprisingly, many are sold out already), fragrance mists, fragrance plugs and gift sets. You can spend hours perusing all the newbies but to help you narrow it down, we chose some of our favorites, below.

Image: Bath & Body Works.

Watermelon Lemonade 3-Wick Candle

With watermelon and lemon essential oils.

Image: Bath & Body Works.

Eucalyptus Spearmint Gift Box Set

Including Body Wash & Foam Bath, Body cream and Pillow Mist.

Image: Bath & Body Works.

Succulent Basket Wallflowers Fragrance Plug

This faux-plant will definitely stay alive.

Image: Bath & Body Works.

Perfect Peony 3-Wick Candle

With peony, vanilla sandalwood and essential oils.

Image: Bath & Body Works.

Violet Sandalwood Eucalyptus Single Wick Candle

With sandalwood oil and eucalyptus oil.

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.

I saw a meme on Facebook last week with the following instruction: “Think of one thing that makes you happy and smile.”

Not, “think of something that makes you happy and makes you smile,” but “think of something that makes you happy… and then, smile!”

Good reminder. Think of all the happies in life, then take the time to smile about them.

Here are nine Smile Makers from my past week.

A Phone Call from a 7-Year-Old

My grandson called to say he learned to ride his bike. I had helped him one day, so I knew his struggle. He was so excited, and he called me because he knew I would be delighted for his success. SMILES!

My Grandkids Are Connected

I reminded him that he had taken the advice of his older (by two years) cousin: “Work on riding your scooter and then you’ll ride the bike easily.” Seven-year-old tried it and it worked. And, of course, I called the nine-year-old to tell him his advice was taken, and it had worked. SMILES!

An Unexpected Gift

Last week, at a food pantry I volunteer for, one of the regular guests told me her mother had just passed. She was using up the yarn her mother had left, making mementos for family members. Later, she returned and brought me two hand-crocheted dishcloths. SMILES!

Using What I Am Good at

A recent request to help in a tight spot came from a past client. I don’t do much team-building with small businesses these days, but this is a past and loyal client. My skills were valued, and they had a need. And it paid pretty well, to boot. SMILES!

Rewarding a Job Well Done

We had a pretty big job that needed to be done at our new home site. Several people said they’d take the ancient mobile home away, but… None came through. Until William came along.

He brought his whole family, and they worked hard and did a complete job. I pitched in from my personal stash of ‘mad money’ to reward them beyond the agreed amount. I am SOOO happy to have that mobile home gone! SMILES!

The Love of a Daughter and Her Dad

The fishing stories from my son and his daughter make me smile. They make me remember my own daughter and her early morning coffee and horse chores with her dad.

When I anticipated her taking care of the horses while her dad was out of town, she laughed (think junior high days). “I don’t like the horses… I just like hanging out with Pop!” SMILES!

Building a Relationship with Someone Different than Me

I just received an invitation from a Mexican friend to attend her ceremony of citizenship. (I learned a lot about American History helping her study for her interview.) I was able to get a Congolese friend of mine an interview for a job that will take her a step closer to her goals.

I have coffee scheduled with a young male pastor. Yesterday, I had a two-hour lunch with a long-time friend who is my age – actually, she’s older, but she doesn’t like for me to mention that. Diversity. Meaningful relationships. SMILES!

Inspiring Change

I was told a story about two sisters discussing my book, Which Old Woman Will You Be? A fine sisterly argument was stirred.

One sister was excited about designing her BEST ThirdThird and was finding ideas for ways she might change her thinking and her approach to aging. Her sister said, “You can’t change. Who you are is who you are.”

I’ve had people tell me, “I am who I am and I’m not changing.” That is often a very true statement. But, saying you can’t change is different than saying you won’t.

Sister #2 called sister #1 back with a whole new attitude after reading some of my book. “I can change! I do have options!” was her new opinion.

She is now inspired to approach her life with a new outlook. And, she is enthusiastic enough that I am scheduled to visit her reading club in a few months as she has them all reading my book. SMILES!

A Glass of Wine in the Setting Sun

This past week, my husband and I had a glass of wine at our River Home (it is still under construction). Other evenings, it might be at my turquoise table in our front yard as neighbors walk by or join us.

Maybe soon it will be in front of a small fire to ward off the coming nip in the air. A quiet, slowing down at sunset makes me SMILE. Always.

What makes you smile? Do you have a habit of thinking of things that make you happy? Share with us your happy and smiling thoughts.

Amidst the recent pandemic, Switzerland Tourism came out with а video that portrays stunning views of Switzerland; somber music that ends in hopeful swells. Meanwhile, the captions fade in and out like passing time:

Dream now – travel later.
Stay safe – stay home. 
Just for a while. 
But let us inspire you. 
To welcome you back soon.

Switzerland Tourism does an
excellent job acknowledging the pandemic without adding to the concerns. They
are filling the world with hope by encouraging people to “Dream now – travel later.”

“Just for a while” let Switzerland
inspire you. Whether you’ve been there before or have yet to go, take a moment
to relax and imagine yourself visiting one (if not all) of the top 10 must-see
Switzerland destinations:

Lake Geneva

Until you’ve been here, you’ll
never truly understand that yes, the water is as blue and as clear as it looks
in the pictures. Switzerland’s Alps and glaciers source 90% of Europe’s lowland
water so the water you see in Switzerland is fresh and straight from the
glaciers and mountains themselves.

The vibrant, invigorating
turquoise color comes from the minerals from those mountains and their long
journey from the mountain tops to the lake and river basins.

Zurich

Though heavily populated, Zurich
operates like clockwork. If you want to experience the city life in
Switzerland, you will relish Zurich. It is filled to the brim with delightful activities.
There are shops –
commercial and small business – everywhere.

When you go, do an online search for the train station (Bahnhof) farmer’s markets. They are a delight to attend! A walk across the bridges or river boat cruises are invigorating. Take time to just be in and explore the city. Museums are abundant and the free Zurich city walking tour is a treat.

Bern

If you travel for history and
culture, Bern is an excellent place to go. Switzerland has a unique government,
and though Bern is not the capital of Switzerland, it is the de facto location
of the government making it the “federal city.”

Bern is listed as the homeplace of
Swiss government but is not officially labeled as the capital to avoid
politically elevating Bern above any other location in Switzerland.

Bern is home to many museums: the
Einstein Museum, Museum of Natural History, Museum of Communication, and Museum
of Fine Arts. They all house fascinating exhibits and thought provoking
materials.

When you visit Bern, be sure to
stop by the intricate and massive Zytglogge and experience the show the
astronomical calendar clock built back in 1530 has to present.

Mount Pilatus

Mount Pilatus is located next to
Lake Lucerne. Over a 48% grade and a ride of 30 minutes, you’ll reach the top
of Mount Pilatus via the steepest cogwheel train in the world.

The view is incredible and
exhilarating rumor has it that you can see Germany on a clear day. I hope you
get to experience that treat.

Jungfraujoch

The Jungfraujoch is a train
experience that will take you to “The Top of Europe.” The top is chilly, so
don’t forget to layer up and bring a jacket. When at the top, you can enjoy the
views that give you a glimpse of France and Germany!

Not only that, there is a glacier
cave which has what I like to call a mini museum of ice carvings. It is
wonderfully enchanting – if your god/grandchild was there, they would probably ask when
Elsa would show up!

Jungfrau Region

Also known as Heaven on Earth and
the inspiration behind J.R.R. Tolkien’s Rivendell’s Middle Earth, Jungfrau
region is transcendental in terms of Earth’s beauty. If you’re inclined to take
a day hike in Switzerland, this is the best place to do so. I highly recommend these five hikes.

Matterhorn

Matterhorn, the iconic peak, is
located in the car-free town of Zermatt, Switzerland. The Matterhorn feels
unrealistically “larger than life” in Zermatt and getting up early to watch the
sun warm the everchanging weather that surrounds the mountain face is worth the
lost sleep.

During the day, you’ll certainly
have time to ride the Gornergratbahn (train) up to the panoramic lookout point
where you can see the Matterhorn with its surrounding, impressive peaks. A
visit to this town will be dreamy and unforgettable.

Engadine Region and
St. Moriz

St. Moritz has been the host of
the winter Olympics twice – in 1928 and 1948. The Engadine region is home to the Swiss
National Park and the Cavaglia Glacier Gardens where bowls of rocks have been
carved out by running glacier waters.

The region is exquisite and “less
traveled by.” If
you want a blend of luxurious Swiss offerings and the ability to get outside,
the Engadine region is for you.

Ticino

Located in the Italian speaking
region of Switzerland, the Ticino region is home to wonderful people and
incredible gelatos. If you want to experience the luxuries of Switzerland with
the prolific food influences of Italy, the canton of Ticino is a perfect
destination for you.

On an Alpenwild Discover Swiss Cuisine Italian
Inspired tour
you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy lake cruises, make polenta on a grotto, and visit vintage wineries and
more – it
is one of the best ways to truly experience the people, culture, and region.

Chillon Castle

Montreux is located in the French speaking
regions of Switzerland and is packed with iconic landmarks like the Chillion
castle, the Freddy Murphy statue, and Lac Leman.

If you fly into Geneva, you’ll
enjoy the west side of Lac Leman where incredible sites like the Jet d’Eau
(fountain) and the European United Nations headquarters lie.

Switzerland is a relatively small
country but the 3,000+ miles of rail lines and over 40,000 miles of hiking
trails make these travel gems accessible. I’ve only listed the “Top 10,” but
there are so many more –castles, cathedrals, and highlights – that I could not possibly mention.

Regardless of where you go in
Switzerland, imagine how you will feel as you walk around in Heaven on Earth
where the streets and all facilities are impeccably clean and safe, where
drivers and people are courteous, and the trains are always on time.

Just thinking of it makes me feel
slightly immortal – it
actually feels that way. The people themselves are the kindest, take Sixty and
Me’s matron, Margaret, for example. She is an exemplary Swiss woman and
Switzerland is filled with more people as wonderful as she is!

Take advantage of this time in quarantine, put some light into your day and plan your next big trip. Switzerland Tourism says “Dream Now – Travel Later” at Alpenwild, we say “Dream Big – The Alps Await You.”

Where do you want to go for your next vacation when it is safe to travel again? What places will you visit there? Please share in the comments below!

If you’re one of the many people currently in
isolation, you may be looking at the days stretching ahead with horror. What
are you going to do?

Here in the UK, all of us septuagenarians
(such a great word!) are locked in for 12 weeks. In this house, we started last
Friday and will be out on 12^th June. So far, it’s 10 days down and
74 to go. Not that we’re counting.

Make a Plan to Keep
Occupied

The secret for us all is to
prevent the slow but inexorable slide down the slippery slope to going
stir-crazy! We must make a plan for keeping ourselves occupied.

There are plenty of well-meaning
and helpful people giving us plenty of suggestions. Some are not necessarily
aimed at women of our age and prompt a “You can’t be serious?!” reaction.

At Aging Disgracefully we sat and
wracked our brains to come up with some ideas for you. Some you probably know
of or have seen elsewhere. There may be a couple you haven’t… let’s hope so…

Before we even start on the list
below, I have to say there are so many people who are out of touch with friends
and family and have no way to contact them. The reason doesn’t matter.

Often, they are lonely and
frightened. The world has shifted on its axis and they need the sound of a
friendly voice… even if it isn’t one they know.

Please think of those who are no
longer 60 but have moved to their 70s and 80s and beyond. Some of these people
have no cell phone or PC and the only way to stay in touch is via landline.

Possible Activities to Do in
Isolation

Before you begin, take some time
to make a plan. Choose the activities you want to do during this enforced
‘holiday’, create a list and begin.

• Go through your ‘rubbish’ drawer. I just went through mine and found a lot of stuff that isn’t rubbish and can be used to decoupage or whatever. It was Treasure Trove.
• Communicate via phone, Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom. People like to hear your voice. If you know anyone who does not have a cell phone or a PC, please phone them on their Landline.
• Phone the ‘at risk’. When you’ve established contact, create a schedule to call at specific times. Your local council can help you find the people who need you.
• Volunteer online. In times like this, volunteer for anything; there are so many needing help.
• Clear your storage spaces of things you no longer need. You have the time now, you might just use it.
• Spring clean the house – if you’re so inclined.
• Paint some furniture or paint the walls.
• Do a Wardrobe Workout.
• Create a travel/bucket list. It doesn’t matter where you want to go or when or even if you don’t want to go anywhere! Write it down. Create the list and anticipate ticking it all off.
• Write a book, an article, a poem, whatever takes your fancy. Tell your story or the family history.
• Crosswords or Sudoku will provide hours of fun, and help you improve your numeracy and literacy.
• Netflix binge. A series or six. Or even more if you’re isolating for 12 weeks!
• Find a meditation online or dig out a CD or DVD to help you get started. Meditation really works for quieting the mind and soothing jangled nerves.
• Board games like Snakes & Ladders, Ludo, Chess, Drafts, Dominoes, puzzles supply hours of endless amusement.
• Learn a language. If you’ve completed your bucket / travel list, you will have a better idea of what you want to learn. Or perhaps you’d like to learn a language simply because you can!  
• Colouring books: shop for them online or print some pages off the web.
• Work out, mentally and physically. It’s very, very important to keep yourself going if you’re in isolation. Exercise, do some gentle yoga and eat well.
• Read trashy novels or classics or magazines. Kids picture books are great too!
• Cook: Make an effort to use everything in your larder and cupboards, your freezer and fridge. It’s a great way of cleaning up – then stock up again!
• Sew a quilt, learn how to make patterns, and design some clothing. Knit or crochet if that sounds to your fancy.
• Gardening is so relaxing and worthwhile. Even if you don’t have much space, seeing the result is so rewarding. Plant flowers or vegetables – it’s up to you.
• Keeping a gratitude book to write in 5 things you’re grateful for every day, changes your mood and attitude. It doesn’t matter what it is, just start to make the effort. It changes you!
• Dance around the house. Turn on the music and move. If you’re with the family, get them all dancing! It’s healthy and will raise your mood.
• Give yourself a spa day. Clean fluffy towels, a band for your hair, cucumber slices for your eyes, egg white for your face and egg yolk for your hair. Bath oil, skin cream, perfume, the whole shebang. Whatever you have in the house – use it and spend the whole day pampering yourself.
• Manicure: Spend a day a week to give yourself lovely hands! How often do you get to do that?
• Pedicure: Same deal! Spoil yourself and give your feet the care they deserve.
• Be creative: You’ve got time on your hands so start something that you really love doing.

There are so many things you can
do to keep yourself occupied if you’re in isolation (or quarantine if you
prefer). Let your imagination fly free.

Let us know what you’ve come up
with, and we can share some of your fabulous ideas with others.

Stay safe. Be well.

What have you been up to these
past few weeks of quarantine? What is your most favorite activity and why?
Please share with our sisters and let’s have a chat!