Braunwyn Windham-Burke’s Ombre Dress on Instastories

Real Housewives of Orange County Instagram Fashion 2020

Between the amazing orange and pink colour combo and seventies robe style with a modern edge (which at first totally had me thinking it was a newly released style I’ve never seen before by brand-of-the-moment Retrofete before realizing it’s not sequinned), Braunwyn Windham-Burke’s ombre dress on Instastories is totally up our alley. Especially since it reminds us of something that we definitely wouldn’t mind waking up to every morning along with a newly delivered Revolve package: a beautiful (tequila) sunrise.

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Faryn

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Photo: @BraunwynWindhamBurke

Originally posted at: Braunwyn Windham-Burke’s Ombre Dress

Raquel Leviss’ Crystal Belt at Ariana Madix’s Birthday Party

Vanderpump Rules Season 8 Episode 9 Fashion

Raquel Leviss’ crystal studded belt at Ariana Madix’s crystal studded belt is a great accessory to bump up a basic outfit. It may look familiar to you because we’ve also seen it on her Vanderpump Rules cast mate Katie Maloney, who styled it just how I would with jeans and a tee. And while based on the relationship between the involved parties I don’t think Raquel borrowed hers from Katie, I’m pretty sure Katie would borrow Raquels…to hit James with.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

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Originally posted at: Raquel Leviss’ Crystal Belt

As we age, we have more choices than ever before. In the United States, particularly, for many years, 65 was the age in which the implicit message was “time to retire.”

Although this decision may continue to be the choice for many, the beauty of living in the 21st century comes with the availability of other options. Yes, at one time, a person working past the age of 65 was viewed as an anomaly.

Role Models and Trail Blazers

My mother was an example of someone who chose to work rather than envelope herself in the comfort of retirement. For many months, after she did retire and take a reprieve, opportunity knocked for her to return to work.

She accepted the offer and ran with it. My mother returned to her employment at a local medical center in another position. She became a one-on-one Guide, walking or sitting with patients who needed assistance. My mother loved it and cherished the connection with both patients and staff.

At one point, she informed me that she was thinking of retiring again because of statements from others who questioned her desire to work at such an advanced age. When she confided this to me, I reminded her that people who have purpose often live longer.

My mother listened and said, “You know what? I will tell them I am like Betty White.” I applauded her feistiness and basically said, “You go, girl!”

She worked until age 82, even during her bout with cancer, and only stopped because they closed the program. Most importantly, my mother remained financially independent, maintained a home, paid her own bills, and drove everywhere. Truly, she was a great role model, someone who chose her own path.

Resistance to Individual Choice

When I wrote about my mother and the idea of choice, I was received with harsh words from a few people. A couple of women indicated we should “just be,” while another woman wrote that she felt sorry for my mother.

I replied with diplomacy but reminded these women about choice. I went on to say that it was okay to “just be,” if that was their choice, but many of us choose to pursue meaning and purpose. If work is one way, so be it.

Some people continue to resist the idea of independent thinking and changing the trajectory. If they choose a certain path in the final chapters of their lives, they cannot reconcile why someone else would not wish to do the same.

Last year, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal by two authors who were proposing in their upcoming book that there should be a mandatory retirement.

They went on further to say that if people were not willing to retire by the determined age, they would have to accept, without question, termination of contract any time going forward.

Well, needless to say, the letters to the Journal revealed that this bold but controversial proposal did not sit well with many of the readers.

What’s Next?

I continue to be amazed that people of all backgrounds keep wrestling with the idea that someone may not want to “just be” in the sunset and even the twilight of their lives.

Many insist they want to live independently all of the days of their life. In addition, many people hope to live longer, healthier lives. Those aspirations are most commendable, but one needs to reflect on what that entails.

How does one occupy the space left void from work, raising a family, or other time-consuming endeavors? How about finances? Many people, especially women, fear running out of money.

If You Choose, Be with Cicero

Returning to the Wall Street Journal… this past January there was an op-ed written by the retiring war reporter Jim Michaels.

The author felt that we should not have to pursue other ventures but let go of those energetic undertakings and be at peace by inviting a quietness at this juncture of life. Apparently, Cicero, the great orator of Ancient Rome recommended this way of life.

I respect Mr. Michaels’ choice, and he has every right to commiserate his thoughts across the pages of the Wall Street Journal. I wonder, however, if he feels the need to justify his decision by encouraging others to do the same.

Living in New England, we have Walden Pond where the Transcendentalists, Ralph Waldo Emerson and David Thoreau, ensconced themselves in the natural wonder of early Concord, Massachusetts. I suspect they may have been doing exactly what Mr. Michaels is advocating.

Well, Cicero, Emerson, and Thoreau lived centuries apart, but they were far, far from the modernity we experience today. Perhaps, if they lived in the present, they may have made other choices regarding the later chapter of their lives.

Obviously, we will never know. Most importantly, they made decisions which worked for them at those moments in time. If Mr. Michaels chooses to do the same, cheers to him.

For many of us, Cicero’s path, as well as Emerson’s and Thoreau’s, is not our desired way of life.

Whatever path we travel at this seasoned time of life, we should choose one which we uniquely tailor for ourselves and be who we want to be!

For me, having written my first book, Stop Depriving the World of You, at age 60, I subscribe to the last stanza in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s hauntingly beautiful poem A Psalm of Life:

Let us then be up and doing

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

What are your thoughts about these later chapters of life? Do you believe we should be allowed to be who we want to be? What are you choosing? Are you willing to consider choosing what resonates for you even if it does not for others? Please share with our community of fabulous women who often find themselves at these exact crossroads.

I have a love/hate relationship with pasta. I love that it’s so easy to prepare, it’s very versatile, and honestly, I crave carbs. However, I hate what carbs do to my waist and thighs.

Thankfully, there’s a great alternative to pasta – spaghetti squash. This large yellow squash can satisfy your pasta cravings… guilt-free. It is a terrific low-cal/low-carb substitute for that pasta we all love, but try so hard to resist.

One cup of spaghetti squash is about 30 calories/7 grams carbohydrates, as compared to 220 calories/43 carbohydrates for a cup of spaghetti noodles. Plus, it’s rich in fiber and contains small amounts of every essential vitamin, particularly vitamin C, B-6 and potassium.

Why “Spaghetti” Squash?

Once you’ve cooked the squash, use a fork to separate the inside fibers into strands, which look much like spaghetti. It’s as versatile as spaghetti, too. Try using it instead of pasta for any of your favorite pasta recipes.

A Vegetable Never Tasted So Good

Spaghetti squash actually tastes great! The strands of ‘noodles’ soak in seasonings more readily than pasta, providing a deeper flavor. Always mix the sauce thoroughly into the squash to fully absorb the flavors.

How to Prepare the Squash

You can bake, boil or microwave the squash. I recommend baking it as boiling can make it mushy and microwaving too dry.

Preheat your oven at 350 degrees. Cut the squash in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and place the squash face down in a baking dish with about ½ inch water. Bake for 30 – 40 minutes or until you can easily scoop out the strands.

You can prepare the squash a day or two ahead and refrigerate it. Mix the squash with any of your favorite sauces, or simply with butter, salt and parmesan as a side dish. Following are two of my favorite recipes.

Inside Out Quiche

Ingredients

• 1 cooked spaghetti squash
• 8 slices bacon
• 1 large onion, diced
• Pinch of sugar
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 10 eggs
• 2 cups grated Jarlsberg cheese
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup bread crumbs (panko, Italian or crushed Ritz crackers)
• 2 Tbsps butter

*You can add in diced ham or crumbled sausage if you want more protein.

Directions

Cook the spaghetti squash as instructed above. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large sauté pan, cook the bacon. Once it is very crisp, remove the bacon and oil, leaving about 2 tbsps of bacon fat in the pan. Cook the onion with a pinch of sugar, ½ tsp nutmeg and s/p in the bacon fat until soft, about 10 minutes.

Mix the cooked onion and crumbled bacon with the spaghetti squash. Stir in the eggs and cheeses until well blended. Melt the butter in a dish, stir in the bread crumbs and sprinkle over the casserole.

Bake covered with foil for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a knife comes out relatively clean.

Baked Italian Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 cooked spaghetti squash
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 lbs ground beef or sausage (I often use turkey sausage)
• 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp dried basil
• S/P to taste
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes*
• 1 bottle of your favorite marinara or tomato sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• ¼ cup red wine
• ½ cup and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (grated enhances the flavor more than shredded)
• ¼ cup bread crumbs (panko, Italian or crushed Ritz crackers)
• 2 tbsp butter
• Cottage cheese*

*Optional

Directions

Cook the spaghetti squash as instructed above. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and add onion and sugar. Cover and reduce to low, simmer for about 20-30 minutes until the onions caramelize.

Add the ground beef or sausage, breaking it up into small pieces. Cook until browned. Add the garlic, herbs and s/p and cook for an additional minute.

Add the marinara sauce to the meat and stir to combine. Add in the diced tomatoes and red wine. Let the sauce simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes (or more depending on how much time you have).

Mix the spaghetti squash, sauce and ½ cup parmesan in batches into a casserole dish.

Melt the butter and mix with the breadcrumbs and ¼ cup parmesan. Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the casserole.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is simmering.

Top with cottage cheese and parmesan cheese.

What is your favorite pasta or pasta substitute recipe? Have you ever tried spaghetti squash?

Victoria Fuller’s Short Suit on the Women Tell All

The Bachelor Season 24 Episode 10 Fashion

Regardless of your opinion of her, there’s no questioning the fact that Victoria Fuller looked like a super classy first third lady during The Bachelor’s very dramatic Women Tell All special last night in this sexy, Jackie-O inspired red short suit (that’s actually by a brand created by a former leader of the Bachelor nation). Which all Bachelor politics aside, we have a feeling totally wins the popular vote.

Fashionably,

Faryn

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Originally posted at: Victoria Fuller’s Short Suit on the Women Tell All