Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

The morning started as it usually did, with a cup of coffee and light conversation with my husband about the unfolding day. He headed off to his study to begin working, and I decided to put the finishing touches on getting our house ready for the dinner guests we had invited over that evening. No hurry because the lasagna was prepared, but I wanted to add a healthy salad, garlic bread, and a simple dessert.

Time is a brisk wind, for each hour it brings something new…

but who can understand and measure its sharp breath,

its mystery and its design?

— Paracelsus

As the hours passed, I’d also been able to tidy the living room and cut fresh flowers from the garden to decorate our table, all this while a soundscape I loved had played melodiously in the background. Suddenly, I remembered that I’d arranged a make-up piano lesson for one of my students. In fact, it was in 5 minutes!

Five Minutes!

Really not a problem because my studio was in good order and I was properly dressed, but this episode made me think about how different my morning would have been had I planned it around the lesson instead of the way it had happened of itself. And yet everything had gotten done in a relaxed and congenial manner.

Our relationship with time is complicated because time is elastic and can simultaneously feel like it passes slowly and quickly, depending upon what we are doing. It’s also enigmatic, because it cannot be exactly defined. Like the saying, “The wind bloweth where it listeth” – you can “see” the wind only by observing its movement across the land. The same with time. You can sense its passage by watching the changes that occur, but providing a perfect definition of it escapes us.

A Man-Made Concept

Comedians, among others, have attempted to define time. Take a few minutes to listen to George Carlin’s playful monologue whose premise is that time is a man-made concept. Carlin’s thoughts echo ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu who wrote in the 4th century BC: Time is a created thing, and the words of Albert Einstein: The distinction between the past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.

Carlin goes on to point out that for thousands of years cultures have tracked time using various kinds of clocks, calendars, and astronomical tools, and come up with disparate but workable solutions for following it, which begs the questions: Which method is correct? Is there a single, definitive way to measure and understand time or are the varied approaches valid in their own contexts?

Units of Time

Americans – and this, I’d wager, is universally true – describe units of time, short and long, in vague, indefinite terms. Carlin gives some examples (to name a few):

Which is quicker, a jiffy or a flash?

One of these days.

Before long.

Sooner or later.

Now and then.

In a little while.

Almost an eternity.

Forever.

And to grasp, to get a hold of time? He jokes:

Q. Pardon me, do you have the time?

A. When do you mean, now or when you asked me?

Our Relationship with Time

How we each relate to time says a lot about our behavior. We’ve probably met someone, typically with a highly structured background or upbringing, who is controlled by time. Always punctual to appointments (more so, early). Programmed to do a particular activity at a time and day certain. Never “wasting” a moment, an arbitrary judgment call, to be sure, because “doing nothing” can be considered productive from another perspective, having, as it often does, positive effects on creativity, mental health, self-awareness, and motivation.

On the other hand, you’ve likely known a person who is perpetually late and who is highly unskilled at gauging how long a project will take to complete, like your loveable but distracted friend who, having invited you for Thanksgiving, pulls out the turkey from the freezer as you walk in the door for the festivities.

And, of course, the whole spectrum of personal time-planning styles in between.

My Relationship with Time

In my 20s I realized I had a confused relationship with time. While I’d invariably arrive right on the dot, I would predictably leave too late and find myself rushing and frazzled. So, I made a resolution one New Year’s Eve to leave the house 10 minutes earlier than the time I’d reasonably calculated it would take to get me to my destination on schedule. This new habit, this new relationship with time, was a real game changer.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Carrying this exploration further, do you find that you relate to time differently as you’ve grown older? Are you one who thinks it’s better to travel well, to take your time, than to arrive?

Someone who enjoys participating in the process unfolding naturally or an individual who’s busy tallying achievements and making new goals while blazing through the last ones because an internal voice tells you time is running out?

Do you believe that ultimately what matters most is not what you’ve collected or accomplished over time but how well you’ve loved, how fully you lived, and how deeply you’ve been able to let go … of trying to control time?

Also Seen on Kyle Richards

Originally posted at: Heather Dubrow’s Gold Eye Mask

As summer winds down and families gear up for the back-to-school season, it’s a perfect time to equip our grandchildren with essential skills for a financially savvy future. I think we can all agree that starting early with smart money habits sets a strong foundation for lifelong financial well-being.

Here are my top 3 money tips for middle school through college students:

Spend Less Than You Earn

If they have any income from allowance or part-time work, help them learn to think about and even track income and expenses to understand where their money goes. Learning to spend less than they earn is a habit that will serve them well throughout life. It can be as basic as talking about totals (allowance per week vs spending with friends per week) or more advanced like playing with or actually using an app or online tool.

What was allowance like when you were a kid? Or was it non-existent in your home? I remember doing chore charts to earn quarters and of course the more you did, the more you earned. I also remember watching a little girl in the local grocery store decide that she was going to just take what she wanted (without paying) from the candy display.

She was wearing a one-piece swimming suit and grabbed a large handful of penny candy (remember those days?) and shoved it down inside the front of her bathing suit! I remember being so shocked at what she did but also almost laughed out loud as she walked out of the store with all of the candy wrapper points poking out of the front of her suit.

Save for a Rainy Day

Encourage them to start saving a portion of their earnings for unexpected expenses. This is the “rainy day” fund conversation that you may have a story to share about. Maybe your parent or grandparent always saved a little or never saved anything. Kids especially love to hear stories about their family so if there is a lesson to be learned, now is the time to share!

Or maybe your grandchild is tempted to spend all of his/her birthday money and a rainy day conversation can plant the seed for the concept of delayed gratification as well as the fact of life that unexpected events will always occur.

If we think about it, this saving some money for later habit is also good practice for starting to save toward retirement. Too often young folks feel like retirement is not something they need to be concerned about yet, so no action is needed. Declining to participate in the employer 401(k) is such a known mistake that the current trend now is for employers to offer plans with automatic enrollment.

Employees can still opt out, but at least the employer is trying to help employees help themselves with this feature. The magic of compounding is never more important than at those younger ages. Sending a percentage of your paycheck to your employer’s 401(k), for example, can be a similar feeling if you’re already used to saving some of your income for an emergency fund.

Set Financial Goals

Adults recognize that using money wisely is a life skill that everyone needs. You can help make learning that skill fun and even get them to practice by playing games. Maybe help them set one money goal, write it down, and brainstorm ways to achieve it.

Help them recognize that life is full of opportunity costs: what is the trade off to gain something later by giving up something now? For every purchase, can they ask: Is this a need or a want? If it is a larger dollar amount, can they sleep on it and delay a decision until the next day. Maybe the cash envelope system is something to share about.

Resources for Parents

Perhaps none of these subjects feel like an opportunity for you with your grandchildren. Or your comfort level is just not there for a variety of reasons. Then sharing a resource that you found interesting with their parents might be another approach.

I recently purchased a book for parents called The Art of Allowance that I will share with my adult children who have young school age children. Or maybe sharing a link to my Youth Bundle (still 50% off through August!) of checklists might be another way to help parents encourage your grandchildren’s financial literacy.

A Time to Refocus

Sometimes back-to-school season is a time to reset routines, get back on track, and start again on habits that can get away from us during the summer/travel season. Why not add financial wellness to our focus, both for ourselves and our extended family? We all have room for improvement.

Let’s Have a Discussion:

What money talk experiences have you had with your grandchildren/nieces/nephews? Has anything surprised you about what children know or don’t know about money these days? Do you have any tips for other grandparents?

If travel has always been a lifelong passion for you as it has for me, there’s a good chance you’ll feel a tinge of regret when you hear stories of cities such as Venice introducing a tourist tax, and residents of other destinations in Europe clamouring to limit the threat of apartment rental companies taking hold of the city.

Perhaps you remember a time when you could walk into Florence’s magnificent churches without having to queue or buy tickets, or stroll across crowd-free bridges in Venice?

There’s no denying that some of our favourite Italian cities have become overcrowded and finding solutions to deal with the art and culture-seeking hordes of tourists is becoming increasingly challenging.

But, of course, feasting our eyes on beautiful things is one of life’s great pleasures and so important for our mental wellbeing. And while you may want to avoid some of the world’s busier attractions, we’ve found plenty of ways to dodge the crowds and, if anything, get even more out of our travels.

One way to do this is to switch your stay to a smaller town or village near to the main hotspot, for example Siena rather than Florence. For a rural break in Tuscany, in place of the Chianti hills, why not head for the lesser known Mugello region? Or treat yourself to glorious coastal views, without the crowds, by swapping one coastline for another? Hopefully, you’ll find inspiration in some of these holiday alternatives in Italy.

Skip Florence for Siena

The city of Florence is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most magnificent. But inevitably, exploring its historic centre when its streets are crammed full of tourists has its downsides. Rather than staying in Florence, base yourself in its quieter neighbour, Siena, where you can still marvel at dazzling art treasures, gaze up at Renaissance architecture and explore the hilltop towns that surround the city. If you’re still keen on a day trip to Florence, there are regular direct buses between the two cities.

Discover Italy’s Smaller Lakes

Italy’s largest lakes – Garda, Maggiore and Como – can get crowded between May and September, with tourists flocking to the main towns along the shore. Fortunately, each of the lakes is large enough to be able to avoid the crowds if you know where to go but there are other options.

For a more tranquil experience, head to pocket-sized Lake Orta in the north eastern corner of Piedmont, where you’ll find gardens in blooms, enchanting villages and sweeping views across the Italian and Swiss Alps. Alternatively, tiny Lake Iseo, set between Lakes Como and Garda, is a wonderful base for hilly climbs, private boat cruises to the magical island of Monte Isola in the centre of the lake, and multiple opportunities to sample the delicious wines of Franciacorta.

Swap Milan for Bergamo

Set at a mid-point between Lakes Como and Iseo, Bergamo is one of Italy’s classic secret gems. Just a short train ride from the fashion powerhouse of Milan, the town is encircled by 16^th century Venetian walls with two distinctive areas, Bergamo Alta and Bergamo Bassa (Upper and Lower Bergamo), connected by two cable cars.

Explore the stairways and piazzas of the ancient heart of the medieval city (Bergamo Alta) where you’ll find glorious medieval and Renaissance architecture, including the main cathedral and the magnificent Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Hop on a Train from Padua to Venice

Just 23 miles to the west of Venice, Padua is a small city with an authentic Italian feel. A short train ride will whisk you into Venice, but I guarantee you’ll be happy to return to the quieter cobblestoned streets and gorgeous architecture of Padua.

Top sights in the city include the Palazzo della Ragione, the world’s oldest Botanical Garden, and the magnificent Giotto frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel. But if you just want to absorb the local atmosphere and find the best flavours in town, head to the giant open air market and the delicatessens in the covered arcades in Piazza delle Erbe.

Lucca or Pisa?

Pisa’s Leaning Tower remains one of Italy’s most iconic images and definitely one to add to the list of must-see sights. However, rather than staying in Pisa, I’d recommend basing yourself in the delightful city of Lucca, around 20km away.

With a slightly more understated feel than several of its neighbours, the city’s main appeal is its walled heart, home to Pisan-Romanesque churches with ornate facades, elegant palazzi and pedestrian-friendly streets. Outside of the city, the Colline Lucchesi, the hills of Lucca, are a hiker’s paradise, swathed in vineyards and olive groves, and dotted with magnificent country houses and gardens.

Lerici Instead of the Cinque Terre

Walking the Cinque Terre – the 5 picture perfect villages of the Cinque Terre National Park – comes at a cost. A Cinque Terre Trekking Card, which can cost up to €15 on high peak days, gives you access to all footpaths. Combine it with a one-day train card and you could be spending over €30 per person. The region is undeniably beautiful, but spending the day here can end up being both expensive and crowded.

But there are alternatives. We end our tour to Tuscany and Liguria in Lerici, where you’ll still find colourful houses and sea views, minus the crowds. In terms of size, the town is probably similar to Monterosso, the largest of the Cinque Terre towns. Set on the romantically named Bay of Poets – the area was a favourite with writers in the early 19^th century – there’s a small historic centre and tourist marina, and a good selection of restaurants and creative boutiques.

Crowd-Free Alternative to the Amalfi Coast

No-one could deny the beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Towns such as Amalfi, Ravello and Positano are home to pastel-hued homes that cling to the steep lemon scented hillside, with simply jaw-dropping views over turquoise water and the silhouettes of neighbouring islands. But visit any of these towns during the summer months and you’ll find the charming alleyways thronging with tourists.

Just a few hours to the south, the Tyrrhenian coast promises equally spectacular coastal views without the crowds. One of my favourite spots is the charming town of Maratea which overlooks a string of beaches fringed by crystal clear water.

There are churches to visit, and a towering chalk white figure of Christ the Redeemer which seems to hover over the town, arms outstretched, from its lofty sea-facing location. But a stay in Maratea is all about the coastline’s natural beauty, its fabulous beaches and that very Italian sense of ‘dolce far niente’ – the ‘sweetness of doing nothing’.

Images provided by Jackie Parsons of Hedonistic Hiking.

Also read, Top 10 Small Museums and Attractions in Italy.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What memories do you have of travelling in Europe? Are you put off by crowded places? How do you feel about having to pay for entry to cities such as Venice?

Whether you’re a pro at makeup, a beginner or somewhere in between, it’s wonderful to have makeup products on hand that you can count on to be quick, easy and foolproof to apply and which will guarantee a gorgeous look.

If I’m in a hurry but need to look my best, or if I don’t want to have to take the time to think about what products I’ll use that day, these are the products I automatically reach for that never fail me and which I highly recommend. And the last product I’ll be sharing with you today is a foolproof product to use at the end of your makeup routine to create a gorgeous finished look.

I don’t know about you, but if I come across a makeup product that I can make work, but which takes extra time to do so, that product will end up at the back of my makeup drawer. But all of the products I’ll share with you today are front and center in my makeup drawer because I know I can always count on them to help me feel and look my best since they apply easily and flawlessly. And many of these products are inexpensive drugstore options.

Foolproof Brow Products

Recently, I received an email from a 72-year-old woman who was thrilled that she’d discovered a brow product that worked perfectly for her, and it just so happens to be the first product I’m going to share with you today. It’s Elf’s Wow Brow.

Since many of us find our brows getting sparser, whiter or greyer – or all three – making our brows visible again so they frame our eyes can be an absolute game changer. If I want a quick and easy way to give my brows color and volume, Wow Brow is my solution since it has both color and built-in fibers that bring my brows back to life. In the video I fill in just one of my brows so you can see the incredible difference this product makes.

And to make sure I cover all those white and grey brows that seem to be taking over my brows, I’ll pull out my foolproof white and grey brow hair cover-up product from Maybelline – their Express Brow Fast Sculpt Gel Brow Mascara. All I have to do is simply touch those white and grey hairs with this product, and they’re visible once again.

Foolproof, Easy Eyeshadow

If you have hooded and small eyes like I do – or have given up on eye products due to all the changes your eyes have undergone, run – don’t walk – to your computer or nearest drugstore to pick up this product: Elf’s Mini Bite Size Eyeshadow palette in the shade “I Love You a Latte.”  

The colors look beautiful on all of us, and it’s quick, easy and foolproof to apply. In the video, I demonstrate how easy this product makes eyeshadow application – and I apply it to just one eye so you can see what a difference this eyeshadow makes.

For eyeliner, I use a very skinny eyebrow brush to apply the darkest shade of eyeshadow from this mini palette. My no fail mascara application involves my eyelash curler and a wonderful clean beauty mascara from Tower 28.  

Be sure to check out Elise’s YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 50+. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Foolproof Face Makeup

Let’s move onto face makeup. Most of us have a challenge with our skin looking duller as we get older, so creating some beautiful soft glow can really help us look and feel more vibrant. If you have oily skin, I don’t recommend adding an additional product to create glow, but if you have dry skin like me or combination skin, please do give these easy, foolproof ways to create glow a try.

You can either use a glowy product as a face primer, mix it in with your foundation or add it on later. You’ll create the most glow if you add it into your foundation or apply it on top of your makeup. Here are the foolproof products I especially love and recommend. The first two are from the drugstore: Flower Beauty’s Supernova Celestial Skin Elixir, Colourpop’s Liquid Lite Glow Drops, the face primer from Kear Weis called The Beautiful Face Primer and NOOMI Stockholm’s Wild Blue Day and Night Facial Oil.

I’ll apply NOOMI Stockholm’s Wild Blue Day and Night Facial Oil on one side and the Kear Weis product on the other side as my face primers. But in the video, I swatch these other products so you can see what they look like and what the texture is like.

Contouring with makeup can help minimize the look of my jowls and give my face more definiton. But using contour can be tricky because we certainly don’t want to end up looking like we have dark stripes on our face. The secret to creating natural looking contour is to use one that is sheer and that applies and blends easily.

The two I’ve found that make contouring an absolute cinch are Westman Atelier’s stick contour in the shade “Biscuit” and the recently launched Makeup by Mario Softsculpt Multi-Use Bronzing and Shaping Serum which comes in 7 shades.

No Fuss Blush and Highlighter

There have been so many new blush products coming out over the past year and some formulas are definitely easier to work with – and more pigmented – than others. To ensure a foolproof application of blush, I recommend products that are lightweight and sheer. Here are four really good ones that fit this description: Georgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Cheek Tint, Makeup Artist Daniel Sandler’s Watercolor Liquid Cheek Colour, Tarte’s Blush Tape and Hard Candy’s Face off Luminous Liquid Blush.

The one I apply and share with you in today’s video is the least expensive blush and I absolutely love it. It’s Hard Candy’s Face Off Luminous Liquid Blush which comes in five shades. They are lovely and sheer and the applicator is designed to perfectly apply just a small amount which can be sheered out even further. In the video I combine two pink shades and then apply them so you can see how easily it blends into the skin to give a foolproof application.

Now just in case you might like to add a touch of highlighter – or, if you want some glow but don’t want to go the route of using a glowy product as a face primer or mixing a glowy product in with your foundation, just adding a touch of a foolproof glow product on the cheekbones can be beautiful.

You can certainly use the two products I used as face primer earlier to do this – the NOOMI Stockholm face oil or the Kear Weis Beautiful primer. And here are three other highlighters that are incredibly easy to use and which I particularly love: Tarte’s Face Tape Highlighter, the Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm from the clean beauty brand Merit and the highlighter from another clean beauty brand, RMS: their Magic Illuminator.

The Easiest Foolproof Touch of All

If you really want a foolproof, effortless way to add a gorgeous finishing touch at the end of your makeup routine, try this wonderful product from Tatcha: their “Luminous Dewy Skin Mist.”  I find the best way to use it is to spray it onto a dampened makeup sponge and then press it onto the areas of your face where you want to add some gorgeous glow.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What products do you have in your makeup drawer which are foolproof? What makeup product creates the biggest challenge for you and why?