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Shop Real Housewives of Potomac Season 8 Episode 4 Fashion

Since there are SO many Bravo shows right now and we want to provide you with the most content possible, we’re covering Real Housewives of Potomac Season 8 as a Shop LTK exclusive. If you aren’t familiar with Shop LTK it’s an easy to download shopping app that we share all of the looks we cover on the blog on! But don’t worry, even if you don’t have the app yet shopping last night’s pretty Potomac looks is still just as easy as clicking HERE or on the images below.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Originally posted at: Shop Real Housewives of Potomac Season 8 Episode 4 Fashion

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The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

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Originally posted at: Big Blonde Hair Cyber Monday Picks 2023

In the past year, I have had several car accidents. Three to be exact. Spoiler alert, no one was hurt, in any of the incidents. Each time I was barely driving 2 mph. In one, I was parked and not even in the car. The second involved pulling into my driveway. In the finale, the big one, I was pulling out from a parking spot and hit another parked car, that was the trickiest.

Upfront, I will tell you I have a technologically advanced car, and despite a backup camera, front-end camera, sensor detectors set on sensitive, and wide-view mirrors, there are blind spots. There were no mind-altering substances involved, and I haven’t taken a drink in four years and several months.

Before this, I had been in two accidents in my 46 years of driving. Both happened last year, and both times the Police Report validated: Not my fault. I love those three words, not my fault.

An accident as defined to me by Alexa: “An accident is an unintended undesirable event that results in harm, injury, or loss. Can occur unexpectedly, caused by human error or external factors.”

Two of the three accidents this year were my errors. Although entirely unintended.

So, what happened?

The First Accident: Parking Way Too Close

The first one was in late March. I was coming home after a long day, and it was dark. I pulled in, in a rush to hop out of the car and pee. That’s the usual reason for the rush! I was about to get out of the car, parked in the middle of my driveway, and a thought crossed my mind.

Everyone is hunkering down for snow. It smells like snow. I am too lazy to come back out in the dark and move the car. So, I decided it was best if I pulled closer to the tree line for the snowplow to have more room to turn around. I live in New England and up here March comes in and out like a Lion. April fools you into thinking it will be warmer. The last two years I had both a light dusting of snow and the first tulips springing forth on Mother’s Day in early May.

The whole idea of making more room for the snowplow is ridiculous. I live alone and have a huge drive. My ex-boyfriend’s truck was parked with a dead battery. (If you are wondering, he did take the truck, and left by my tree a 75-pound battery he promised to pick up six months ago.)

I wanted to blame him for leaving the truck. It was not his fault. I decided to rush and back up again to get closer to the truck. I scraped my passenger side hind quarter to get as close to the truck as possible. It is about a 12-inch gash, only one inch thick in one spot, the rest is a fine line. The estimate was USD 1,600. Ouch.

The whole panel had to come off. The good news is it’s purely cosmetic, with no future damage to be expected, no rusting, or peeling. I decided to live with it. Depending on the light, I don’t even notice it.

The Second Accident: Luggage Cart

In the second incident, I was on a spiritual retreat. My 86-year-old friend Laura and I were checking into the hotel. It took both of us to wield the luggage cart. We left it at the curb and went to open the trunk and get our bags out of the car. A huge gust of wind came out of nowhere. It was so forceful it knocked the cart over and the decorative spiral on top went right into the passenger side door, making a hole and a dent.

The side poles of the cart scaped the paint off in the two places where it brushed down on its way to the ground. Laura and I were both thankful the rack didn’t fall on us! Both of us are about 5 feet tall and would have had no good defense against an 80-pound luggage rack diving on top of us.

I am going to also label that a success. I didn’t take it as a sign that the retreat was a mistake, or that we shouldn’t have come a night early. Surprisingly, I let it go, and as I was there to focus on my calm, serenity, and becoming the person I wanted to be, I focused on my calm and serenity.

The Final Straw

That brings us to my latest incident. I’d spent a lovely evening with a friend and her husband, and then off we went to hear our friend Toni Bergins perform songs from her new album. All signs were good. The music was phenomenal, seeing old friends, meeting new people. The night ended with a delicious treat from our local chocolate shop.

I got in, warmed the car and as I pulled out, apparently started cutting to the right, way too early trying to avoid a circular curb in front of me. By the time I realized what that noise was, I was more than halfway out of the spot.

I got out and looked at the damage to the other car. Not much, scraped paint on the bumper. My first thought? No one saw it. No one heard it, no one came outside. There were tons of people still inside. The thought of going in and announcing I hit someone’s car was too overwhelming. I pulled out a piece of paper and left my name and number very legibly. That’s important because there may have been a time when I would have left a note, and hoped I never heard from the person I hurt.

I then realized I didn’t know what it did to my car. I thought: “How bad can it be?” I pulled into the first well-lit gas station I could find to assess the damage. A big sigh of relief as the front right bumper was clear. That big sigh turned into a big cry when I walked around the side and looked. Both passenger doors were dented and scraped.

I don’t know much about accidents, given my safe driver discount – now in jeopardy! – although I could easily tell that fixing it was going to be more than my deductible. I called the police and reported the accident, taking full blame.

And then returned the call to the owner of the car I hit. I profusely apologized and relayed my plan to make a police report and place an insurance claim in the morning. They thanked me for being honest.

What All This Taught Me

Instead of overthinking it, I sat down to write this. Here’s what I have learned.

Accidents Are Accidents

I have been blessed to drive without accidents all these years. Now there will be a monetary hit for sure. And I can accept that transfer of currency for a lesson. If not spent on this, it would be something else. Frankly, I am just thankful it is not for my daughter, dog, or my health. Could this have been avoided? Maybe.

Should I spend time going down that rabbit hole? Absolutely not!

I Am Older and Have More Insurance or at Least a Financing Mechanism

When the Police Officer, came to take pictures for the report, I said, “Thank goodness I have insurance.” She said, “More like a loan.” I didn’t understand what she meant and was too tired to question her. In the light of day, I realized what she’d meant. Either I pay out of pocket for the damage and don’t report it to my insurance, or I do report it and see a massive increase in my policy premium over the next few years.

There is the loan: I get the car paid and fixed now and pay later through the premium increase. Either way, I pay. Once again, I am grateful that even though I live on a fixed budget, it won’t keep me from meeting my other responsibilities and still getting some of what I want and don’t always need.

Maximum Tolerable Downtime – MTD

Taken from the Disaster Recovery World, I ask myself these questions:

• How long can I wait till I can’t wait anymore to fix the car?
• How much time can go by without fixing it until I will miss something important?

My car is running, just dented. I have the coverage that includes a rental when the car is in the shop. An annoying distraction, but minimal effort. My only job is to do the emotionally hard work to keep my thoughts right there. I cannot turn to my old friends fault and blame and dwell on what went wrong. This situation has a high level of maximum tolerable downtime.

NO Universalizing or Catastrophizing

Universalizing as a Social Work term has two meanings. First, your feelings are a normal reaction to a situation. I am not the only person that has ever had a car accident. In this situation, these feelings are not unusual. Others have been in car accidents, accepted responsibly, and paid higher insurance premiums. It helps to know that I am like others.

The second meaning of universalizing is to not make it bigger than it is. What does that mean? To not catastrophize it to the worst possible outcome.

The colloquialism is: Do not make a mountain out of a molehill. It is one problem, one issue, not the whole universe. I can’t go down the rabbit hole of “if onlys,” such as if only I hadn’t parked there because my feet hurt… if only I hadn’t gone out that night… Nor can I turn this small matter into a bigger universal issue: It was a mistake to go out, I am a mistake, my whole life sucks, and nothing ever turns out my way.

There was none of that. It was an unfortunate accident. An unintended event. Full Stop.

Ability to Move on, Not Judge

I am so grateful that other than my pride, nobody got hurt.

What’s Next for Me

Given my remote living location, I must drive. Abandoning my car is not an option. And while it is always preferable to not have an accident, my ability to accept it, deal with it, and move on is a direct accomplishment of all the “emotional” growth I have worked hard for. If growth comes via a price tag and a car fix, I’ll take it.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you been in a car accident lately? How big was it? Were you at fault? What lessons did you learn? Did you go down the rabbit hole of “if onlys?

The cold chill during these beautiful autumn days
signal the coming of winter. You’re probably winter proofing your home and
slowly rotating in your chunky sweaters and heavy coats so that when that first
snow hits, you’re ready.

But are you making plans on how to stay fit during the
winter months? After all, getting at least 30 minutes of activity a day reduces
the overall risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure in
adults 50 and over.

Plus, the stronger and more flexible you are, the more stable and balanced you are. Luckily, there are plenty of fun ways you can stay active over the winter season.

Do at Home Workouts

You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home to get in a good workout these days. All you need is a little space, some workout clothes, and a mat. Start off with some gentle exercises that build up your flexibility and balance, such as yoga and tai chi.

There are plenty of free online videos you can find for beginners. Make sure you are practicing good form at all times. The best way to ensure this is to do your exercises in front of a mirror while watching a video.

Once you get the hang of each pose, you can easily
transition in between them and even start adding in more challenging options.

For strength building, start off slow with some resistance band training. You can perform
multiple exercises all with just a single band and some video tutorials. If you
find that you’re outgrowing your current band, you can purchase another one
that offers more resistance.

What sets resistance band training apart from
dumbbells and even using your body weight is that you’re challenging your
muscles from different angles, which ultimately helps you more in everyday
tasks. After all, you’re not just moving your arms and legs up and down, you
use a wide range of motions.

Play in the Snow

While the joy of snow wears off for most people once
they turn into adults, that doesn’t have to be the case. Snow can still be fun.

It’s all about making sure you’re dressed for it by
wearing insulating, water-resistant jackets, boots, and gloves. And, of course,
don’t forget a hat and scarf. You’ll want to find one that covers your entire
head. After all, 60 percent of heat escapes through your head!

So, when you think about staying active in the cold months, you probably think winter sports. What are the first images that pop into your mind? For most, it’s probably skiing, skating, and snowboarding. All three are great winter activities, but there are many other options available to you that don’t require expensive tickets to ride a ski lift or use a rink such as:

• Snowshoeing
• Cross-country skiing
• Curling

If you don’t have the spare money to spend on
equipment, just put on your boots and go for a walk in the park! You’ll be
surprised how much exercise you get just walking through the snow!

Join a Gym

Not everyone has a nearby gym to help them stay active in the cold months, but if you do, winter is a great time to sign up. Many gyms and community centers have classes specifically designed for senior citizens that are low-impact but still get your heart pumping.

Joining a gym can be intimidating at first, especially
if you have never gone to one before, but the staff are there to help you and
the members themselves are more focused on their own workout than other people.

Many gyms also offer one free session with a personal
trainer. Take advantage of this option to learn about the various machines and the
proper form for each one. The last thing you want to do is injure yourself
while figuring out how to work the equipment.

Once you know what to do on each machine, you can get
started for real. Incorporate strength training and aerobic training for best
results. Stick to the machines, at least in the beginning, as these help ensure
you are using proper form and targeting the proper muscles.

As you become more comfortable with lifting, you can
transition to free weights if you want. There’s no shame in sticking with the
machines!

Volunteer for an Organization

Working out is not the only way to stay active. Getting out of the house and involved in your community is something else to consider. Many seniors suffer from depression, isolation, and loneliness due to various reasons ranging from health to mobility to location.

Some studies have found that senior
citizens who reported these issues saw a 45 percent increase in their risk of
death and were at a greater risk of mental and physical decline. Unfortunately,
once winter rolls around, these issues only increase due to inclement weather. 

Socialization is important for people of all ages, but
especially so for seniors who often feel forgotten. While some cities and towns
do offer events for seniors, if your area doesn’t have something like this,
you’ll have to proactively search for opportunities.

Find a cause that speaks to you and see if they need
any help during the winter season. The best part about volunteering is that
you’ll be able to interact with a diverse group of people.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What are some activities you plan on doing this winter?
Have you signed up for a gym yet? Do you plan to go with a friend? We’d love to
hear your thoughts! Let’s discuss more in the comments below!

The holiday season is one full of emotions: joy, laughter, and love, but also stress, grief, loneliness, and busyness. It’s a time of celebrations and events where sweet goodies abound. It’s a season of baking and cooking all of the treasured family recipes and traditional dishes that help us to remember years past and those who are no longer with us physically.

All of these things can make it hard to stick with our healthy routines as we wind down the year; often leaving us entering the new year with extra weight, feeling run down, worn out, and not like our best self.

But it doesn’t have to be that way!

You can navigate the holiday season and enjoy yourself without entering the new year feeling run down and out of shape. Check out these tips to help you reduce stress and thrive this holiday season.

The Power of No

During the holiday season, there are so many activities we can participate in, but when we are overwhelmed by our schedules and events, extra activities can add stress to our lives.

Be careful about the invitations you accept. Be sure that you are truly excited by the events that you agree to attend. Drop the desire to please everyone and accept every invite and embrace the power of no.

“I’m so sorry but I won’t be able to attend.” You don’t need to provide a reason or explanation. Allowing some down time for yourself during a busy season can be one of the best things you can do for in terms of self-care. This may even give you more energy for your workouts, cooking, shopping, and family time. 

Avoid Skipping Meals

When attending or hosting a holiday gathering, it’s easy to skip meals leading up to the event. Whether it’s because you are so busy cooking and prepping for the event, or because you think skipping a meal ahead of an event will save you calories, or you simply run out of time to eat ahead of a gathering.

Skipping meals is a quick recipe to becoming hangry. You know the feeling. That feeling when you are so hungry that only 3 spoonfuls of peanut butter straight from the jar will settle you while you are looking for what you are really going to eat. Wink Wink. 

Strive to eat a balanced snack or meal leading up to holiday gatherings or on busy days. A balanced snack includes healthy fats to keep you full along with fruits and veggies and/or lean protein.

Examples of a balanced snack that won’t let your blood sugar spike, creating cravings, and leave you hungry are veggie sticks and hummus, greek yogurt with berries and nuts, an apple with sugar free nut butter, or rolled up turkey and cheese with lettuce and tomato. Plan ahead to bring something like this with you if you are on-the-go. 

If you enjoy a balanced snack before your gathering, you won’t be so hungry that you overeat and can truly savor the items you enjoy and that bring up fond memories. 

Breathing Exercises and Gentle Stretching

When you are in the throes of a stressful situation it is not the time to add a new coping strategy. Be proactive and start a new habit now. Adding some breathing exercises and/or a gentle stretching routine will help you to reduce stress.

Breathing exercises can be as simple as breathing in for a count of 3-4, hold for a count of 3-4, and breathe out for a count of 3-4. Do a few rounds. When adding a new routine, the best way to ensure you will stick with it is to pair it with an activity that already comes naturally to your routine.

Maybe each time you sit down to have a meal you do 2 rounds of deep breathing first. Or each time you are driving in the car, or first thing when you wake up or while the coffee is brewing, or right before bedtime. Having a routine in place that helps to reduce stress before you enter stressful situations will allow you to reach for that routine more easily when things get tough. 

Gentle stretching is another way to improve your mobility and flexibility in your body but also a good grounding technique to reduce stress. Check out this 10-minute gentle stretching routine:

Create New Traditions or Family Recipes

I love it when I see people create new traditions that keep them active during the holiday season. You can still enjoy the holiday time even if you don’t keep everything exactly the same as generations past.

Go for a hike to enjoy nature in a different season, participate in a 5K as a family, take a walk to see the decorations and lights together, and don’t be afraid to add some healthy recipes to the mix at your holiday table.

This doesn’t mean you have to ditch your grandmother’s biscuit recipe, but maybe one of the dishes that feels like tradition can be upgraded to a healthier version that becomes the new family favorite. 

Stick with Your Exercise Routine

I know, I know – you don’t need one more thing to do this holiday season. Between gathering, shopping, baking, cooking, and more, it can feel like exercise is the last item on your to-do list. But sticking with your exercise routine can actually give you the energy you need to feel your best during a busy season.

Not only that, but exercise can give you good endorphins to help you reduce stress. Check out this quick low-impact 10-minute exercise routine:

Don’t let the holiday season leave you feeling run down, tired, and worn out while carrying extra pounds into the new year. Try these tips this holiday season and register for my next FREE workshop: The 3 Secrets to Avoiding Stress + Weight Gain while enjoying the Holidays to the Fullest! (….and start 2024 feeling great!).

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What stresses you the most around the holidays you celebrate this time of year? How do you relax and find your balance amidst the chaos?