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A ‘New’ 2-Step Routine For Aging Skin: Dry Brushing

A ‘New’ 2-Step Routine For Aging Skin: Dry Brushing

by | AGING, MIND & BODY, SKIN

A ‘New’ 2-Step Routine For Aging Skin: Dry Brushing

Patti Huck-creator-women over fifty network

In an effort to be completely transparent, and completely compliant, all my blog posts will include this Disclaimer whether I’ve mentioned products or not:

Women Over Fifty Network is an authorized Amazon affiliate. This means that in some of my blog posts, I may mention or recommend a product. If you purchase any qualified products through my links, I will earn a small commission. Any commission I receive, does not increase the item’s purchase price for you. 

Although I only recently heard about this “beauty treatment” in the last few years, I’ve learned that dry brushing is a technique that dates waaaaay back to ancient times.  Many cultures used skin brushing to clean and beautify the skin, but it is most commonly associated with Ayurvedic medicine.

What is ‘Dry Brushing’ and Why Would You Do It?

Dry brushing is a skin care technique, called exfoliation, that involves using a dry brush to invigorate the skin to remove dead skin cells. Using a dry, stiff-bristled brush, you actually “brush” your skin. This improves circulation and stimulates the lymphatic system to boost drainage, which can help to reduce the appearance of cellulite, and promote overall skin health.

Dry brushing can also help to improve the absorption of skin care products, and leave the skin feeling smoother and more radiant.

Is Dry Brushing Safe?

Dry brushing can be safe for women over 60, but it’s important to take certain precautions. There are some risks associated with dry brushing, including skin irritation, bruising, and infection. To minimize these risks, use a clean brush and avoid brushing too vigorously or too often.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DRY BRUSHING?

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Exfoliation

Dry brushing removes dry, dead skin cells and unclogs pores, leaving your skin smoother and brighter.

Circulation

Dry brushing stimulates blood flow, which can help reduce the appearance of cellulite and give your skin a healthy glow.

Lymphatic Drainage

Dry brushing promotes lymphatic draining, which helps remove toxins from your body and boosts your immune system.

Affordability

Dry brushing is a relatively inexpensive way to improve your skin, compared to more invasive treatments like chemical peels or microdermabrasion.

Calming

Dry brushing calms the nervous system and helps reduce stress.

Ingrown Hair Prevention

Dry brushing helps to prevent ingrown hairs.

Digestion

Dry brushing stimulates blood flow, which can help reduce the appearance of cellulite and give your skin a healthy glow.

POSSIBLE DRAWBACKS OF DRY BRUSHING

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Skin Irritation

Some people may experience skin irritation or redness after dry brushing, especially if they have sensitive skin.

Over-Exfoliation

If you dry brush too often or too vigorously, you may damage your skin and cause more harm than good.

Time Consuming

Dry brushing takes time, and you may need to do it every day in order to see results.

HOW DO I DO DRY BRUSHING?

STEP 1. Choose a natural-bristled brush.*

STEP 2. Make sure your skin is dry (dry brush before showering)

STEP 3. Start at your feet and work your way up, brushing in long strokes towards your heart.

STEP 4. Pay extra attention to areas that are prone to cellulite, such as your thighs and buttocks.

STEP 5. After brushing, take a shower to rinse off any dead skin cells.

STEP 6. Apply moisturizer ** to your skin to hydrate and nourish it.

* I purchased and recommend this particular brush, which is similar to the one in the middle picture below. The brush detaches from the long handle. This allows you to either strap the brush to your hand for more flexibility and access, or attach the long handle for harder to reach areas.

** This moisturizer was recommended to me by my doctor, and I recommend it to everybody I know. It seriously works.

Patti Huck image and signature

IN CONCLUSION, HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND…

 

  • Be gentle: Older skin can be thinner and more delicate, so it’s important to use gentle strokes and avoid applying too much pressure.
  • Avoid sensitive areas: Don’t brush over any areas of your skin that are broken or irritated, and avoid sensitive areas like the face and neck.
  • Hydrate: Make sure to drink plenty of water after dry brushing to help keep your skin hydrated.
  • Consult a doctor: If you have any skin conditions or health issues, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before starting a dry brushing routine.

If you notice any signs of skin irritation or infection, stop dry brushing and talk to your doctor.

Dry brushing is a simple and effective way to improve your skin’s texture and appearance. Just make sure to use a natural-bristled brush, start slowly, and avoid over-exfoliating.

With regular use, you can enjoy the benefits of smoother, brighter, and healthier-looking skin.

Although a variety of products are suitable for the uses I’ve described in this article, I own and use both of these products, and feel confident in highly recommending them to my readers. (Please read my affiliate disclosure at the top of this page). -Patti

Guide For New Keto OS Users: Things I Didn’t Know That I Want You To

Guide For New Keto OS Users: Things I Didn’t Know That I Want You To

by | KETONES, MIND & BODY

Guide For New Keto OS Users: Things I Didn’t Know That I Want You To

Yay You for Choosing to Optimize your Body with Keto OS!

When I started drinking ketones, I was a little bit in the dark as to when to take them, how to take them, and what to expect. So I want to make sure that my peeps are better informed.

In case you missed the video explaining how ketones work in your body and what they do for it,  this video does a way better job explaining it than I ever could. It’s only 4 minutes. Click the arrow and give it a watch.

When and How To Drink Ketones Plus Other Info

Read the Keto OS Hacker’s Guide below. Pay attention to the part about starting out with 1/2 packet. Some people do fine with a full packet and have no problems. Others may have the kind of body, like mine, that has to question every little thing that’s introduced to it.

It’s not uncommon to experience one of the below reactions when first starting ketones. They only last until your body adjusts. Usually you won’t be bothered by any of them:

  • Slight headache
  • Slight stomach cramping or gas
  • Loose bowels

I sometimes get a slight headache, which reminds me that I’m dehydrated (I suck at remembering my water intake). Drinking a glass of water takes it away almost immediately. Drinking ketones doesn’t replace your normal water intake. Water, Water Water.

Something else that works for any symptoms you might have is adding a little Pink Himalayan Sea Salt to your ketone drink. The salt will also calm down your drink if the flavor you’re drinking seems too sweet.

Keto User Guide

Blender Bottles and Ketosis Test Strips on Amazon

Here are some Links on Amazon to dip sticks and blender bottles. I got the ones below and i love the bottles because they don’t leak when you shake them. I love their little loop for carrying. For your convenience, I put the links below. If you order them, since I’m an Amazon Associate, I’ll get a teeny little commission (which doesn’t raise your price or affect your cost in any way).

You can find blender bottles pretty much anywhere – but be sure to get the ones with the little spring-looking thing in them that bounces around when you shake the bottle and help with blending.

I couldn’t find the dip strips in stores, but I didn’t look very hard either. I just ordered both mine through Amazon because they were a good price and I’m a little lazy.

Be Sure To Keep Your Account On Smart Ship. Here’s Why.

I know you’ve heard me preach about setting your orders on SmartShip – the below guides show the reason I do that. I hate ordering anything at full price, and always having your account set for SmartShip gives you a 22% discount with every order. (If you’re ordering any of the Keto Max flavors, that amounts to a savings of around $30).

Plus, if your orders are set to SmartShip, your fourth order is FREE. Check out the breakdowns below.

IMPORTANT: Log into the Pruvit account you created when you ordered your ketones. Click on the  ‘Manage Smartship’ tab across the top. Make sure your account is set to Smartship. If it’s not, you’ll be paying full price for your next order and won’t get your 4th order free.

Smart Ship Explained

Blogging About Ketones, the Keto-ish Diet & Ketosis

I’ll be writing more about  ketones, the ketogenic diet, and ketosis as I learn more about them myself.

I’ll let you know when new flavors are introduced, and will inform you when flash sales are coming (where prices are cut drastically for one day only).

Did you know that you can get ketones in your body in other ways besides just mixing them with water or adding them to your coffee? I’ll be sharing recipes you can make using your ketones that are seriously awesome.

Below is a blog post I wrote about ketones on my website “Women Over Fifty Network”.  If you’d like to see more posts like these, just subscribe to my website using the form at the bottom of this page.

Are You Struggling to Stay on The Keto Diet? Find Out the Secret!

What is a Keto Diet?

A Keto Diet, short for Ketogenic Diet, is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.

A Ketogenic Diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. When there is less carbohydrate in the diet, the liver then converts fat into fatty acids and ketones. The ketones pass into the brain through the blood and replace glucose as an energy source.

When there is an elevated level of ketones in the blood, you are said to be in a state known as “ketosis“. The goal of the Keto Diet is to get you into a state of ketosis.

Read More…

If You’re a Woman over 50, You Might Like My Blog

I’d love to have you subscribe to my blog! I write not only about ketones, but about all thing pertaining to women baby boomers. I do all I can to connect women over fifty with each other. You can visit Women Over Fifty Network HERE and poke around a bit first, or you can just subscribe below.

If you want to hear people’s stories about how Pure Therapeutic Ketones have changed their lives, see before and after fat loss pictures, get information how ketones affects/improves particular medical conditions, and so much more information…messsage me on Facebook and I’ll add you to a private Facebook group I’m in. You will be amazed!!

Until next time…

Patti Huck image and signature

Keto Diet not Working for You? Try this Secret to Make it Easy.

Keto Diet not Working for You? Try this Secret to Make it Easy.

by | AGING, BABY BOOMERS, DEPRESSION, MEMORY, MIND & BODY, SLEEP

Keto Diet not Working for You? Try this Secret to Make it Easy.

What is a Keto Diet?

A Keto Diet, short for Ketogenic Diet, is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. A Ketogenic Diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. When there is less carbohydrate in the diet, the liver then converts fat into fatty acids and ketones. The ketones pass into the brain through the blood and replace glucose as an energy source. When there is an elevated level of ketones in the blood, you are said to be in a state known as “ketosis“. The goal of the Keto Diet is to get you into a state of ketosis.

What Foods Can I Eat on a Keto Diet, and What Food is Off-Limits?

You can search for Keto Diet and find hundreds of meal plans and recipes online. One site that I thought looked particularly good was Women’s Health. Since the Ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate diet, that means you need to stay away from sugar, pasta and bread.
Food You Can Eat (in general)
  • Fish, seafood, meat
  • Vegetables that grow above ground
  • Cheese and eggs
  • Natural fats
    • i.e (butter, olive oil, etc.)
Foods You Should Eat Sparingly
  • Pasta, rice, potatoes
  • Fruit
  • Beer, Soda, Juice
  • Bread, Cakes, Donuts, etc.
  • Candy, Chocolate, etc.

What’s The Big Hype? Why is It Supposed to Work?

The body has three sources of fuel it can burn to get its energy: Carbohydrates, Protein and Fat. Just as a car needs fuel in it’s gas tank that it burns to enable it to perform, we need food to provide us our energy to perform.  Sticking stictly to a Ketogenic Diet will eventually put the body into a state of ketosis.  When your body is in a state of ketosis, it means it is now burning fat to fuel your body.

How Do You Know When You’re in Ketosis?

Urine test strips are available, like the ones below, that will give you a reading letting you know when your body has reached a ketogenic state, or is in “ketosis“.

Buy now on Amazon

If It Sounds So Simple, Why Are So Many People Falling Off?

Because it’s hard!

The Keto diet’s original purpose was not for weight loss, but to treat epilepsy in children. Those on the diet had to be monitored strictly by a physician. So even if you think you’re following the rules of the diet, as it turns out, you may not be. According to my research, it is extremely difficult to get your body into a state of ketosis on your own through diet alone, and even if you do get to ketosis, you may not be there long enough to burn much fat.

So What’s The Secret?

Pure Therapeutic Ketones. You start dumping ketones into your body to get your body into ketosis faster. The video below shows how they work and what they do. It’s only 4 minutes and it’s explained very simply (no scientific language). Hit the play button on the man’s nose and give it a watch.

Oh, I Forgot The Best Part…

As I learned more about Pruvit’s Keto OS, one thing kept jumping out at me. Pruvit claims that Keto OS will get your body into ketosis within 60 minutes, (the state when your body is burning fat), EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT FOLLOWING A KETOGENIC DIET!!! Not saying that it wouldn’t help you and your body to follow the diet, but if you’re drinking Keto OS you don’t have to follow the Keto diet because ketosis will happen anyway. Yeah. I was ready to give this stuff a try.

How Do You Get Them?

I am one of the biggest skeptics you’ll ever find. In my next post I will be sharing what my experience has been with this product, but I’ll tell you right now that it’s basically changed my life. If you’ve decided to get better with ketones right away, and don’t want to wait to hear my story, I can help you. Choose your option below.

Want to Try Them First?

To purchase a 5-10 day trial, Just click the button below. Try all the flavors. Be reminded what it feels like to feel good.
Yes! Get Me Started!

Anxious to Just Get Started?

If you want to skip the trial and just get started, click the button below and let’s get you some ketones!
Order Your Ketones Now!

A Note To My Readers:

When I started Women Over Fifty Network I made a promise to myself that if I found a product that made my life easier, or in this case improved it, I would share it with you in hopes of it making your lives better. This is hands down one of those products.

I will never recommend a product I don’t use myself, or a product with which I haven’t personally had results.

Stay tuned for my next post about my experience with pure therapeutic ketones.

 

 

Patti Huck image and signature

Struggling with Keto Diet | Women Over Fifty Network
How To Block Someone From Your Facebook Page and Delete Their Comments

How To Block Someone From Your Facebook Page and Delete Their Comments

by | BABY BOOMERS, FACEBOOK, LEARNING

How To Block Someone From Your Facebook Page and Delete Their Comments

Did you know that you can block someone from your Facebook page and delete comments you don’t like?

For the life of me, I canNOT understand why people are intentionally mean. Is it that their lives are so incredibly miserable they want to make everybody else’s lives as miserable as theirs? The misery loves company theory?

Do they resent everyone else’s success or happiness because both of those things are lacking from their own lives?

What Do These Comments Look Like?

You’ve probably seen or have personally experienced these trolls, right? Say, for instance that someone posted a video on their Facebook page that you loved watching, or they wrote a status update on their Facebook page that you were interested in. It made you feel good, or made you laugh, or made you think.

Since you enjoyed it, you were curious if others enjoyed it as much as you did. So you start reading the comments. You laugh as people share their similar stories. You consider the suggestions they contribute. Like you, others are reminded of their own experiences as they read the subject matter. And then….BOOM, you come across some hateful or smart-ass comment that has little to do with the content. Often it’s a personal attack, on the person who wrote the post on their own Facebook page.

Here’s the deal. As I mentioned above, they’re writing on someone’s personal Facebook page. We get to choose what goes on that page and who gets to read it. Just because some random person gets a hair up their ass and decides to junk up your wall with their smack doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it.

Who Are These People and Why Do They Do It?

Bullies love to comment for the sole purpose of starting a fight…stirring the pot. We dealt with this type in grade school. Remember? The kid that was a tough guy, or the girl who was a bitch, but only when their group of loser friends were there to back them up?

They make a rude comment, then sit back and watch the shit show that ensues. Unfortunately these child bullies have grown into adult bullies. Sad that they feel so inadequate in life.

These people may have been the ones being bullied as kids, and now they’ve grown into ignorant assholes with a chip on their shoulders the size of New York. They hide behind their computers with a shit-ton of resentment waiting for their opportunity to pounce.

They may read the first line (if that), of your post, misinterpret it (or just not understand it), read none of the comments, and then jump right in  blindly telling you why they didn’t like what you wrote…but you don’t remember ever asking them.

Because they hate you and everyone else who isn’t like them, they need to knock you down to make themselves feel better. They’re negative, have few friends, probably aren’t successful, so by god they don’t want you to be either.

These are the worst ones. They can intelligently strip you down to nothing. Once they’ve finished puking all over what you wrote, they’ll usually move on to their opinion of you…your appearance, your interests, your friends, and whatever else pissed them off when they landed on your page. They love seeing their name in print.

So What Do You Do If This Happens To You?

Block Someone From Facebook & Delete Comments | Women Over Fifty Network

DON’T FEED THEM.

Don’t respond. Don’t challenge them, don’t try to scold them, or reason with them. You will only fuel their fire and end up getting your own panties in a twist. You delete them. You delete their comments, then you block them. This happened to me on my blog.  I tried taking the high road and left their comment there because of that whole freedom of speech thing, but then I asked myself why? If they were friends of mine, maybe I’d allow their opinion if it were valid. But trash talk for self-serving purposes? Nope. Not on my page. DELETE. DELETE. DELETE. BLOCK.

How Do You Delete a Comment on Your Facebook Page?

ON YOUR COMPUTER:

See the three dots beside the comment? (circled in red).  Click it. It will open a box with the options to Edit the comment or Delete it.

Click Delete. Easy as that.

ON YOUR PHONE:

iPhone:

Tap the comment. It will give you the options to Edit, Copy or Delete. 

Click Delete

 

Android:

Long-press the comment. 

Click Delete.

How Do You Block Someone?

1. Click on the person’s name who made the comment. It will take you to their profile page.

2. Click on the three dots on their cover photo (to the right of the message button). It will give you a drop down menu with several options. The last option is Block.

3. Select Block.

TWO THINGS FOR YOU TO KNOW!

1. When you block a person, they do not receive a notification that you’ve blocked them. The only way for them to know, is if they go to your friends list and don’t see themselves on it.
2. If you block a friend and then decide you want to unblock them, you’ll need to send them a new friend request.
This is #4 in the series: Facebook for Baby Boomers. 

I write blog answers to the questions as they come in.

Do you have a burning question about how to use Facebook? Is something making you crazy that you can’t figure out how to do?

Write your questions in the comment section below. No question is a dumb question. We’re all learning!

If you want to see the answers to your Facebook questions (and some others you didn’t know you had), be sure to subscribe above.

Women Over Fifty Who Travel Solo…Around the World. They Say You Can Too!

Women Over Fifty Who Travel Solo…Around the World. They Say You Can Too!

by | ADVENTURE, INSPIRING, PLAYING, TRAVELING

Women Over Fifty Who Travel Solo…Around the World. They Say You Can Too!

Have You Ever Wanted to Travel Solo? You know…just take off, all by yourself? Have you always dreamed of traveling to exciting destinations. Flitting from here to there, drinking in the sights, experiencing the culture, actually seeing first hand all the exciting places you’ve only read about? Are you a woman over fifty who would love to travel but circumstances have caused you to feel you’re not able to?
  • Is it because you have no one to go with you?
  • Are you afraid of traveling alone?
  • Is it because you can’t afford it?
What’s keeping you from seeing all the places you’ve always dreamed of? Do you really, really want to travel? The women you’ll read about below wanted it bad enough that they made it happen. Most of these women felt the hardest part was just making the decision to do it. Some overcame their fear of traveling alone by first dipping their toe in with a short trip. Most dove in head first. What would it feel like to sell everything you owned, stuff a backpack full of the only possessions you had left, and hit the road? No obligations and only adventure on your horizon? The women below all travel. By themselves. They love it. In fact, they prefer it. Most of them are over 50.
  • Some are nomads with no permanent residence…going from one exciting destination to the next.
  • Some prefer luxury travel (but have found ways to experience luxury on a budget).
  • Some like getting into the nitty gritty of the cultures in places they stay, and live among the locals.
But what do they live on? How do they support their travels?
  • Some do house sitting. (House sitting in Italy? OMG, sign me up!)
  • Some work remotely at their regular profession from whatever country they’re currently exploring.  Play by day, fire up the computer and work by night.
They’ll tell you exactly how they do it.  The circumstances that caused them to make the decision to pack and go. They’ll tell you what it’s like to be completely on your own in a foreign country. All of these women write blogs about their adventures. They share packing, safety, dining and etiquette tips for solo traveling that they’ve learned along the way. They share gorgeous photos from places some of us have only dreamed of going, and they tell us stories about their adventures. They all have different stories, but the one thing it seems they are all saying is… Anyone can travel, at any time, anywhere. You just have to decide to do it, and then DO IT!

So…grab your favorite beverage, settle in and prepare to be entertained. Clicking the red buttons will take you to each of their individual sites. Explore. Look at their photos. Visit the “About” pages on their sites to get to know them and their stories. I was fascinated. I’m sure you will be too. Enjoy!

Dyanne

Traveln Lass - solo travel | Women Over Fifty Network

TRAVELN LASS

So if it’s inspiration you’re after – a gentle nudge to make your own travel dreams come true, then you’ve come to the right place. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to think that my crazy travel tales (especially as a solo lass “of a certain age”) might inspire some other lass or lad (of any age) to follow their own brand of bliss, and just pop on a backpack and DO IT! Note from Patti: This is one of my favorite sites. Dyanne is such an entertaining and engaging writer you feel as if she’s telling you stories over coffee. She’s down to earth and real, and just sounds like someone I’d love to know.
GO TO TRAVELN LASS
14 Women Over Fifty Who Travel Solo | Women over Fifty Network

Barbara

Hole in the Donut - travel solo | Women Over Fifty Network

HOLE IN THE DONUT

Working for years at a job she didn’t enjoy, Barbara kept asking herself “Who am I, why am I here, and what is my purpose in life?”After becoming ill and suffering for five years, she was finally diagnosed and treated for chronic Lyme Disease. As soon as she was healthy enough, she left her job, strapped on a backpack, and traveled solo around the world for six months, determined to visit the places she’d always wanted to see. Upon returning to the States in September of 2007, she rented an apartment in Florida and continued to travel more than half of the time, while simultaneously pursuing freelance writing opportunities. By the end of 2009 she was traveling so much that it made no sense to maintain a home base, so she sold or gave away her remaining furniture and hit the road full time.
GO TO HOLE IN THE DONUT

Sherry

Otts World - solo travel | Women Over Fifty Network

OTTS WORLD

I am currently in my mid 40’s and have been traveling and living on the road (yes, homeless) since 2006.  How did I become a digital wanderer, New Nomad, career break guru, and have the most enviable job in the world? I’m Sherry, a corporate cube dweller turned nomadic traveler. I travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations to bring you unique travel experiences and photography. But it’s not just about travel, it’s also about life experiences of a middle age wanderer. I quit my corporate IT job in 2006 and said goodbye to blackberries, meetings and New York City. My original intention was to simply take a career break and come back after a year and determine next steps.   I traveled around the world to 23 countries, finding a new exciting world outside of my office walls.  My eyes were opened to possibilities and the beauty of simplicity; I didn’t want to go back to my old corporate existence.  Instead I sold my possessions and relocated to Vietnam for one year  in order to keep traveling.  To make money I taught ESL, sold photography, and started really working at  building a blogging and writing presence, including launching my other career break travel website,
GO TO OTTS WORLD

Cheryl & Lisa

What Boundaries Travel - solo travel | Women Over Fifty Network

WHAT BOUNDARIES? TRAVEL

Before we started “What Boundaries? Live Your Dream!” we DID have normal jobs like everyone else. Really we did. But in 2007, we decided to sell everything and get an around-the-world plane ticket. This travel bug was only supposed to last 6 months, max. But somewhere along the way – we got hooked. We’ve volunteered in South Africa and Mexico, WOOFed in Hawaii and New Zealand, and backpacked across Europe and Asia. So far, we’ve traveled to 5 continents, 48 countries and well over 250 cities. And we’re just getting started!
GO TO WHAT BOUNDARIES? TRAVEL

Leyla

Women on the Road - solo travel | Women over Fifty Network

WOMEN ON THE ROAD

Women on the Road is for women who are curious, smart, enterprising, enthusiastic, inspired or dynamic – women who want to see the world on their own terms, usually solo (though someone might occasionally tag along) but always independently. Women on the Road is for women who are ready to take one big fat bite out of life and smack their lips in glee afterward. Women on the Road shows you how any woman, of any age, can hit the road, on her own – and enjoy every minute.
GO TO WOMEN ON THE ROAD

Mary Jo

Traveling with MJ - travel solo | Women Over Fifty Network

TRAVELING WITH MJ

MJ, is a traveler, travel writer, podcaster, and publisher. When she’s not on a trip, she’s planning or researching the next one and has a bag always packed, ready for the next great adventure. Her travel ethos is Value Luxury – that sweet spot where experience and price intersect to create WOW.
GO TO TRAVELING WITH MJ

Tam

Travels with Tam - travel solo | Women Over Fifth Network

TRAVELS WITH TAM

When I became an emptynester, I began traveling more adventurously, and solo, as well as writing about my journeys, and thus Travels with Tam was born! My posts include many photographs, so if you love travel photography, food, wildlife and underwater photographs, you have come to the right place. I share stories about traveling, food, luxury hotels, adventure trips, scuba diving, and citizen science. I want to inspire others to get out and see the world, to expand their knowledge and enlarge their perspective. You can travel and “do good” for yourself, others and our planet at the same time!
GO TO TRAVELS WITH TAM

Penny

Adventures of a Carry-on - travel solo | Women Over Fifty Network

ADVENTURES OF A CARRY-ON

I’m a professional makeup artist with a bad case of wanderlust, an eye for detail, a WSET certified wino, and yes, I’m addicted to Italy. A curious person, I’m interested in learning, creating, self discovery, connecting with people, having adventures, and discovering beauty. Travel writing and photography are just a way for me to express myself. Adventures of a Carry-on is a place I’ve created to fill with all the things I find  beautiful and inspiring – art, architecture, culture, people, food and wine and of course, travel!

What you will find at Adventures of a Carry-on

You might find me stomping through vineyards in the Italian countryside, or flying over Napa Valley wineries in a hot air balloon. I will share first-hand accounts of the places I’m traveling to including; intimate details of tours, wineries, restaurants, hotels and more. Travel lightly, experience deeply is the way I like to roll.
GO TO ADVENTURES OF A CARRY-ON

Janice

Tracey

Solo Traveler World - solo travel | Women Over Fifty Network
Janice: A love of travel, personal loss and an empty nest all conspired for me to begin Solo Traveler in 2009. Resonating with thousands of readers, it quickly went from personal to public and the Solo Traveler Project began. Janice has been called the doyen of solo travel.
Tracey: One day, when I had dragged Janice out to yet another food and wine event, I was explaining what was special about each of the components of our meal: where the vegetables had been grown, how the cattle had been raised, and why the soil and climate of the local region resulted in a stunning wine. She invited me to write my very first post for Solo Traveler. Now, as Editor and Food & Wine Travel Columnist for Solo Traveler, I eat, drink, and cook my way around the world, sharing my (frequently wonderful, sometimes unusual) experiences with readers.
GO TO SOLO TRAVELER WORLD

Susan

Solo Trips & Tips - solo travel | Women Over Fifty Network

SOLO TRIPS AND TIPS

You are never too old to start traveling solo. I was already 30 years old when I took my first overseas trip alone. Actually, I was 29 years and 300+ days. I celebrated my 30th birthday while in Singapore. There is no right way or wrong way to travel solo. Not everyone should become a nomad. Although I do think everyone should give solo travel a try at least once in their life! Even if you just get out and explore your own city alone, that too could be your start to solo travel my friend 🙂
GO TO SOLO TRIPS AND TIPS

Debbra

Tropical Travel Girl - solo travel | Women Over Fifty Network

TROPICAL TRAVEL GIRL

Tropical travel has become my passion. I’ve never met an island I didn’t like, although I’ve liked some better than others.  I’m often asked questions like, “What is your favorite island?” and “I’m thinking of going somewhere tropical on my next vacation. Where should I go?” Through my destination content, blog posts, and photos, I hope to be able to help anyone interested in planning a trip to the tropics, and because every destination is different, I want to help you discover where your ideal island destination may be. I’ll also be sharing information and advice about planning, packing, and how to navigate the ever-changing world of travel.
GO TO TROPICAL TRAVEL GIRL

Jennifer

Solo Travel Girl - solo travel | Women Over Fifty Network

SOLO TRAVEL GIRL

I founded Solo Travel Girl because I found myself traveling alone, not lonely. My personal experiences are meant to inspire and empower other travelers to shed their fears and travel solo. I admit to still having uncomfortable butterflies when dining alone in a chichi restaurant or participating in an activity geared toward couples or families but I shrug off my insecurities and indulge in the moment of discovery and adventure. Topics I blog about include Florida, domestic and international travel, culinary, nature-based/outdoor adventures, solo travel, girlfriend getaways, product reviews and travels with a dog.
GO TO SOLO TRAVEL GIRL

Dr. Cacinda Maloney

Points and Travel - solo travel | Women Over Fifty Network

POINTS AND TRAVEL

I have traveled every six weeks of my life for over 25+ years. A Doctor by profession, I gave up my career six years ago to travel the world even more! Points and Travel is not your ordinary travel and lifestyle blog. We are a travel resource of content related to destinations about adventure, culture, and smart luxury travel–maximizing dollars for the greatest luxurious experiences. Storytelling and photography are my two passions.  This is what I primarily do when I travel. Look for a great story about a place and then photograph it. My extensive travels have inspired me to write and share some of my extensive luxury travel experiences with you.
GO TO POINTS AND TRAVEL

Donna

Nomad Women - solo travel | Women Over Fifty Network

NOMAD WOMEN

The whole point of Nomad Women is to help you, inspire you and empower all you current and future mature, experienced, wonderful Nomad Women, to get up, get out and see the world! If you have any questions or comments that can help me achieve that, I want to hear them!
GO TO NOMAD WOMEN
Do you know of any Over Fifty Women Solo Travelers that I missed? Shout them out in the comment below. Or if you’re a Solo Woman Traveler, be sure to comment with the name of your site! Until next time…peace out. Patti Huck image and signature
“This Ain’t Your Mama’s Wedding!” A Mother Reflects as She Helps Plan Her Daughter’s Wedding

“This Ain’t Your Mama’s Wedding!” A Mother Reflects as She Helps Plan Her Daughter’s Wedding

by | GUEST POSTS, LIVING

“This Ain’t Your Mama’s Wedding!” A Mother Reflects as She Helps Plan Her Daughter’s Wedding

I’m so happy to share this post by another member of the Women Over Fifty Bloggers community. Reading her story brought a tear to my eye remembering my own daughter’s wedding and feeling the same shock when helping her plan (and pay for) it. Time is definitely marching on and nothing seems to escape modernization. But…there are still some things that will never change. Enjoy Mary Jo’s story, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.

GUEST BLOGGER: MARY JO MARTIN

GUEST BLOGGER: MARY JO MARTIN

Blogger: Visiting the Gray Planet

Mary Jo is a happy-to-be 57-yr old blogger living in Denver, Colorado. She launched her lifestyle blog for middle aged women in April of this year. Her writing focuses mainly on aging parents, retirement and gray hair.

Mary Jo states that aging is like grade school math: “you’re going to add some things and subtract some things”. 

When confronted with the realities that growing older brings, she feels it’s easier when you have good information and you know you’re not alone.

Weddings Have Changed (and that’s putting it mildly!)

My daughter got married last summer which made me a first-time mother of the bride.

The night they got engaged was magical. I remember the young man who couldn’t quit smiling and the future bride glowing with love and excitement. Now I know what they mean by “love is in the air.” As I was glowing with pride and soaking this all in, the arresting thought that we would be putting on a wedding hit me. It was the first of many shocking realizations I was about to discover.

I got married in 1987 and had a lovely wedding very much in line with the standards of the ’80’s. Perms for all! My mother and I planned everything together. We bought 1 bridal magazine and talked to friends who had wedding experience. In a moment of liberalism, we let my groom-to-be choose his own clothes for the wedding. Other than that, his job was to have his mom call me so we could compile a guest list.

So imagine my surprise, when my future son-in-law wanted to be involved in planning his wedding. Apparently this is a thing now: couples planning their wedding together.

I was already a little off-kilter, this being the first wedding in my family with me a member of the older generation. While my daughter’s friends, in their matching bridesmaid dresses, were out on the dance floor, my friends from college and I were competing in the “most years married” contest.

As the planning process began, I couldn’t believe how much had changed since I planned my wedding…

Engagement Pictures

When did engagement pictures become a necessity? In the 1980’s, wealthy people occasionally did that for the newspaper but no one else did. Apparently now, this is one of the first things to be scheduled.

Invitations

While the happy couple was busy choosing coordinating outfits for pictures, I was contemplating the wording of the wedding invitations. Sadly, neither of their parents are still married (to each other anyway) so to include the names of all involved along with the date, would lead to a lot of extra wording on the fancy 5 x7 invitations with the scroll-y lettering… May eighteenth two thousand seventeen…you know, in the proper way that we did it back in the 80’s.

I was in for another surprise! The modern couple chose a tri-panel invitation that included no scrolls and no awkward listing of parent’s names. They filled the panels with adorable engagement pictures and information about the wedding. In addition, there were no RSVP cards! Nope. We do all that on line now.

When I was engaged,  my mom kept track of all my wedding guests on 4 X 6 index cards stored in a shoe box. A 4 x 6 card was big enough to keep track of the date the invitation was mailed, their response to the RSVP, the gift we’d received and when we’d sent the thank you. I kept this box for decades because it reminded me of the excitement of planning the wedding and of all the people who were there.

Wedding Website

Soon after the engagement pictures were taken, the groom-to-be started working on their wedding website. The website includes a small data base of guest information. This is necessary for sending emails and Facebook invites so all their friends could save the date.

There’s also a section for a biography of the couple and each attendant. This does takes some of the mystery out of the actual ceremony. We used to sit in the pews and speculate, “Is that the bride’s sister? Who do you think that man is?” Now we know everyone’s full name, how they met the bride and groom, and we are also able to read their messages of congratulations on the website.

Cakes

One very good development in wedding planning is cake tasting!

The Groom-to-be was out of town during the cake-testing event, so I got to go! The bakery had 60 different types of cake flavors. 60! We narrowed our choices down to 6 and emailed the bakery so they could prepare.

When I got married, my cake choices were white, lemon, and poppy seed.

Here’s a tip for cake tasting day: If you’re going to eat 6 cupcakes with icing at 10:00 in the morning, you are going to want milk. You are also going to want to lay down when you get home.

It is now becoming common to skip the cake entirely and have other fun desserts like pie or donuts. What? I thought marriage only became legal after the couple fed each other a delicate bite of cake! They tell me this isn’t true.

Getting Inspiration

I don’t know how modern brides (oh, and grooms) ever make a decision on anything with access to so many choices. Pinterest is inspiring, but it also raises the bar on individuality. In addition to picking a dress and attendants, the trend now is to have a wedding theme: “Island Paradise”, “Wedding in a Barn”, “Summer Romance”, “New Age Bohemian”.

Of course your guest book also needs to reflect your theme. Your guests may be signing a picture frame, a log, or possibly even a surf board. Gone are the stiff little white guest books of my day.

Reception

In the 1980’s, entertainment at the reception was limited to throwing the bouquet and watching your parent’s friend’s try to dance after a few drinks. Now we have photo booths and games. Signature cocktails and slide shows. Popcorn bars. Serve yourself candy tables.

When I got married, a first class wedding gave out Jordan almonds wrapped in netting and called it good.

Planning the modern wedding was an eye-opener for me, and a challenge learning to adapt to all the changes. But with the planning over, the big day had finally arrived.

The Wedding Day

The bridesmaids giggled and fixed their hair. The bride and groom’s families got acquainted; trying to make a good impression. The wedding guests gathered and reflected fondly on their own wedding day.

The Father-of-the-bride misted up as he walked his daughter down the aisle.

The happy couple made solemn vows and anticipated their future together.

They started their newly married status surrounded by the love and good wishes of friends and family.

You know…the way weddings have always been.

You can follow Mary Jo on Pinterest HERE, and visit her blog VISITING THE GRAY PLANET for other great stories.

Until next time…

Patti Huck image and signature

This Ain't Your Mama's Wedding | Women Over Fifty Network

Are You Over 50 and a Night Owl? Your Body Might Be Tired of It. Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.

Are You Over 50 and a Night Owl? Your Body Might Be Tired of It. Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.

by | AGING, LIVING, SLEEP

Are You Over 50 and a Night Owl? Your Body Might Be Tired of It. Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.

I’m a night owl. When I think back, I guess I always have been. The fact that I’m also a teeeeny bit on the obsessive side has a little something to do with it.

For instance, I’ve always loved to read. Normally someone will read until “bedtime”, slap a bookmark in, and pick up where they left off the next evening. Nope. I remember even way back to my grade school years staying up half the night to finish a book I’d been reading.

I don’t like being told what to do. I don’t like rules. And apparently, I don’t like a predetermined “bedtime”.

Having been a single mom who worked from home and had very active kids, I savored the quiet time after they were asleep, and usually extended it into the wee hours of the morning.

Throughout my life, even after my kids were grown and even after I had remarried at 50, I still continued that routine. I’ve owned few online businesses, and discovered that I did my best work after 11 p.m. No phone calls, no texts, no emails that needed immediate replies. I could focus better without interruptions, and my time was my own.

I’m sure you’re asking by now, “so where are you going with this?”. Well, here’s the deal. Lately I’ve been thinking that I may not be able  to stay up half the night anymore, and function on just 3-4 hours of sleep. Wha-a-a-t? I know – to most this is a no-brainer. To me, it was a shock.

I’d been waking up tired (a lot of times late in the morning), and was annoyed as soon as I saw the clock because I’d lost half my morning. I’d go through the day in a pissy mood, draggin’ ass, not feeling like exercising, irritable, grabbing a handful of…whatever any time I passed through the kitchen, and feeling every single one of my 63 years. I drug myself through my days only to stay up late again that night. It was a vicious cycle.

Every night I’d make my to-do list for the next day (I’m a major list-maker). It started at 7 am: Get dressed. Walk. Shower. Water plants. Clean up kitchen. Make bed.

During my supposed “focused” time while I was writing my list, it all seemed so doable. I loved that my chores and exercise would be done by 8:15, then I’d start my work day. But like the saying goes, “It looks good on paper”.

Each day I’d get up late, and right off the bat be behind. With emails already piled up needing attention, calls needing to be returned, decisions needing to be made, I was forced to start eliminating things on my to-do list. Guess which item never made the cut? You guessed it. Exercise.

I’d beat myself up for what I hadn’t gotten done, and stress out about what I still needed to do. My mind was very rarely in the present moment. I couldn’t focus on getting one thing done, because I was distracted by the bazillion other things dancing around in my head, or scattered across my desk.

My husband, who’s a schedule person, has been trying to convince me for years that I’d have more energy and be more productive if I went to bed earlier “like most people”, and got up earlier in the morning. I’m not one that’s good with schedules or restrictions. I have trouble doing something because it’s what “most people” do, or because “it’s good for me”. So I basically told him to mind his own beeswax.

In my mind I’m still 40, but this ol’ body hasn’t seen 40 in quite a few years, and I knew that sitting all day at my computer wasn’t doing it any favors. I was well aware that I needed to exercise and take care of myself, and not doing it was stressing me out. I knew I needed to make a change or I was going to stroke out.

So this morning, I got up at sunrise, put on the cool Nike’s my daughters gave me, and planned on taking a quick walk. It was already warm out, but not hot. It was quiet.

When I headed out my driveway and clicked START WORKOUT on my Map My Walk phone app, I had the normal chaos filling my head, but after a block or two, the chatter quieted a bit and I started to actually look around me. As the sun came up, I noticed how incredibly clear and blue the sky was. I could smell the flowers in the yards I was passing. I was aware of the birds and the sounds around me. Even though I was walking at a pretty fast pace, it seemed effortless. That thought filled me with gratitude that I’m physically able to walk without pain.

That one thought started a snowball effect. Instead of the usual mental lists, my head was filled with only thoughts of gratitude. I was grateful for the life I’d been given and that I’m still here to live it when so many others weren’t able to.

And it continued…I was grateful that my kids are all healthy and happy, that I’m still madly in love with my husband who has stuck with me through the good and the bad. I was thankful for my health, for the work that I’m passionate about and am able to do from home… Our home… My determination… My empathy… Our grandkids… My friends… The closeness that I have with my family.

I didn’t want to stop walking. My body felt strong and my mind uncluttered. For 30 minutes, I’d found quiet and peace within myself.

Returning rested and clear-headed, I realized I got more out of my half hour walk this morning than the four hours I normally spend, late at night, in my quest for quiet time. I loved being in the moment. I hadn’t visited it in a very long time.

Damn I hate it when Paul’s right.

So I suggest to you, take a breath today. Look around you. Take a minute and be thankful for what you have. It’s the little things that go unnoticed, the things you don’t see that you take for granted. Acknowledge them. Don’t live so strongly in the past or the future that you aren’t able to see the present. Life is short.

Until next time…

 

Patti Huck image and signature
Are you a night owl? Life is short | Women Over Fifty Network

One Size Fits…None. The Dressing Room From Hell.

One Size Fits…None. The Dressing Room From Hell.

by | AGING, LIVING

One Size Fits…None. The Dressing Room From Hell.

Hey all!

I’m thrilled to be sharing this post with you! You know how much I love connecting you with other women over fifty bloggers, right? Well, let me introduce you to Marcia Kester Doyle. Marcia writes about all the pitfalls of aging on her blog “Menopausal Mother“, but helps us laugh about them. She was kind enough to let me share a chapter from her book “Who Stole My Spandex? Life in the Hot Flash Lane“. I’m pretty sure you’re going to love Marcia.

Be sure to comment below to let her know if you can relate to her experience going clothes shopping!

GUEST BLOGGER: Marcia Kester Doyle

Marcia, a humor blogger, muses on the good, the bad, and the ugly side of midlife mayhem. Give her a glass of wine and a jar of Nutella, and she’ll be your best friend. It’s rogue humor at it’s finest!

She is a BlogHer Voice of the Year 2014 recipient and VoiceBoks Top Hilarious Parent Blogger 2014. She was also voted as a Top 25 Blogger in the Circle of Moms Contest 2013. She is a native Floridian and married mother of four children, as well as being a grandparent to a feisty toddler

One Size Fits None. The Dressing Room From Hell

I hate shopping for clothes, which explains why I’ve never been accused of being a fashionista. It also explains why my daughters always call to ask what I’m wearing before bringing their friends over to the house.

After birthing four babies by C-section, I now find shopping for clothes less enticing than a root canal. I might enjoy it more if I was twenty-five pounds lighter, because shopping just isn’t as fun when I have to head straight for the Woman’s Plus department, where everything comes in black, white, or shower-curtain pattern.

My husband often accompanies me during my clothes hunting expeditions, usually because he is: a) bored with all five hundred cable channels, b) in need of replenishing his tube sock collection, or c) wanting to make sure I don’t spend all my cash on animal-print house dresses and takeout from Burger Barn. He parks his butt on a sofa outside the changing rooms and plays with his phone while I’m pondering the age-old question of zippers versus control-top panels.

I try to be frugal while I shop, but the problem with the clearance section is that there are only two clothing sizes left on the rack by the time I get there—hummingbird and mastodon. It’s always a challenge to find an outfit that doesn’t leave me looking like the exploding dough from a tube of Pillsbury crescent rolls.

It’s the same adventure every time I go shopping. I shoot past the regular lingerie (like I’ll ever be able to squeeze myself into a hot fuchsia number the size of a rubber band) to the “Full Figure” aisle, where the bras hang like double-boulder slingshots. Then I whiz past the shoe section, jewelry department, and all those adorable maternity outfits. I think, “Oh, look at the cute, faux-denim stretch pants designed to hide a pregnancy bump!” before self-consciously rubbing my stomach. Nope, no baby in there—just the jelly roll the last kid left behind.

Once I’m able to find a dress that doesn’t resemble a large paint tarp, I grab a few more items (twelve, actually, because I have no idea what the size du jour is going to be—I need a sampler platter of three different sizes for each outfit). I then head for the dreaded dressing room with an armload of clothes that will most likely end up back on the rack. It’s always at this moment that I wish I lived in the 1500s, where everyone bought one-size-fits-all clothing from Dirty Smocks “R” Us, and dressed by dim candlelight to mask the effects of a stout-and-potato diet.

I’m wary of stepping into dressing rooms because I know there are some shoppers who use these cubicles for more than just trying on clothes. I know this because several of my children have worked in major department stores over the years, and they’ve shared a few nightmare tales that have scarred me for life. Department stores should consider posting helpful signs to keep paranoid people like me from worrying about stepping into DNA samples left by the previous occupants. The signs could flash messages like “FECAL-FREE ZONE!” or “MOTEL 6 IS DOWN THE STREET … THEY’LL LEAVE A LIGHT ON FOR YOU!”

Wishing to God for a shot of liquid courage before I enter the “chamber of truth,” I stall by the clearance rack for a few more minutes, until a skinny, perky salesclerk approaches me. She asks if I’m ready to try on my new clothes, and her chipper tone sets my teeth on edge. Can’t she see I’m breaking into a sweat over the fact that my actual dress size is about to be revealed?

I’m ushered into a mirrored cubicle the size of Thumbelina’s closet, and told to “have fun” while trying on the clothes. Have fun? The only way that would ever happen is if the dressing room included a well-stocked mini fridge. No, this is where the true horror begins. I shimmy out of my old, comfortable clothes and cringe as I view myself in panoramic funhouse mirrors that display my front, back, and sides. I’m immediately reminded of a peeled potato.

Concluding that the department store must have gotten a really good deal on mirrors from a traveling circus, I weed through my pile of clothing. One floral-print dress is reminiscent of something my grandmother wore in 1939. An orange blouse makes me look like an Oompa Loompa. An ill-fitting pair of jeans causes my flesh to ooze out over the waistband like Play-Doh. To make matters worse, I’m having to struggle into all of this torturous clothing under unflattering fluorescent lights that expose every fold, flap, bulge, and scar bestowed upon my body by childbirth and years of yo-yo dieting.

I decide on a few items of clothing that promise to lift, tuck, flatten, and flatter the body, and I notice that everything I’ve chosen is: a) made of NASA-approved spandex and b) one shade—black. So what if I end up with a bag of clothing resembling a mortician’s closet?

I approach the checkout counter, and it never fails—there’s always an angry woman ahead of me shouldering three returns and a missing receipt. To top it all off, she was clearly once the president of her high school debate team. My eye starts twitching as she engages in refund warfare with the young girl behind the cash register. Obviously neither one of these women knows that I’m already two hours late to walk a dog known for his daily bouts of IBS.

Once home, I face the daunting task of cleaning out old clothes to make room for the new. I’m a firm believer in recycling, and have found some creative ways to repurpose my granny panties with a needle and thread. With a garbage bag full of threadbare underpants and a few quick stitches, I can make an outdoor patio umbrella, a tent for camping trips, or an heirloom quilt for the grandkids.

I try the new clothes on again in the privacy of my own bedroom, but they don’t look as good as they did in the dressing room. This just confirms what I’ve believed all along—that department store mirrors are designed to make every woman appear as shapely as an hour glass. When I look in my own mirror at home, all I see is a potato dressed up in a shower curtain. A black shower curtain.

Chances are good that I’ll be returning all of my one-size-fits-none clothing to the mall—but only after a quick stop at the Burger Barn.

The Dressing Room From Hell | Women Over Fifty Network
Marcia has written for The Huffington Post, Humor Outcasts, In the Powder Room, and What The Flicka. 

She has been featured on numerous sites such as Scary Mommy, BlogHer, The Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop, Midlife Boulevard, Boomeon, and BA50 among others.

She is a contributing author to the following books: The Mother of All Meltdowns, Clash of the Couples, Motherhood: May Cause Drowsiness, Sunshine After the Storm, To Bliss and Back, Parenting Gag Reel, and will be featured in the forthcoming anthologies: Surviving Mental Illness Through Humor, Mom for the Holidays, and How Can You Laugh at a Time Like This?

Who Stole My Spandex? Life In The Hot Flash Lane is available on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback formats.

Click Here to Get Your Copy Now on Amazon!

Somebody Said That It Couldn’t Be Done – A Memory From Catholic School

Somebody Said That It Couldn’t Be Done – A Memory From Catholic School

by | CATHOLIC SCHOOL, MEMORIES, NOSTALGIA

Somebody Said That It Couldn’t Be Done – A Memory From Catholic School

When I went to Catholic school, one of the things that the nuns put a lot of emphasis on was memorization. We memorized long-ass prayers. We memorized the Latin words to hymns for choir.

Every week everyone had to choose, memorize, and recite a poem in front of the class. When your turn came, you had to be prepared – the nuns didn’t tolerate anything less. There were days that I was sweating it out at my desk while I struggled with a particular line trying desperately to commit it to memory while waiting for my turn.

As much as I resisted most of the rituals I experienced in my eight years at St. Paschal’s, I have to give those nuns kudos for their teaching methods. Not only did this particular exercise teach me to appreciate poetry, and read about authors of long ago, but in an attempt to memorize a long poem, if there were words or phrases that weren’t familiar to me, it forced me to look them up. Those nuns knew exactly what they were doing!

Once I understood the word or phrase, the meaning of the poem became more clear making it easier to memorize. I was then able to inject a little emphasis and personality into it that helped me entertain some very bored classmates instead of standing up there in front of everyone, sweating like a mutha and just regurgitating words.

In sixth grade I chose a particular poem in Sister Mary Kathleen’s class that has stuck with me. I recited it often to my kids as they were growing up, and I’ve called on it repeatedly to help pull me up by my bootstraps throughout my entire life.

Some things never go out of style. I hope you find inspiration in this quirky little poem and that it gives you encouragement and determination at times you may need it, just the way it has me and still continues to…

 

Somebody said-Edgar Guest | Women Over Fifty Network
Somebody said... A Memory of Catholic School | Women Over Fifty Network

It Couldn’t Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
      But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
      Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
      On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
      At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
      And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
      Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
      There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
      The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
      Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.
EDGAR ALBERT GUEST

1881-1959

Did anyone else go to Catholic school? Do you have any poems, quotes or mantras that get you through tough times? I’d love to hear them. Please share yours in the comments below.

Patti Huck image and signature

Inside The Mind of a Perfectionist-Part 2: 11 Personality Traits of Perfectionism. How Many Do You Have?

Inside The Mind of a Perfectionist-Part 2: 11 Personality Traits of Perfectionism. How Many Do You Have?

by | PERFECTIONISM, PERSONALITIES

Inside The Mind of a Perfectionist-Part 2: 11 Personality Traits of Perfectionism. How Many Do You Have?

We’re Talking About Perfectionism…

This is part two of a two-part blog series about the misconception of a perfectionist being someone who does everything effortlessly and perfectly…umm…wrong. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, click here real quick to get up to speed, then meet us back here. We’ll wait.

In Part 1, we identified six traits:

  1. You have trouble relinquishing control.
  2. You are driven…sometimes to obsession.
  3. You have difficulty making decisions.
  4. You need to be productive and never waste time.
  5. You procrastinate (having trouble getting started)
  6. You say “Should” a lot (you have demanding standards for yourself & others)

Let’s move on to discover the remaining 5 traits of perfectionism.

(Click the black + in each of the blue boxes below to see explanations of each personality trait)

“Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for ‘better than yesterday’.”
― Izey Victoria Odiase

In Part 1, we left off with me being frustrated that I hadn’t felt like writing a blog I needed to write. Do you think I got it together and ended up writing it the next day?

Nope. I wasn’t ready.

I didn’t have all the information I needed to do it right. If I didn’t write it, I couldn’t fail. So I didn’t write the blog that day.

I didn’t write it the next day either. Then we went out of town for a few days. When we came back, I had to catch up, so I didn’t write one that week. Maybe I needed to rethink the angle I was taking. I might go a different direction with it. I decided to do it next week when I was more prepared.

Trait #7. You Procrastinate (have trouble finishing)

You’re never completely confident that you’ve included every detail that you feel is important. There’s always that ‘one more thing’ to add that would make it “perfect” and in your mind feel complete.

You don’t like to fail at anything, so you tend to have trouble wrapping things up to instead “think about it a little longer”, or “do it better”. If you don’t finish, you avoid the possibility of being judged, but by continuing to delay the completion, you’re causing yourself additional anxiety.

Let’s talk about cleaning house

When my husband and I were dating we lived three hours from each other and spent a lot of time on the phone. We shared so many of the same interests it was uncanny, but when it came to our personalities and how we went about doing things, we were polar opposites.

One night during one of our phone calls when he told me he’d been vacuuming, I remembered him telling me the night before that he’d just finished dusting. I thought he might be some kind of clean freak, so I asked him what was up. He said he cleaned a little bit every night…tub and toilet one night, kitchen floor the next, etc.

To me (a perfectionist) that was just plain weird. If you mop the kitchen floor and the rest of the kitchen has to wait four days to be cleaned, the floor’s dirty again. Your house is never completely clean. If I can’t clean the house completely and thoroughly, I just “pick up” until I can. He goes to the store for one or two items several times during the week. I go once and shop for the week. He reads a couple pages of his book each night. I’ll stay up half the night to finish a book.

Trait #8: You have an "all or nothing" attitude

You think in extremes. You’re either all in, or you’re not in at all. You rarely dip your toe in. If you can’t do your best work, you don’t want to do it at all. If you don’t have all the tools you need for a project, you’re not likely to “make do” with the tools you have – it has to look like the picture, or it’s not good enough.

If you can’t catch on quickly to something you’re trying to learn, you’re likely to abandon it – if you can’t do something well, you’d rather not do it at all. 

This trait sucks when you’re attempting to kick a habit, ie. when I smoked. I’d go three days without a cigarette, and on day four when I caved and had one, I chose to smoke that whole pack and quit “fresh” the next day. Cold-turkey, no tapering off. Same with dieting. I’d do well for a week, fall off the wagon with one bowl of ice cream, spend the next week eating everything I’d been craving, then re-start my diet on Monday.

You’re hard on yourself

You’re not only hard on yourself, but on others. You expect a lot of yourself and others. You’re the first one to notice a spelling error. If you should make a spelling error yourself, you’re mortified.

Here comes the differences again between my hubby and I. When there’s something that needs doing at the house, a lot of times he’ll just get it done. Usually while he’s busy getting it done, I’m at my desk checking ideas on Pinterest, and then planning out the best way to go about it. I get annoyed at him because I feel he rushed through it and did a half-assed job. He gets annoyed at me for always over-thinking everything, and feels no matter what he does, it won’t be right. (We actually get along really well although I know I’m not making it sound that way 🙂 )

Trait #9: You can be overly critical

You’re usually the one to take on more than you can handle…but you give others the impression you can. Sometimes you take on extra tasks because you’re not confident others will do the job well enough. 

You don’t like making mistakes, and you’re disappointed in yourself when you make them. You’re critical (not always verbally, but in your head) of others doing a task poorly, and can easily get annoyed when  they make mistakes. You sometimes have unrealistic expectations and are always striving for perfection. It’s all about the end result. 

To-do lists are your friend

Do you make to-do lists? They’re helpful, right? I agree. I write  a bullet list every night of things I need to get done the following day. Once I complete something from my list, I highlight it in yellow.

We all know though that unexpected things pop up every day. So there’s a joke at our house. When I finish a chore, my hubby says, “Was that on your list? You better add it!” I realize that this is the most ridiculous thing ever, but it’s true. If I do something that wasn’t on my list, I actually do write it down just so I can highlight it as having done it. I love seeing my list at the end of the day with all my items highlighted in yellow.

Trait #10: You like precision

You have a very specific way you feel things should be done. You like order and consistency. You can scan something quickly and pick out the errors. You’re like a living, breathing “one of these things is not like the other” game. 

Your attention to detail comes in to play here. When decorating, you may move a piece of furniture a dozen times until it lines up with all the angles in the room and  your eye tells you it’s “just right”. 

This trait overlaps with Trait #11 below. Organization. Orderliness. Precision. Bottom line…you’re verrrrry picky.

How’s this for being overly concerned about details…

Perfectionists have “rules” they follow. They may not even realize they’re doing it. I know in my case, it’s not something I consciously do. It’s just the way my brain works. It’s like this:  Pretend I’m decorating my mantel. I’ll try it one way, then stand back…”nope”. I make some adjustments, stand back and look…turn my head to the right, then to the left. I look at it from a different room angle and squint one eye… I move one item to the left a fraction, and move something else forward. I eliminate, I change out, I add to. I repeat this process for as long as it takes until looking at it pleases me. That’s when I know it’s right..

My books are lined up in descending order by height in my bookshelves. When I was in high school, I alphabetized my record albums by artists and created tabs. I loved coloring when I was young, but if I colored outside the lines even once, I considered that page wrecked.

Planners or new calendars stress me out. I make my entries in light pencil until I’m sure I’ve entered everything, then I’ll go back and write it in pen. Scratch outs and liquid paper feel the same as coloring outside the lines to me.

My kids used to make fun of me, but now they choose to find the way I fold my towels endearing. I fold them in thirds and pat each towel after it’s folded. I put them in the linen closet with raw edges facing the back.

When wrapping gifts, my mom taught me never to tape a box. I taught my kids never to tape a box. They still don’t. The ribbon needs to match at least one color in the wrapping paper, and at the ends of the wrapped box, the paper ends need to match. (We wrap great looking gifts).

I unplug the toaster when we’re not using it, and hide the coffeepot cords and plugs. On my kitchen countertops, I put something in front of any exposed outlets to hide them.

It’s all about the details.

Trait #11: Excessive concern with details.

Your obsession about details can leads to procrastination. When working on a project, something small can trip you up. Until you get all the details worked out on that one thing to make it “just right”, you can’t make yourself move forward.

Being this excessively picky eats up a lot of time. I know that I’ve cut myself short on time needed to get to work, or get home from work, because I was high-centered on the details of some project I just couldn’t let go of. This is not intentional behavior, and it’s hard to just cut it off.  If you don’t go through your process, it can leave you with an uncomfortable or unsettled feeling. I have found that sometimes just walking away will break the hold that the obsession for details had on you.  

Just to be clear, Perfectionism is a personality trait, not a mental disorder. But as is with any obsessive behavior, any of these traits has the potential to lead to a mental disorder.

Perfectionism is a risk factor for obsessive compulsive disorder, obsessive compulsive personality disorder, eating disorders, social anxiety, social phobia, body dysmorphic disorder, workaholism, self harm, substance abuse, and clinical depression as well as physical problems like chronic stress, and heart disease.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfectionism_(psychology)
There you have it. So…? Are you a perfectionist? Do these traits describe you or someone you know? I’d love to hear about your experience with Perfectionism, and any suggestions or insight you can share. Please comment below, or go to my Contact Me page and send me an email.
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