Shine Solution

I mentioned earlier the "Real Housewives of Vancouver" or any other Real Housewives show.  Wouldn't we all like to look like one?  I am a real housewive of somewhere and this is my reality blog.  I have noticed that all the housewives have this weird shiny look. 

The shiny dewy glow is just something that will not work for me, as I feel that it will highlight my flaws.  Fresh from my cosmetic store search for new foundation, I have found nothing new that excited me in that area.  However, I am trying Covergirl Advanced Radiance powder in Ivory 105.  

 I gave up powder long ago, when my skin stopped being oily and I found that it made me look like a ghost.  However, I am going back to where I started, and applying just a touch to the sides of my nose over my foundation.  This seems to reduce the highlighting of my nose imperfections - little scars and bumps - caused by overhead lighting and sunlight.

Temptation

On the weight loss front, things are kind of on hold.  I lost that initial five plus pounds quickly, but that's it for now.  My biggest roadblocks are the food and treats that are brought into the house.  As much as I try to limit my purchases, there are five other people in this house who love treats, and love to bring me treats.  An open bag of chips, juice on a hot day, a barbeque party, a treat from the bakery or he ice cream shop are all working against me.  It's time to remind myself that that extra fifteen pounds is still there, and it is bathing suit season and time to buy more summer clothes.  So I am back to the Slimfast this morning,and we'll see how the rest of the day goes.

Makeup Quest

My teenage daughter today asked me if I felt that I should try some new makeup.  It was a subtle hint.  She said "it's just that sometimes it looks like you just slap it on  your face and don't blend it in properly."  Well thank you.  So it's time to look for something new and to improve my application technique. 

First, a bit about my over 50 skin.  It's not bad, but it's pretty pale, and I have had skin cancer removed from my nose.  Therefore, I like a makeup that has a SPF, is fair in tone, but that gives solid coverage to my nose, without looking caked on or oily.  A dewy glow, like those "Real Housewives of Vancouver" or wherever will leave me looking bumpy.  Matt finish for me!

I am trying Almay Smart Shade anti-aging in light 100.  I love the SPF of 20, and I love the way that it applies and changes colour as I put it on.  I'm thinking though that perhaps I am applying it too sparingly, or that it's just not the right product for me as I do not think I am fully covered.  I do not find that I get any bad skin results from it, it's just that I think I could achieve more coverage.

I also recently tried Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind, Primer and Eraser.  (Creamy Ivory 120).  It doesn't appear to have any SPF,  but the anti-wrinkle roll-on looked like a cool idea. I do love the texture of the primer all over my face.  It disappears quickly without leaving a shiny look, and I do believe it plumps up my crows feet - helping them to fade.  However, for me the primer should not go on my nose.  It seems to plump up my little scars and pores, making them more obvious.  As for the roll on make-up, the applicator feels really nice, but honestly, I fiddle with it endlessly and can never get the stuff out of the bottle.  I don't have time to find my reading glasses everytime I put my makeup on!

I'm worth it

 I have to say that having a supply of Slimfast and milk in the house helps me to avoid getting overly hungry and eating bad things.  The Slimfast was $10.99 per tin.  So I substituted President's Choice Trimplan.  How bad could it be?  It was a few dollars less.  I was not treating myself as a fabulous person by substituting the cheap stuff.  It's not that it tastes awful.  It doesn't.  I just don't look forward to the taste of the Chocolate or Vanilla PC stuff.  I love the  French Vanilla Slimfast (not the Chocolate or the Strawberry).  So if I have it, I'll eat that instead of junk food.  Really.  For a Few Dollars More...

Arm Exercises

In my youth, I had a body-builder boyfriend.  He gave me a simple arm workout, and soon I had scrawny but well defined arms.  Thirty pounds and thirty years later, it's time to get those arms back. 

I have always had trouble with the backs of my arms - my tricept muscles.  The Standing Wall Pushup is an easy beginner's exercise.  I can do it, and I have a wall.  No excuses here.  You stand facing a wall, about an arms length away.  Put your arms out until your hands are flat on the surface of the wall, directly in front of you at about shoulder level.  Lean forward inhaling, bending your arms at the elbow, as if you were doing a push up.  Exhale and push back away from the wall.  It's like doing a push up without being on the ground.  You can't beat that. 

Now make a plan for how often you will be doing this every day, and how many repeats.

Remember to use the chant "I must, I must have arms like Madonna"   or maybe this will work "I must, I must be able to wear sleeveless tops".  Whatever works.

Here's a link to a Youtube exercise video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqgud0M2eTo&noredirect=1
 from Personal Trainer Ellie Johnson.

L'Oreal Age Perfect

I have been experimenting lately with a variety of anti-wrinkle, anti-aging products.  My favourite so far was the Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.   But it
seems a little pricey, so I thought I would like to
try another Serum - because maybe serums are the
magic solution for my wrinkly eye area.

My drugstore price was about $55 for the Vichy.
I found L'Oreal Age Perfect Serum at the drugstore
for about $19.  Way more reasonable. 

The L'Oreal Age Perfect comes in a dropper bottle, but I seem to get more or a blob than a tiny drop or two from the dropper.  The product smelled nice, but I'm not sure I need any smell to my face creams.  The product had a little bit more of a creamy texture than the Vichy serum, but it did go on nicely and disappear.  I do feel a tiny bit of a sting after I apply the product, but no irritation or redness.  All in all, I like the L'Oreal product, I do have some wrinkle reduction, and I like the price.  But if the Vichy product were the same price, I'd choose that instead.  So if I'm really worth it, I should spend the money on the Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.

What I Bought?

So as promised, after I lost my first 5 pounds, I bought myself just a few new warm weather clothes, just a few, because I need to keep cool in this hot weather, but I also need to lose more weight before I can get the whole new wardrobe.  I bought two new pairs of capris - not shorts.  My legs are too jiggly yet to come out of hiding.  Really.  I also bought two new t shirts - the arms are a little hider to hide my upper arms,  they are also a little looser around the middle to avoid highlighting my muffin top, but not baggy to avoid hiding in my clothes.  So, five more pounds and something else.  I am still stuck at seven pounds off, but things are good.

More Products

Today, I tried Olay Revitalizing Eye Gel, and L'Oreal Nutri-Sleek Anti-Frizz Serum.  The eye gel worked to depuff my enormous pre-shower undereye wrinkles. The texture though is gooey - like hair gel on my face.  So the verdict is that it did work, it did the de-puffing job, and did not irritate my skin.  I don't think it replaces the Vichy Lifactiv Serum10 that I tried the other day.  That's still my favourite so far.

My teenager constantly straightens her thick hair and applies various shine serums.  My thin hair requires no straightening, and is flyaway, but the shine is still great.  The L'oreal product has a nice texture, and you only need a drop, but really isn't the right product for my hair.  If anything, it weighed it down a bit and made the surface a bit oily.   Not for me, but my daughter loves it.

Down Seven Pounds

In my overall drive to lose 20 pounds, I want to let you know that I have now lost 7.  This is difficult to do having survived two warm weekends and the barbecuing that goes with them.  I have been able to do this by moderating what I eat, and trying to avoid the things that are my weaknesses - peanut butter, juices, cheese and junk foods.  It's a struggle.

Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10

I just tried Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.  I just needed a very small amount.  The product is very light and clear.  I applied it to my undereye and cheekbone area.  The verdict?  I like the texture, and it reduced the deep vertical wrinkle that I have below my right eye, as well as the small eye area wrinkles.  They're not all gone, but are somewhat improved, and I seem to have no irritation.

How We Got Here

I am fifty-one.  This blog is for those of us hitting fifty and looking ahead.  Many of us are moms.  If you are like me, I have spent the last seventeen years or so thinking about the needs of my kids, husband, and my own mom before I think about myself. I have been so engrossed in other people's lives that I have not paid attention to my own.  So here I am, in the stage of life where I am less important to my kids, just the feeder, driver and scheduler now, and I am looking plain, old and tired.  So, while it's hard for me to put aside my conservative taste and cheapness, I must push the envelope a bit and try spoil myself and try new things.  That goes for you too.

The First Five Pounds

Well,I have achieved the first goal.  Down five pounds.  I'm sure I could have done better, but there were problems along the way.  My husband bought Doritos, beer and other assorted things on the weekend.  I was able to avoid most things, but the Doritos and beer are hard to refuse on a hot long weekend on the patio. I found that the lean cuisines did not work for me for dinner at all.  I was still really hungry after having them.  So I tried low fat soups that were high in fiber - bean and vegetable versions.  They were probably higher in calories, but I needed to feel full to avoid snacking. Oh - and the reward - I went to buy myself two pairs of capris - just to wear in warm weather.  Maybe if I lose five more pounds, I'll buy some shorts.  I need them.

More Wrinkle Repair

I have tested, again unscientifically, Neostrata Wrinkle Repair.  I do love the texture and I'd like to imagine that there has been some wrinkle reduction, but I can't say for sure.  I am looking for magic.  I do not feel the tingling and puffiness that I experienced with the night cream from ROC, but results, I'm not sure.

Fighting Wrinkles

I've been testing a few skin care products, not scientifically, testing on one side at a time for six weeks - none of that.  Just desperately grabbing products and samples whenever I can.  Recently I tried the ROC

Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Repair Night Cream.  It went on nicely, left a bit of an oily sheen, as night creams often do.  I have not yet seen the reduction in my crows feet that I am looking for, but I did notice my under eye bags puffed up a bit, and I got some minor pimples/bumps on my cheeks.  I am just a tad stingy now, so hopefully I won't get red and puffy.  I'm sorry to say that I am going to call it a night with this cream.

I am so hungry

I am so hungry,but I am substiuting a banana and milk whenever I need a snack.  By the way, I have lost 3 pounds.  I confess though to having one light beer yesterday, and dipping into the peanut butter today.

Inspiration

I am no Madonna.  But wow, if you are looking for inspiration to keep fit when you are past 50, check out Madonna.  Yes, she works out like a madwoman, but look at her..... Oh, she must have had plastic surgery, botox, whatever... Who cares?  She works out hard and there is no faking that.

No jiggly arms or muffin top here.  Too much?  She shows that it can be done.  Go Madonna.

When we workout we can chant to ourselves - "We must, we must have arms like Madonna"

To Start

I would like to lose some weight.  I would like to buy some new clothes for the warm weather.  Here then is my motivation.  I would like to lose 5 pounds over the next two weeks or so.  Then I can buy myself something.  Motivation is good!

To start with I will be eliminating a few bad things from my diet.  It's not that they are really bad for you, it's just that I over indulge in them.  For example, peanut butter, cheese,  and juice are off limits for the next week or so.  I am starting on Slimfast, Lean Cuisines, whole grained cereal and fruit.  Lots of water too.  Wish me luck.

Before

Today I am in good health or so I think, thank the lord.  But I could lose 20 pounds, lose the muffin top and jiggly arms.  My hair is boring and witchy and my skin is looking a tad wrinkly.  My wardrobe?  Blah, black, blah, etc.   So I have a long way to go.