How NOT to Look Old

You're hoping for it, working hard at it, and the quest to appear younger will continue till the end. Wilmette native Charla Krupp's new book, How Not to Look Old is the advice you've been searching for. While selling books is not my goal, reading them is a habit developed long ago, and some are just too good to pass up. This one gets my vote and should get your $25.99; it will be money well spent. One look at the author, born in the mid 1950's on Chicago's north shore, and you will rush to the nearest bookstore to start removing years from your appearance.

Written with humor but delivering sound advice, Charla is an expert: a former beauty editor of Glamour and senior editor at InStyle, you will "look ten years younger, ten pounds lighter and ten times better" just by reading the book. Book dust covers and ad campaigns have been known to exaggerate, this one tells it like it is. And here it comes now:

Hair should get lighter as one gets older, the blonder the better. Lipstick should be a light shade of pink once a lady hits 35. Skirts should stop at the knee, or be 3 inches above the knee. Hair should be free to move, shiny and unobstructed. Pony tails should not be worn "high," if at all. Shoes with a heel remove years from one's look. All jackets should be "nipped in at the waist" for a more youthful look.

To see a list of Charla's top five "must have's" click here. Most books are quick reads, yet this one is filled with so much information it needs to be slowly digested. A must have book for anyone getting older day by day, watch Charla talk about the book and aging on YouTube. While aging is inevitable, postponing it seems to be the way to go. Photo attribution: nmv1969

Mama's Got A New Pair of Shoes

Every once in a while a girl needs to go shoe shopping for the latest and greatest heels of the season. According to InStyle Magazine, flats can be worn with certain outfits, sandal season is over, and last year's stilettos weren't looking as good as they did then.

After a search for something a little on edge, cute but making a statement, a pair of rounded toe platform leopard shoes with black patent trim now live in my shoe closet. Leopard print is "in" and is the "hottest thing" right now that goes with black, brown, beige, cream and did I mention black? Since ninety-nine percent of what I wear on the bottom half is black (slacks, skirts, tights) the new show could be worn with just about everything I own that doesn't have a pattern to it. InStyle will be pleased that I followed their advice and went with an animal print.

I love my new shoes and have already worn them on two occasions -- both times I heard "your shoes are darling," or "I love your shoes." Who doesn't want to hear that? You be the judge. While I love my shoes, and plan to wear them a lot in the future, they might not be for you, but then you didn't buy them, I did.