Put On a Little Makeup - Makeup

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Put on a little Makeup - Makeup who remembers this great lyric from the 1982 Adam Ant song Goody Two Shoes - I do and this week I’m sharing what’s in my make-up bag. As a 60 year old.(Yikes!) I’m asked what I use and if I’m honest friends I’m sure I could use way more than I do… but, without Botox, peels or other interventions this is as good as I’m going to look with my wrinkles, hooded eyes, and neck. I mean I think I look pretty good - but there are times I would love to address those areas for sure!

Here is everything I use on a daily basis: The e.l.f. curler, two products on my eyebrows: e.l.f. Ultra Precise Brow Pencil and L’Oreal Paris Faux Brow Eyebrow Tint Double Brush Brow Pen (this dual tip works wonderfully). I use two shades of Maybelline Instant Age Rewind under my eyes and spot concealing around my face. My favorite powder is Lancome Dual Finish Powder Foundation. I recently started using the Maybelline Cloudtopia Lip and Cheek Mousse Blush - a little goes a long way and I love that its multi-use. Then I add a bit of Maybelline FitMe Blush. Once my face is complete I move onto my favorite mascara - essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara. Addressing my lips I start with Burt's Bees Origin Beeswax Lip Balm then onto the make-up I always always use and have been since I was 10 years old - LIPSTICK. I recently started using Maybelline Serum Lipstick with Hyaluronic Acid I also use L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Original Satin Lipstick and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick - (I am always buying new tubes of lipstick) and I love to finish my lips with e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil. So that’s my everyday - I’m leaving the house for anything - lunch, shopping, a meeting, dinner.

Of course if I’m going to an event I do add a bit more make-up - some eye shadow e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow and a bit of eye liner e.l.f. No Budge Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner.

All these items with the exception of the Lancome powder are Drug Store products. I’m not fancy friends and I prefer to not overpay. Although I will share the most luscious lipstick I have ever owned was Dior - which I bought on a discount - it was the creamiest and smelled heavenly. I popped over to the Dior site to check out their lipsticks and wowzers the least expensive was $48.00. Good Grief! That I would never pay for a lipstick no matter how super.

I dye my own hair friends. I’ve been a loyal e-salon customer for six years. Everything you see below comes straight to my home. The process is so easy. You send images to them of the color you want and I’ll be honest it took a full year for me to be completely happy with my custom color. I took the shade a bit lighter in 2025; because as we age I believe our hair should lighten. I dye my roots - hairline to crown every 4 to 5 weeks. I have a bowl and brush. I was so close to attending cosmetology school that me dying my own hair is not a foreign idea.

I wash my hair every few days with Head & Shoulders followed by Trader Joe’s Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask. After towel drying I protect my ends with Trader Joe’s Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Serum. I blow dry with a large round brush and depending on the events of the day or night I use my curling iron. When I want to set my hair I finish with TREsemme’ Extra Hold Hair Spray.

I hope you enjoyed a peek at what I use.

My birthday was this past weekend and as I shared I’m 60 - it’s truly mind-blowing! I don’t feel 60! It’s crazy… but, that’s an article for another day. I was blessed to spend time with family and friends.

Do you buy gifts for yourself? Well I do and I thought I’d share what I labeled “gifts to myself.”

When I was in Lenox, MA I picked up the Daffodils book. I already have the Hydrangeas and Peonies books in the Chalet. And below is an image of our dining room with our new wool Safavieh rug. There were parties when I turned 40 and 50 but for my 60th I decided on travel. This fall I’m visiting Paris for the first time and I am tellement excitée!

Til next time friends be well and I’ll see you over on the Gram!

Image of me courtesy: Kristin Kuiken

A Hop, Skip and a Mansion

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Hi Friends I always love sharing where I’ve been and the end of last month I spent a few days with my sister in Lenox, MA. The purpose of our trip was to visit Edith Wharton’s estate The Mount. We lucked out with the weather!

bulls bridge, Rt. 7 Kent, CT

This is the first official image of our get-away. My sister Noreen snapped this of Bulls Bridge in Kent, CT. We stopped in Kent and enjoyed a delicious Sushi lunch at Kent Kitchen. After we shopped a bit. I found this postcard of a 1944 image of Broadway, NYC. I do so LOVE a good postcard! 

Next we stopped in Stockbridge, MA what a noteworthy town. So many shops and the Library is also a Museum filled with local history. I had the best time in Berk Cheers Boutique and in Williams & Sons Country Store.

Then we made a beeline for the Red Lion Inn. We shopped - their gift-shop is filled with such a vast curation of items. We enjoyed walking around the first floor of the historic Hotel and capturing just a taste of it through these images before grabbing a libation and sitting on the back porch.

When we exited the Inn we found a collection of classic cars parked at the curb - mostly Packard with a few exceptions.

There are wonderful historic structures dotting Main Street.

We arrived at our hotel Element by Westin settled in and then headed into downtown Lenox to Cello for a sensational dinner.

When we arrived at The Mount Edith Wharton Cultural Center - we saw this sculpture and the stables. We walked down the curving drive to the Mansion.

The staff was setting up for a gala for the next evening and the entrance to the Mount was blocked by the tent structure.

The 1902 mansion has three floors - the ground floor - (the home is built into rock so there is no basement) with Entrance Hall, Kitchen, Scullery, Gift & Bookstore - the main floor with Butler’s Pantry, Dining Room, Drawing Room, Library, Teddy Wharton’s Den and Gallery and the Bedroom floor with Teddy Wharton’s Suite, Edith Wharton’s Bedroom, Boudoir, Guest Bedroom Suite.

After the house tour we enjoyed a yummy lunch on the terrace.

The view is glorious!

We went back inside and took in the exhibits located in the Guest Bedroom Suite. Edith Wharton published 41 books. The first The Decoration Of Houses in 1897 with Ogden Codman Jr.

Then we marveled at the beauty of the gardens.

Lime Walk features an allée of trees. The branches are trained to intertwine.

There is an Italian Walled Garden with a beautiful fountain.

A Stunning view looking back at the Mansion.

Next we toured the French Cutting Garden.

That evening we enjoyed one of the best meals I’ve ever had at Alta Wine Bar in downtown Lenox - it’s across the street from Cello.

Our last day we visited Ventfort Hall. This gilded age mansion was built in 1893 by Sarah Morgan the sister of JP Morgan.

The entry hall was a ballroom for parties. The balcony was built specifically to house an orchestra. Originally the curved windows held stained glass.

The mansion has on-going restoration. It has been the backdrop over the years in such movies as The Cider House Rules, The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot and Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls.

We stopped in Stockbridge again; its such a charming spot friends. We grabbed lunch and visited The Stockbridge Library and Museum.

I never knew until this trip that there were 70 summer cottages located in Lenox and the surrounding area. There was a direct express train to New York City from Lenox. The Mount Edith Wharton Cultural Center, Ventfort Hall and Chesterwood welcome visitors. Canyon Ranch Lenox the famous wellness resort was previously the private mansion Bellefontaine.

It was a wonderful trip and I recommend visiting Lenox. The only down side to the area was the lack of cell towers. It was a bit ridiculous how bad service is especially for such a busy tourist area - the locals chuckled about it.

Til next time I’ll see you on the Gram!

Images: NAAGM and Myself

Chalet Shares • July Edit 2026

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Hello Friends Happy July! I’m excited for all this week will bring… We’ve got bunting on the Chalet and flags sprinkled around. I really love fireworks - who doesn’t right? But, when I was little - fireworks meant my birthday was soon. Ha! I’ve gathered a few things that speak to the magic month! Enjoy!

Here are some older articles with the same theme. Til next time friends have a wonderful Fourth and I’ll see you on the Gram!