Weekend Reading 04.05.25
What I loved this week:
The lavender in our garden is a riot of color…but it doesn’t really have a scent. I got the brilliant idea to put lavender oil in the water…which was a fail, so it’s time to get the oil diffuser working with lavender oil 💜. My favorite is this one. I wish there was a lavender perfume I liked, but I tend to prefer things with a base note of sandalwood or fig.
I’m 94, And Still Worth Looking At– such a great read and food for thought!
I can’t get enough of my new Santal Gray perfume, and the brand has generously offered my readers a 15% discount so you can try the brand with the code AWSL15 at checkout! I just ordered this little sample kit so I could try a few of their other scents. I love that they are paraben, sulfate, phthalate, and cruelty-free.
A California legislator is attempting to ban the sale of anti-aging products to minors.
On my radar this week:
- The Top 15 US Restaurants…I haven’t tried any of them, have you?
- Jenny Bird is one of my favorite jewelry designers for modern pieces that are perfect for everyday wear. She’s having a very rare 25% off sale that ends today! You’ve seen me wear these Faye Earrings a ton because they go with both gold and silver. These Megan Knocker earrings are a best seller with AWSL readers. I think this unique necklace is so pretty in pink and silver! If my hands were small enough to fit through a bangle, I would be buying this one. The rest of my picks are here.
Weekend Sales Worth Shopping:
Sephora Sale has started for Rouge members with 20% off using the code SAVEMORE. Yes, I’m guilty of being a member at this level because I buy, try, and use a lot of beauty products. This Nécessaire Body Retinol hit my cart immediately! People may not like how it smells, but actually like it, plus it makes a huge improvement in my crepey skin…so I won’t be without it…I just wish they made a travel size. I also ordered this Body Vit C to try because I love the way Vit C serum brightens my complexion. I’m a huge fan of this cruelty-free brand and have gradually shifted to using a lot of their body products.
TALBOTS SPRING IN BLOOM EVENT is 30% off your order. Check out my blog post here.
DILLARD’S has some great pieces on sale if you have a dressier spring event to attend. This pretty dress comes with a stunning tulle jacket. If you have a more formal event, this beaded dress is over 50% off. There are also several great dressy shoe options on sale.
EILEEN FISHER has some great markdowns on several of their winter pieces. This lightweight ponte top is almost $50 off, and this cotton twist mock neck top is over $100 off.
J.CREW– Up to 30% off women’s dressed-up styles. The new Icon trench is included and almost $100 off, and the best-selling cashmere wrap is 20% off.
J.JILL– 30% off full-price tops. This slub-knit textured rib sweater is so pretty (and comes in blue or lavender). I have always loved their ribbed cardigan, and it’s also included in the sale.
LANDS’ END– 40% off best-selling styles with code CARAMEL, and fan favorite pieces are 50% off.
What you loved this week:
- This Talbots No-Iron shirt was a huge bestseller this week, and it’s currently 30% off!
- The only thing that outsold the white shirt is these slim-straight jeans, also on sale 🙂
- This pleated dress is on the way to quite a few readers and is great for spring
- Many of you ordered my favorite Vitamin C Serum, and you will love it!
In case you missed it:
Thanks for reading, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
So the body retinol…..How do you use it? I ordered some, applied it and was met with flaking skin pretty quickly. Do you add a moisturizing layer over it?
I apply it each evening and moisturizer each morning after my shower. The flaking is your skin shedding older, dead skin cells which it’s supposed to do.
Judith Viorst is terrific! I loved the article and promptly bought her latest book on Audible. I turned 80 in December and was bummed about it for a while. But I’m back to normal now and ageless inside. I’m blessed with my Swedish and Finnish complexion, coloring and petite size of my mother. Like you Jennifer, I have also adopted the Hat Lady look to protect from the sun. Attitude has everything to do with growing older. Humor has helped me through many a pain day. The Golden Girls are still golden and can make me laugh out loud no matter how many times I see them. Thank you for bringing Viorst to my attention. She can be a hoot as well as philosophical.
I love your upbeat attitude Sydney!!
Thank you, yet again, for another great post. Your kindness and respectfulness are refreshing. Loved that you included the article by Judith Viorst. I’m a retired school teacher and her poems were often a student’s choice for recitation in the school declamation contest, especially a favorite “If I were in charge of the world.” You have help me keep the perspective that AWSL is a choice at any age! Thanks🩷
You are so sweet, Mary. Your comment means the world to me. Thanks for being here with us!! xo
You commented in your email all the things you don’t talk about. Thank you. We all have opinions but I come here for fashion advice and ideas with an occasional book suggestion tossed in there. I am still looking at snow but your lavender brought joy. Thanks again for all you do.
Thanks for being part of this wonderful community Catherine! You’re one of the reasons it is so supportive!
Hi, just wanted to let you know that the Jenny Bird mega bangle that you like actually opens! I have it and love it. In fact, I might need another!
Amazing! Thanks for letting me know.
Thank you for suggesting Judith Viorst’s essay. I loved it. I am 66 and sometimes worry about coping with ageing in my 80’s and beyond if I am blessed enough to live that long. I hope I am as enthused about finding new ways to feel good and be a funky great-grandma!
I found it an inspiring read too. She’s inspiring
Love, love, love the article by Judith Viorst!
Thanks for suggesting it!
As the grandmother of two 12 year old girls living in an affluent California suburb I hear that legislator. Back in the 1970’s I was also a beauty editor at a few of the most popular teen magazines. My, how the industry has changed! Remember Bonne Belle, Neutrogena, Cover Girl being the products geared to young girls? Now it’s Chanel, Tillbury and other high end products. Since when do these teens need wrinkle prevention creams? The articles I used to write were about good habits, proper cleansing, healthy hair and a lot about using natural products to enhance shine and glow. Sephora is guilty in this false narrative geared to girls spending way too much money in the store.
I remember those brands well! Encouraging healthy habits is supportive. It’s appalling they’re promoting anti aging to minors. I won’t use or work with any company that uses that unhealthy term.
Jennifer, you might like Talbot’s Twisted Bangle in silver. It’s hinged… I can’t imagine it wouldn’t go on your wrist. Maybe you can try it on in store sometime. I don’t usually care for most of the jewelry they offer, but I do like their bangles and find them to be very nice quality.
I’ll check it out. I’ve always had large hands but now with arthritis, the knuckles seem even larger.
Your cute vase with the lavender, beautiful! Made me smile. I’m sure you found that vase at a boutique shop, but so cute!
Safeway! They have darling little vases up front in the floral department.
I have always loved Judith Viorst! Nice to see she has several books out regarding aging. Thanks for the link to her article.
I may get her latest to read.
Thank you for this lovely post. I especially loved reading Judith Viorst’s essay. It was delightful. At 76 I’m too exploring and feeling the things she writes about. I don’t feel 76 but the outside world reminds me daily that I am (a gate agent recently asked me if I needed help boarding). Seriously. You probably already have followed Lyn Slater, “The Accidental Icon.” She now writes a blog “Dispatches from the Shed” where she discusses aging in a sometimes humorous but also in a serious way. I always enjoy seeing your posts; you live where I used to live and I love catches glimpses of the settings around town. Thank you.
Lyn is a great writer. Have you read her book?
Yes I did. I ordered immediately when it became available.