​With summer just around the corner, it’s time to start planning for your vacation—and for many, that means getting that winter body in summer shape. More often than not, our desire to lose weight and tone up before an upcoming vacation becomes a last-minute sprint. But if you start now, you'll increase your odds of success. Here are a few simple tips for converting to a healthier lifestyle.

The ravages of a well spent youth are reflected in many ways as we leave one era of our lives and begin the next. Lines, wrinkles, blemishes and lack of elasticity appear to a greater or lesser degree depending on the level of "well spent" we're dealing with! It's a natural progression but can still be hard to accept, especially when the vision reflected back at us in the mirror is not representative of how we feel inside - wrinkle free and much the same as we've always felt!

​Using tennis as an excuse for a girl's trip to Las Vegas is a sobering thought. What could possibly go wrong? But it's as good an excuse as any given that these six ladies in their midlife have friendship in common because of tennis. 

The trip had been in the pipeline for months until one evening at the bar during a happy hour gathering, and far from sober, dates were secured, and flights were booked right there on cell phones. A mere $45 each way from Phoenix to Las Vegas... cheers to Southwest Airlines!

​Spirits are lifted as spring emerges from hibernation and shows signs of sticking around. Even in Arizona, despite our mild winters and seemingly endless days of sunshine, there is a different feel about the season as warm tendrils of air waft around us and bees are sent into a frenzy over the blooming wild flowers.

What better time of year than spring to bust out some silk in bright vivid colors, especially colors that can be seen from outer space!  A silk buttondown shirt is a classic that stands the test of time, you can be sure it will re-appear merged with different outfits year after year which also makes it a good investment!

Midlife pulls many tricks on us - hair growth where we least expect it, and hair loss where we need it most - from our head.  Sadly, it effects women as well as men. 

Hair, like everything else goes through changes over the course of a lifetime. Shine and volume synonymous with youth gives way to dull, weak and thinner strands.  There are however several things we can do to maintain our luscious locks for as long as possible without going the chemical route.

The shirtdress is a timeless classic that can be worn by young and mature women with the same level of effortless chic. It basically takes the form of a long button down shirt, comes in a myriad of fabrics ranging from denim (mostly in the form of chambray) to silk.  Like a good shirt, the shirtdress can be utilized for smart and casual occasions but with the added advantage of not having to wear pants! It's a wardrobe staple and the versatility it offers makes styling it fun. 

Korean skin care products are fast becoming the most sought after and esteemed beauty treatments in Europe and North America. Saranghae is a 5-step skin care routine that has been developed over 600 years in South Korea using locally derived natural botanical extracts. The name "Saranghae" is Korean for "I love you".

Crane birds are the latest graphic to turn iconic, rather like pineapples and pelicans in seasons past. My crush began last year with a pair of crane bird palazzo pants, and now continues with two recent finds that are so inexpensive they're bound to fly off the racks before you can say "Get the flock out of here!" 

As Valentine's Day approaches romance is in the air and spring tickles our senses with the melting of snow, peep shows of sunlight and flowering buds

Only recently did bike-sharing make its debut in Scottsdale AZ, although the program has been active in Phoenix (on a much smaller scale) and elsewhere within the US for several years.

They appeared like magic out of nowhere. Abracadabra... suddenly there were lime green and bright yellow bicycles left randomly on street corners, at bus stops or lined up in neat rows like soldiers.

Bicycles were multiplying across the city faster than you could say "on your bike mate"!  We are being invaded by aliens disguised as neon colored bicycles!  

​We have Balenciaga to thank for the return and subsequent sock booties crush that has emerged this past fall and winter season. That's alright, I for one enjoy crushing on high-end designer styles, especially when they're rapidly made available at a not so high-end designer price!

​In case you're unfamiliar with the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auctions, they are the car lover's dream and for those who can afford to bid, and win - perhaps a dream come true!
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Shopping for jeans is perhaps one of the most difficult endeavors we women have to deal with from a clothing stand point. Finding the perfect pair has been my life's work!
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