I am SO ready for the New Year! 2016 has been a tough one and I am already smelling the winds of change in the air! Bring it. However, before I shut the door completely on 2016, I want to tell you about some things that actually DID make my over 40 life better this year. It doesn’t seem right to close out the year without sharing them with you.

Lash Extensions

I wrote about these here and I still stand behind these beauties. I can never go back to lash curlers and mascara. Imagine, waking up to long lush lashes every day and never having to curl them or ever apply mascara again! These were a mega discovery for me this year. I am hopelessly addicted.

Moisturizer

Living in Colorado, this is a big one. The air out here is super dry with over 300 days of sunshine a year! This makes it a completely awesome place to live, but a completely terrible place for your dry skin. After searching high and low, I have been using this moisturizer from Paris all year. It is rich and luxurious and a tiny little bit goes a long way, which means the price tag isn’t as bad as it seems. It actually gives my over 40- dry skin, a “plumped up” look. I love it. If you are in the US, it can only be purchased here, at Ayla.

Laura Mercier Photo Edition Foundation

I sang the praises of this find, here. It is heavily pigmented and silky, so a little goes a long way. One tube has lasted me the whole year, and even my cat rarely sees me without make-up, so thats saying something. It is formulated to reflect light,which really makes your skin look more youthful and radiant. So unless you have someone willing to follow you around with a photo-light reflector, I would highly suggest Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturizing Photo Edition Foundation – Ecru for over 40 foundation.

Clip-in Hair Extensions

My name is Melissa, I am over 40 and some days I just want long hair. That’s really all there is to it. Some days, long, flowing locks are exactly what is called for. Real, human hair, clip in extensions are easy to use and look completely natural when matched to your hair color. Want long hair today? By god, you can have it. Oh, what a time to be alive! Shop for my favorite hair extensions here: YelloowBeauty.com Clip-In Hair Extensions

New Ways to Get Cash!

You can get the details here, but I was able to save enough to buy an airline ticket this year, just using these methods. Enough said.

Asymmetrical Hemlines

The fashion gods shined down on those of us over 40 in 2016, by allowing for soft, stretchy leggings and long asymmetrical hem lines on shirts, sweaters and tees. Pairing them with practically any shoe or boot you’d like to style them with! In a pair of flats, I felt like I was cheating and wearing my pajamas out. Oh, let us revel in this while it lasts. Favorite, affordable sweaters, here –> Women’s Bp. Cozy V-Neck Sweater,. And favorite leggings, hands down here–> Women’s Zella Live In High Waist Leggings.

Warby Parker

Yep. Over 40. It was time. 2016 was the year I HAD to get reading glasses. My grown children were beginning to snicker at me as I would try to extend my arm far enough to actually read something. Ah well, 20/20 my whole life. It was good run. But Warby Parker is ah-mazing.They have a try-on at home service so you can pick out your frames and have them sent to your house for free, while you drive your husband and everyone you know crazy pick out your perfect frames. Thereby making reading glasses, a new accessory and not so terrible! Shop their Home Try-On program.

Chicken Enchiladas

My friend Barbie made this for us one night and everyone loved it. Then Barbie, being the good person that she is, told me how incredibly easy this meal was to make and passed me the recipe. This super fast, super easy recipe is a life saver on those nights when you are struck with the “oh-good-lord-it’s-late-whats-for-dinner” fear. And because hungry family members aren’t very nice, there is this recipe.  It’s fast. It’s easy. It’s good. It has made my over 40 life easier on several occasions.

Winston

Sure- why not? Get a puppy. Get a BIG puppy. While I am not sure Winston has made life EASIER……he has definitely made it better a thousand times over. We love our big lug.

How was your 2016? Did you find anything great this year that made your life easier? I’d love to hear about it! Thanks so much for reading, following, sharing and commenting!

Cheers!

Melissa

You may also like to read about Bloggers Over 40 who make every day easier.

Or about Self Care Over 40.

#Saturdaysharelinkup at Not Dressed as Lamb