When you reach your fifties and beyond you start to realise most of the things you fretted about in your younger years really all work themselves out all by themselves. I thought it would be fun to ask all my friends for a contribution and between us we came up with this list.
LOVE
It is not the end of the world after a break up in 6 months you will wonder what you saw in him/her almost embarrassed you were actually together. leave with dignity.
The next boyfriend is ALWAYS better than the one before.
The first time someone shows you are…..believe it …..the first time ! people really do not change their essence . If you see something you don’t like heed the early warning signals it wont get better.
A certain amount of alone time is integral to your personal growth. Once you learn to enjoy your own Company and get to know yourself at a young age this will strengthen you for the rest of your life,
FRIENDSHIPS
Always show appreciation to those that are good to you. Genuine friends are hard to find. Hold onto them. Good manners count for a lot. Turn up on time. Respond immediately to invitations. Listen without judgement. Gifts of appreciation.
People are drains or radiators. Surround yourself with radiators those that radiate positivity. Friends that drain you or you are exhausted or sad after seeing them can really affect your own mental state see them less .
Envy is the scourge of mostly women friendships only cultivate friendships with those younger, prettier and richer than yourself to avoid those who want to bring you down.
Invest more time in your friendships than your boyfriends these friendships will support you throughout life. Don,t ditch your girlfriends when you meet a man you can have both.
BEAUTY
Avoid expensive face creams or beauty products they are basically telling you lies and getting you to buy into your securities. Find what works for you.
Wear clothes that suit your style and body shape not because a magazine tells you what you should be wearing.
Never over pluck your eyebrows they do not grow back.
Exercise does not make you smaller- eating less makes you smaller. The gym firms you up but yoga firms both body AND mind.
You were never as fat as you thought you were ! Love your body and appreciates what it does for you.
WORK
Start networking at a young age. Advancement has more to do with who you know and not what you know. The importance of building a good network cannot be underestimated. Exams are not everything.
Never work for the money if you are not loving the work. If you do something you love you will never work a day in your life. If it pays less adapt your lifestyle.
Always mentor those that report to you. Be inspirational.
Do not be intimidated in the workplace you are just as smart as they are.
Set life goals as well as work goals. Short, medium and long term …it worked for me. A map for your life journey is essential. Start it in your teens and update and adapt as you travel through life.
Finally…….BE AUTHENTIC ! BE YOU ! BE YOUR BEST SELF !
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST !! BUT HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILDREN/GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT WHAT WORKED OR WAS SO UNNECESSARY FOR YOU TO WORRY ABOUT.
POSITIVE ENERGY AND LIFE PLANS FOR A HAPPIER UPLIFTING WEEK FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. WITH 29 MARCH JUST AROUND THE CORNER WE CAN MEET WITH UP TO 6 FRIENDS IN OUR GARDENS OR OPEN SPACES FOR PICNICS AND 12 APRIL OUTSIDE AT PUBS AND RESTAURANTS , IT IS TIME TO REDISCOVER THE PLEASURE OF SOCIALISING AND RECONNECTING OVER FOOD.
DISCOVER A RITUAL FOR EATING TOGETHER
I REALLY MISS THE LUNCHTIME RITUALS WITH MY FRENCH FRIENDS WHEN I LIVED IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE. LONG, LANGUID LUNCHES THAT BECAME ALMOST DAILY RITUALS.
IN LONDON, AND THE REST OF THE UK WE GENERALLY SEEM TO BE AMBIVALENT TO MEAL TIMES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS AN IMPORTANT OCCURRENCE AS WE GO ABOUT OUR BUSY LIVES WITH HURRIED LUNCHES ON THE GO.
I THINK IT IS TIME TO BRING BACK THE LONG LAZY LUNCH. OF COURSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE EVERY DAY ( ALTHOUGH THE FRENCH AND ITALIANS MAKE IT HAPPEN). THIS WEEK ITS TIME TO START WITH A REGULAR LONG LAZY LUNCH WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THIS MEANS AT LEAST 2 HOURS, AND DESSERT IS A MUST AND GOOD LIVELY DISCUSSION. I HAVE THIS GREAT DISCUSSION TOPIC CARDS WHERE EACH PERSON PICKS A CARD AND GENERATES LIVELY DEBATE AROUND A GIVEN SUBJECT. I WOULD REALLY RECOMMEND THESE TO GET THE CONVERSATION FLOWING.
EVEN BETTER IF YOU CAN COOK A MEAL , A REAL GIFT OF LOVE. THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED. I DO A SIMPLE BAKED WHOLE SALMON STUFFED WITH HERBS FOR PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES OR EVEN A BOUEF BOURGIGNON IN A SLOW COOKER PREPARED IN THE MORNING. A SIMPLE DESSERT CAN BE AN ORANGE CURD TART IN A SHOP BOUGHT PASTRY CASE SERVED WITH COINTREAU CREAM. BUT I REALISE NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO COOK A MEAL AND JUST SHARING A MEAL WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE FUN TO BE WITH CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOUR WEEK.
‘BREAKING BREAD’ WITH THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT CAN BE DEEPLY REWARDING AND BONDING. GOOD NURTURED RELATIONSHIPS ARE GREAT FOUNDATIONS TO LIVE A HEALTHY HAPPY LIFE. GOING ABOUT OUR BUSY DAILY LIVES ITS EASY TO LET THIS SLIDE.
MY PLEASURE IS TO INVITE MY FAVOURITE PEOPLE TO A LUNCH AND LINGER OVER GREAT FOOD, WINE AND FABULOUS CONVERSATION. THIS IS A RITUAL WE ALL NEED TO ESTABLISH. IF YOU HAVE NO ONE TO LUNCH WITH THEN…..GIVE ME A CALL !
SO , TODAY SCHEDULE A DATE AND START INVITING.
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: IN PARIS I WAS ONCE CHASTISED BY A WAITER FOR ORDERING AMERICAN COFFEE INSTEAD OF DESSERT! DO IT THE FRENCH WAY AND GIVE IN TO THE PLEASURE.
Ok boys and girls its nearly time to venture out into the big bad world of division, hysteria and aggression so today let me take you away from all this and talk……………….eyebrows. Spend a quiet evening with just you and your eyebrows while you still have the time………
EYEBROWS ARE HAVING A MOMENT IT IS ALL ABOUT THE BROW !AS A MAKE UP ARTIST MOST QUESTIONS I GET ASKED ARE BROW RELATED. AS YOU GET OLDER EYEBROWS START TO DISAPPEAR NOT JUST THE SHADE AS THE COLOUR FADES BUT ALSO THE SHAPE AND DEFINITION. PAST TRENDS HAVE CAUSED US TO OVER PLUCK AND HORMONES CAUSE BROWS TO FALL OUT AND NEVER GROW BACK. CERTAINLY MY OWN BROWS HAVE GOT SHORTER AND FINISH MIDWAY SO MY BROWS NEED ATTENTION AS PART OF MY DAILY ROUTINE.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BROWS CANNOT BE UNDERPLAYED THEY FRAME YOUR FACE MAKE YOUR EYES LOOK CLEARER AND THE LENGTHEN OF BROWS CAN MAKE YOUR EYES LOOK WIDER.
THE TREND RIGHT NOW IS FOR LOW ARCH , THICK CLEARLY DEFINED DARKER BROWS. SO TODAY WE ARE GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS IN OUR MASTERCLASS.
TOOLS
Tools
FIRST LETS GATHER ALL OUR TOOLS
EYEBROW STENCILS (EYELURE £4.95)
TWEEZERS (I LOVE TWEEZERMAN FROM £19.95)
MAGNIFYING MIRROR
PENCIL SHARPENER
BROW BRUSH AND COMB
SMALL ANGLED WEDGED BRUSH
EYE PENCIL (I USE CHANEL LE CRAYON SOURCILS 40 £23)WHICH HAS A SPOOLIE ON THE END
POMADE (ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS £19)
GEL (LEGENDARY BROWS TILBURY £18.50)
HIGHLIGHTER PENCIL
COLOUR
IN THE PAST THE ADVICE WAS ALWAYS TO MATCH YOUR HAIR COLOUR BUT THE CURRENT TREND IS TO GO A SHADE DARKER . EXCEPTION IS IF YOU HAVE BLACK HAIR YOUR BROWS SHOULD BE A SHADE LIGHTER. BEWARE IF YOU HAVE BLONDE HAIR AS BROWN TEND TO LOOK REDDISH ON FAIR BROWS SO I WOULD TEND TO GO FOR A DARKER GREYISH TONE.
SHAPE
TAKE THE EYEBROW PENCIL AND HOLD IT PERPENDICULAR AT THE WIDEST PART OF YOUR NOSE THIS WILL INDICATE WHERE YOUR BROWS SHOULD START SO MARK A POINT WITH THE PENCIL. KEEPING THE BASE OF THE PENCIL WHERE IT IS SWING IT TO THE CENTRE OF YOUR IRIS THIS WILL INDICATE WHERE THE ARCH SHOULD BE. MARK WITH ANOTHER DOT. SWING THE PENCIL TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE EYE THIS IS WHERE THE BROW SHOULD END. MARK THIS POINT. TRICK: IF YOU EXTEND YOUR BROW A LIITLE LONGER PAST THIS POINT CAN REALLY WIDEN SMALL EYES.
NOW CHOOSE THE STENCIL SHAPE YOU PREFER . I CHOOSE SLIM ARCH AS IT IS CLOSEST TO MY OWN BROW. STARTING WITH THE FIRST DOT. HOLD TH STENCIL STILL AS YOU COLOUR IN THE BASE COLOUR WITH THE PENCIL. ENSURING YOUR PENCIL IS SHARPENED TO GIVE LIGHT FEATHERY STROKES. ADJUST OR EXTEND THE LENGTH TO THE FINAL DOT.
Stencilling
TIDY
US THE BROW BRUSH TO BLEND THEN BRUSH BROWS UPWARDS. FOR COMPLETELY DEFINED BROWS YOU MAY NEED TO TRIM ANY LOOSE HAIRS OUSIDE OF YOUR NEW SHAPE. TWEEZE BELOW THE BROW OUTSIDE OF THE SHAPE. IT IS OPTIONAL IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO PLUCK ABOVE THE SHAPE IF YOU HAVE HAD THEM THREADED PREVIOUSLY YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED TO DO THIS. IT DOES GIVE A CLEAN LINE. USE YOUR MAGNIFYING MIRROR TO ENSURE YOU HAVE ALL THE STRAY HAIRS.
FILL
NOW TAKE THE POMADE WHICH IS A WAXY COLOUR AND YOUR SMALL ANGLED BRUSH. USING SMALL UPWARD STROKES COLOUR IN OVER THE PENCIL TO GIVE A PRECISE LONGER LASTING FINISH. USE THE SPOOLIE IF YOU GO OUTSIDE OF THE LINE TO CORRECT MISTAKES.
FINISH
USE A SETTING GEL TO FINISH AND SET THE EYEBROWS OR EVEN A SMALL AMOUT OF HAIRSPRAY ON THE BROW COMB AND COMBED THROUGH. THIS WILL ENSURE BEAUTIFUL BROWS ALL DAY !!!
TRICK: I LIKE TO DRAW A SMALL HIGHLIGHTER PENCIL AROUND THE BROW TO GIVE THEM A NICE EDGE. IF ANY OF YOU INVESTED IN THE NYX WONDER PENCIL MENTIONED IN MY PREVIOUS BLOG THIS CLEAR LIP PENCIL IS PERFECT FOR THIS.
SPARSE BROWS
THERE ARE MANY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO FILL IN BROWS CONTAINING FIBRES TO BUILD ON THE HAIRS ALREADY THERE. WUNDERBROW FIBRE FILLER £19.95 IS VERY GOOD.
TATOO BROW BY MAYBELLINE £7.65 IS A PEEL OFF GEL TINT THAT LASTS FOR 3 DAYS AVAILABLE IN DARK BLONDE, MEDIUM BROWN AND DARK BROWN.
FOR A MORE PERMANENT FINISH MICROBLADING IS THE BEST OPTION IT LAST BETWEEN 1-3 YEARS. A TATOOING TECHNNIQUE WHERE SEMI PERMANENT COLOUR IS TATOOED USING HAIR LIKE .STROKES. FROM £200 UPWARDS.
SO GIRLS (AND BOYS!) NO EXCUSES FOR IMPERFECT BROWS ……GET PRACTISING.
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: REMEMBER EYEBROWS ARE SISTERS NOT TWINS THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO BE IDENTICAL
JOJO takes you all the way to an Amazon Rainforest to share some Soundbytes for your SOUL SAS…… Self Awareness System. We have been so long in lockdown so come with us on a journey to a cleansing rainforest. Please note this was filmed prior to lockdown but I just felt you needed this today to embrace a brave new world. Please excuse my rather dishevelled appearance but I HAD been living out of a rucksack for 3 weeks, and after all this video is ALL about what is going on inside and not the outside my friends. x
JOJOS STYLIST TIP: THIS IS ALL ABOUT BEING A COMPLETE PERSON ON YOUR OWN NEVER RELY ON SOMEONE ELSE FOR YOUR OWN HAPPINESS PUT YOURSELF IN THE DRIVING SEAT !
THE ONLY THING I WANT YOU TO CATCH IS MY WEEKLY MANTRA TO DOSE YOU UP WITH GOODNESS AND OFFER YOU FULL PROTECTION FROM THE NEGATIVES AND STRESS OF DAILY LIFE. JOIN US AND MANY OTHERS EACH WEEK FOR THOUGHTS, TASKS AND LOTS OF SHINY POSITIVITY.
If This Does Not Make You Happy…………
HAPPINESS IS YOUR ETERNAL PARTNER
IT MAY FEEL LIKE HAPPINESS HAS DESERTED YOU OVER THE LAST VERY TOUGH YEAR. BUT ONE THING WE HAVE ALL HAD IN COMMON IS SPENDING MORE TIME WITH OURSELVES AND PRESSED THE PAUSE BUTTON.
DO YOU FEEL TRAPPED AND SUFFOCATED BY YOUR PARTNER ? OR ARE YOU A COMMITMENT PHOBE WHO AVOIDS RELATIONSHIPS ?
NOW IS THE TIME TO HEAL. IMAGINE YOURSELF SURROUNDED EVERY DAY BY A DEPENDABLE, COMFORTING SOURCE. ALL THE SUPPORT AND SPACE YOU REQUIRE YET IS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU MEETING YOUR NEEDS….NO STRINGS ATTACHED. THIS IS WHAT HAPPINESS OFFERS YOU AND MORE ……… THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU ARE OPEN TO RECEIVING IT.
ESTABLISH A NEW RELATIONSHIP…….WITH HAPPINESS.
HAPPINESS IS AVAILABLE 24/7 , IF YOU CANNOT FIND IT OR YOU FEEL THAT IT HAS TEMPORARILY DESERTED YOU IT MAYBE THAT YOUR AWARENESS OF HAPPINESS HAS TEMPORARILY DISAPPEARED.
BY RECOGNISING HAPPINESS AS YOUR ETERNAL PARTNER YOU CAN BECOME MORE ATTUNED TO IT EACH DAY. IT IS ALWAYS THERE JUST WELCOME IT IN.
MWAH MWAH
JOJO XXXXXXXX
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: TAKE HAPPINESS UP THE AISLE TODAY MAKE A COMMITMENT TO IT AND ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT!
Gentle stretching exercises before getting out of bed in the morning particularly as you get older to warm up the muscles is imperative. It takes just 5 minutes and the benefits will far outweigh an extra 5 minute sleep. You can actually feel the tiredness being squeezed out of the muscles after being sedentary for so long. At any age you should be doing the Bed Stretch 6. Six exercises holding for 6 seconds on each side.
I promise you that you will move with grace and style as you glide through the day. The mornings you choose to do these exercises you will see a difference in posture and movement instead of leaping out with gusto after not moving for hours.
I have done a video post rather than try to explain in words. You can copy to your phone but in no time this will become second nature and hopefully part of your routine. Try it !! Jojo xxxxx
YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF POSITIVITY TO UPLIFT YOUR SPIRITS AND RESTORE MENTAL CLARITY. OUR HOPE IS TO OFFER HOPE AND HEALING DURING THIS INTENSE PERIOD OF STRESS. FOLLOW OUR WEEKLY GUIDE OF TASKS,MANTRAS AND DISCUSSION TO GET YOU THROUGH EACH WEEK.
THINK PINK !
HAPPINESS PROJECT
SO THIS WEEK MY POSITIVE POSSE I WANT TO SET A CHALLENGE AND GET YOU TO PLAY A GAME. I THINK WE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW GOOD HAPPINESS FEELS. THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH DOOM AND GLOOM AROUND DURING 2020. EVERYONE YOU MEET SEEM TO BE FULL OF NEGATIVITY WHICH OF COURSE YOU ABSORB ON A DAILY BASIS.
BUT NOW WE HAVE THE LOCKDOWN PATHWAY MAPPED OUT START TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE LIGHT. SO I NEED YOUR HELP TO SPREAD A NEW VIRUS ….THE HAPPINESS VIRUS. EVEN MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN CORONAVIRUS. SO LETS START TODAY…..
TASK
WITH EACH OF THE NEXT 5 PEOPLE YOU TALK TO, SHARE A DIFFERENT PIECE OF GOOD NEWS WITH EACH OF THEM. SO ONE PERSON EQUALS ONE PIECE OF HAPPINESS.
SO NOT ONLY DOES THIS IMPACT ON HOW YOU FEEL BUT LIGHTENS THE LOAD AND PUTS A SMILE ON THE FACE OF OTHER PEOPLE. THE PIECE OF GOOD NEWS MAY NOT BE PERSONAL TO YOU BUT SOMETHING YOU HAVE HEARD.
IT IS SO COMMON TO PLAY LIFE DOWN RATHER THAN CELEBRATE IT.
SO IF YOU ARE READING THIS TELL OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME… LET US LIFT THE SPIRITS OF THE NATION, THE WORLD. MAKE A NOTE OF WHAT HAPPENS AS YOU EMBARK ON THE PROJECT. SEND ME A MESSAGE ON THIS BLOG.
HAPPINESS IS CONTAGIOUS…CATCH IT.
MWAH MWAH XX
JOJO XX
JOJOS STYLELIST TIP: MAKE A CONTRACT WITH YOURSELF TO SHARE HAPPINESS WITH OTHERS