Do you remember the wildly popular Swatch brand of the '80s? You might be shocked to learn that the Swatch is far from dead. In fact, trendy millennials gave the retro brand its biggest sales boost in years recently. 

In addition to retro watches, there are many other trends in modern women's watches that might surprise you. Sure, we all know that a classic watch in delicate gold metal looks nice. But if you want to make a fashion statement with your wrist, you'll want to know about the best modern watches to buy today.

With the advent of the time-keeping smartphone, watches are no longer necessary. This means you can have more fun with a watch than ever before! Keep reading to learn about the hot trends in women's watch brands now.

Boyfriend

The boyish "boyfriend" watch makes it look like you actually stole it from your boyfriend. However, you don't have to actually shop in the men's watch section. Boyfriend watches give that masculine look but they're sized for a woman's wrist. These watches tend to be over-sized and hefty, unlike the sleeker over-sized feminine watch styles. They have thick bands and large watch faces, and they're usually made of leather or metal.

However, they also have a feminine touch or two to make them more wearable for everyday looks. For example, a boyfriend watch with a chunky design might come in a delicate color like off-white so it doesn't look ultra-masculine. These watches strike the perfect balance of unisex style so anyone can wear them.

Wrap Band

Wrap band watches take their place among trendy bracelets. In fact, they often look their best when paired with an armful of bangles or bracelets to play up the layered look. These watches have bands that wrap around the list, creating two or more layers of leather band. You can find them in simple, minimalist styles, or with delicately embellished bands for a more jewelry-inspired look.

Floral 

Floral watchbands might look a little bit gauche (unless they're very well-designed), but a floral watch face makes a trendy statement. This trend works best on over-sized watches with big faces that can hold big floral designs. These watches become art pieces with floral "paintings" encased within the timepiece. It's a subtle way to make a more delicate, feminine statement with a watch. A white background looks more classic, while a colored or black background offsets the florals in a bolder way. A floral watch takes the over-sized, feminine watch trend up a notch. 

Skeleton

Skeleton watches have long been a trend in men's watches. They use an exposed design that shows off the gears of the watch. However, they're not just for men anymore. Today, some designers are making skeleton watches for women who want an updated, classic look. This is a great twist on the boyfriend or menswear watch trend. They often look best with a simple leather band that won't overpower the look of the exposed watch face.

Smart

Is any list of modern women's watches really complete without a smartwatch on it?

Watches for women don't have to be all form and no function. If you want your watch to do more than tell the time, a smartwatch isn't just practical -- it's trendy.

Early smartwatches had boring, clunky designs. But today, these sleek techy accessories look great on any wrist. You can choose from a number of different brands to get the features you really want. You can also find smartwatches in other colorways besides the classic white or black.

In fact, you can even find smartwatches that look more like "real" watches if you don't prefer the techy look. From simple to designer styles, everyone can find a smartwatch that works for them. Staying connected 24/7 never looked so good.

Retro

Smartwatches offer a super-modern trend, but retro watches take things back in time. If you want a watch that reminds you of a simpler time, you can pick up a popular Swatch or another trendy watch with a throwback look.

Retro watches often use materials like rubber or silicone to get that old school design. They might also have retro dial designs reminiscent of an old-fashioned clock. Some of the best retro watches come in bold colors. They're the antithesis of the modern minimalist trend, yet they're still just as stylish.

Small

If you want to stay on the cutting edge of trends, now is a great time to invest in a small, delicate women's watch. Over-sized, bold watches have dominated women's watch trends for a number of years now. Fashion always comes in waves, so it only makes sense that designers will soon counter the over-sized trend with delicate, small watches. Start wearing one now, and you'll be able to boast that you had one "before it was cool."

Of course, even though small watches aren't the biggest trend now, you won't look out of fashion if you wear one. The small watch may have dropped in popularity in the past few years, but most stylish brands always have some small watches on the market. 

Vegan Leather

For those who love a leather look but love animals too, vegan leather watchbands are a perfect choice. Vegan leather used to look tacky and cheap, but modern vegan leather looks and feels almost just like the real thing. You can find it in any color and design, and it's often much cheaper than real leather. No one but you will know the difference!

Which Modern Women's Watches Should You Buy?

Whether you're shopping for yourself or a loved one, there's something for everyone in this guide to modern women's watches. You can start with your favorite design, or try a new watch for every season until you have a complete collection. 

Want to take your watch on the road? Don't miss my guide to packing for a road trip with all the essentials!

Happy Thursday friends! Today, for this Thursday Health Thoughts post I am so excited to share with y'all 10 Tips for Enjoying Disneyworld with a Chronic Illness. Over the last 6 years of struggling to regain my health I have had the incredible opportunity to visit and spend time at Disneyworld, Disneyland, or on a Disney Cruise 7 times. I always walk away so impressed with how Disney is such a wonderful place for those walking through the journey of illness. Disney is a fantastic place to visit and is extremely accommodating for those with physical illnesses and needs, and I hope that these 10 tips will help make your adventure the adventure of a lifetime!

1. Choose Your Dates Wisely

This is key to a lot of things for your trip! Think through the times that are the "peak season" at Disney and the amount of crowds (which will translate into shorter or longer wait times), the weather temperatures (if you are affected by heat), the events that may be going on at the park which could affect your visit (special weekends, special events and parties, etc.), and the timing that works best for you personally. 

I hadn't really thought through this ever before, but learned this lesson when I spent a day at Disney with friends in September. At that time heat was extremely difficult for me. It wiped what precious little energy that I had and made symptoms much more difficult, and after an hour in the park I was exhausted and extremely sick. On the other hand though, September can be an amazing time to visit because the lines were so short and having such a short wait time can be a priceless thing! Thinking through and making these decisions about the best dates to visit ahead of time will be the foundation for having a great visit to Disneyworld. 

2. Plan a Route

My sister and I have a long-standing joke about "planning our Disney route". For years before I got sick this was so that we could hit every single ride as many times as possible. But with my limited energy, times changed and my sister used her skills to plan a route for us to enjoy all of our favorite rides and see the park but in a logical thought out way. This was extremely helpful as we took advantage of the Disney transportation system (more on that in a minute!) and it allowed us to see the entire park without wasting any precious energy so we could see and do more. 

The "My Disney Experience App" can also be a huge help with planning out a route for your time in the parks and at the resorts. You can do everything on that app and it helps so much in the planning. It is easy to use and navigate and kept everything so up to date and it is totally free. It was wonderful! You can find out more about the app by clicking HERE. 

3. Use the Transportation System

There was a time that I never would have thought of using the transportation system, but when I became unable to walk long distances my sister suggested using the Magic Kingdom Express Train to take us from the front of the park to the back and also to get off at different stops. This was such an easy thing- it was cute to ride, it gave me a chance to re-group by being able to sit for a few minutes, and saved precious energy of walking. 

Wheelchair Rentals

If you are in need of a wheelchair Disney has Wheelchair Rentals available at all of the theme parks and water parks and even at Disney Springs. You can find out more about the Wheelchair rentals HERE. 

A couple of important tips: 
1. Wheelchairs can't travel from park to park. You have to pick up a new wheelchair at each park you visit. If you are using a hopper pass this can create a few glitches because the wheelchairs are on a first-come first-serve basis. Disney works very hard to make sure that there are lots of wheelchairs available, but if you are visiting during a peak season this can be an issue. 
2. You, of course, are allowed to bring your own wheelchair into the park, and at each ride there are places to "park" your chair.

Handicap Parking

While the parking is closer to the entrance, there is not a tram that takes you to the front of the handicap parking lots like the other parking lots.

4. Plan your Meal Times Ahead of Time

If you have a special diet (like myself) you will want to research ahead of time which restaurants are allergen friendly. I had a bit of a mis-conception that all of the restaurants in the parks had allergy friendly options (gluten or dairy friee). I quickly learned that this wasn't the case, and every trip since that time I have planned the meals ahead of time and worked with Disney and never had an issue again. 

Disney has several quick-service, buffets, sit-down, etc. restaurants that have dietary restriction offers, but many restaurants will work with you if you call ahead of time or place your order on-line. You can find out more about this by clicking HERE. Have questions and want to discuss several things ahead of time? You can email the Special Dietary staff who will be happy to help you. You can find out their contact information by clicking HERE. By planning this out a head of time you will be able to really enjoy your time without paying for it later which will help you have a wonderful time at Disneyworld!

7. Enjoy the Moments

Disney gives you the opportunity to step out of your world and into a magical world that reminds you that dreaming big dreams are possible. What a beautiful gift - especially for those struggling with a chronic illness. Disney provides this beautiful opportunity to escape for a brief part of time and come back refreshed and renewed. The most important tip that I can share is to enjoy the moments. Enjoy the laughter. Enjoy the "pixie dust" of the magic. Enjoy the time. The memories that you make will be an incredible gift during difficult days ahead. (If you are curious about what a special Tiffany & Co necklace has to do with my precious memories of Disney you can read more about it HERE.)

Happy Monday friends! I hope you are having a wonderful start to this new week! How was your weekend? Mine seemed to fly by with fun and sweet times! And some of you reading this are just going to laugh because you know it is true, but it was chilly and I loved it. *smiles*
Ferry rides are a favorite, but the ice can cause some "fun" hahaha... this was me on Thursday when ice caused the ferry to stop... I sent a picture to J stating it was obviously a male driver at the helm ;) Hahaha! 
On Saturday I was out in the mountains and it was gorgeous! The snow and the mountains and the snow covered trees are just gorgeous! 
Y'all know I love mail and mail from Jamaica was so fun! Thanks so much Sepi for the fun postcard! It looked warm *smiles*!

Are you happy with the skin you're in? Or, are you like the majority of Americans who feel less than confident about the condition of their skin? A recent poll showed that only 27 percent of Americans experience skin confidence.  If you're not happy with the state of your skin, the good news is that there are lots of the different things you can do to change it for the better. Listed below are seven skin treatment tips that will help you get the smooth, glowing skin you've always wanted.

1. Drink Plenty of Water

When it comes to improving the appearance of your skin, it's important to start from the inside. Whether your goal is to minimize wrinkles and fine lines, clear up acne, or just brighten up a dull complexion, drinking plenty of water ought to be at the top of your list. 

Why is water so important for the health of your skin? Sufficient hydration benefits your skin in several ways, including the following:

So, how much water should you drink? Most people find that drinking half their body weight in ounces (if you weight 150 pounds, aim for 75 ounces of water) is a good starting point.

2. Clean Up Your Diet

In addition to increasing your water consumption, it's also a good idea to work on cleaning up your diet, too. There are lots of foods that have been linked to poor skin health.

If you want clear, glowing skin, make sure you're avoiding the following foods:

There are plenty of foods that can make your skin worse, but there are also lots of healthy foods that are great for your skin. Some foods that you ought to add to your diet for healthy skin include:

Try eliminating problematic foods and adding in more of these beneficial ones, and you'll soon notice an improvement in the appearance of your skin.

3. Exfoliate on a Regular Basis

Make sure you're exfoliating your skin on a regular basis, too. Exfoliating helps to slough off dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores and breakouts. It can also help to brighten up your skin and get rid of dullness.

You can exfoliate with a homemade scrub (just combine a course substance like sugar with a carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil), or you can gently scrub with a washcloth. Don't forget to exfoliate your body, too. Dry brushing can get rid of dry, flaky skin. It can also minimize the appearance of cellulite and help you to tone up from the comfort of your own home. 

4. Get Some Sleep

Sleep is also crucial for clear, healthy skin. When you sleep, your body goes to work repairing the damage that occurred during the day. This includes cellular damage caused by free radicals. Without proper sleep, your body can't properly repair this damage, and your skin may look dull and be more prone to wrinkles and breakouts as a result.

Aim to get at least seven hours of sleep per night. If this is hard for you, make sure you're practicing good sleep hygiene. This includes going to bed and waking up at the same time every day and cutting off electronic use at least an hour before bed.

5. Prevent Sun Damage

Wearing sunscreen can help to keep your skin smooth and youthful. Regular sun exposure can leave your skin looking wrinkled and can lead to age spots and discoloration.  Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. This is especially important if you're going to be spending an extended period of time in the sun. It's also best to avoid sun exposure when the sun's rays are their strongest. In most places, this is between the hours of 10 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon.

6. Prevent and Treat Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs are pesky and painful, and they can even become infected if you don't take care of them.  Prevention is almost always easier than treatment, and ingrown hairs are no exception. Some steps you can take to prevent ingrown hairs include:

In the event that you do get an ingrown hair, apply a bit of Ingrown Hair Serum to help sooth it and prevent infection. Avoid scratching or picking at it, as this can lead to infection.

7. Always Remove Your Makeup Before Bed

Finally, make sure you're always taking your makeup off before you head to bed. No matter how tired you are, that makeup needs to come off. Your skin needs to be able to breathe and repair itself while you sleep. If you sleep with your makeup on, especially if you do it on a regular basis, you're more likely going to end up with clogged pores and breakouts.

Looking for More Skin Treatment Tips?

As you can see, there are lots of different skin treatment tips and products you can use to clear up your skin and get it looking as fresh and youthful as possible. From staying hydrated and eating a healthy diet to keep sun damage at bay, there are a number of different steps you can take to get the skin you've always wanted.

Are you interested in learning more about skin care? Do you want to stay informed about the latest and greatest products on the market? If so, I've got more articles for you! Start by checking out this article on seven great beauty products everyone ought to try.

*contributed post*

"Father used to say, you see a man drowning, you must try to save him even if you don't know how to swim." 

//Irena Sendler//

Someone recently asked me why I am in a Master's of Holocaust Studies program and why I am writing a series for teens that is set during the Holocaust. My answer is simple...the quote above, resounding in my heart and mind...

so on this day and each day we remember and will never forget, continuing to tell the stories and truth to future generations.

"To forget the Holocaust is to kill twice." 

//Elie Wiesel// 

#neveragain#holocaustremembranceday