refinedambiance on LTK

Reasons I Don’t Answer the Phone in My 40s 😂📵 • Getting my steps in with this weighted vest like it’s my part-time job • Running into the store again for that one last-minute Thanksgiving thing • In @ultabeauty , minding my business + testing perfumes I absolutely don’t need • Back home in my Christmas pajamas after a top-tier shower routine • Trying on my new over-the-knee boots while Mary J. Blige tells me to “Be Happy” • Giving y’all my homemade dressing recipe because… community 😌 • And honestly? I’m just busy living my life 💁🏿‍♀️✨ Also… this perfume combo? @nestnewyork Crème de Clementine + @henryrose Dave — multiple compliments everywhere I went. Citrus, cozy, clean… it’s her. 🍊✨ Life in your 40s is peaceful, joyful, and booked. If the phone rings during any of this… it’s going straight to voicemail. genx over40 blackgenx nostalgia thanksgivingeve fortysomething

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Reasons I don’t answer the phone in my 40s:
• I’m too busy jamming to Careless Whisper like I’m headlining my own tour.
• Hanging clothes that I swear I just washed yesterday.
• Taste-testing the new @nothingbundtcakes Coconut Snowflake Bundt cake…and yes, it’s a good time.
• Daydreaming about wallpaper for our 2026 bedroom glow-up.
• Smelling my new favorite candle — Crème Brûlée by @ps.handcrafted (soy-based + WoodWick… elite).
• Searching for a leather pencil skirt that has vanished into thin air.
• Showing off my new red polish because someone said red is “for aunties and moms.” Well… I am both. And it still looks good.
• And honestly? I’m just busy… and I don’t feel like it. 🤷🏾‍♀️

If you know, you know. 💁🏾‍♀️✨
#lifeinyour40s #genx #xennial #over40 #blackgenx #fortysomething #nostalgia

Work wear but make it chic. I’m wearing a size 6 in the top. Pants vary from a size 4 to 6.

#LTKOver40 #LTKWorkwear #LTKFindsUnder100

A weekend in my 40s looked like this…

• Friday: Light snow made it a self-care day. I still attempted a full-body dumbbell workout, but a few reps had me feeling like I was about to go meet the Lord… so I wrapped it up and saved the rest for Saturday.

• Saturday: Opened the curtains, got my workout in, and headed into the city to Puttery for the first time. Tried a wing flight — mambo, old bay & honey, lemon pepper, and buffalo — and everything was fire. The holiday market was way too overstimulating, so I went home.

• Sunday: Started with movement again because I’ve fully fallen in love with the roller. Added jump rope, then made breakfast — scrambled eggs, bacon, and coffee. Had random “why am I nauseous?” thoughts (perimenopause is a journey). Tried on a new coat, jammed to In the Air Tonight, played sous chef while Tiffany made chicken tortilla soup, and wrapped the weekend with Grantchester.

Movement, good food, cozy vibes, and listening to my body — that’s the season I’m in.

PS: The houndstooth coat from Saturday is old, but I’ll link similar options in my LTK. Anything else that’s linkable from this post is in my LTK as well. #genx #over40 #blackgenx #fortysomething #nostalgia #vlog #dayinmylife

My new favorite dress! Art in a dress form 🥰

#LTKOver40 #LTKHoliday

The month of November was great!

#LTKootd #LTKvlog #LTKgrwm

My new favorite fragrance combo. Sugar plum by brown sugar babe and Angel Nova by Mugler.

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKBeauty

Entryway holiday decor

#LTKHoliday #LTKHome

I love all of these dresses! I’ve added a few to my wardrobe.

#LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKootd #LTKOver40

I love a unique top. Corset waist, cinched waist, sign me up!

#LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKgrwm #LTKootd

Boots to add to your closet this fall!

#LTKOver40 #LTKootd #LTKWorkwear

Here are some of my favorite coats this season.

#LTKCyberWeek #LTKSaleAlert #LTKWorkwear

Keeping it simple this year… because honestly, I’m not trying to wrestle with a Pinterest-perfect tree. 😅

• Bow garland? Michael’s.
• Icicles? Amazon.
• Blanket-turned-tree-skirt? Walmart.
All linked in my LTK in my bio. ✨

This season I’m choosing ease, laughter, and memory-making over perfection.
Because the real magic isn’t in the décor — it’s in the moments I get to create with my family, the inside jokes, and the joy that fills this house. 💛

Here’s to holiday homes that feel good… not stressful. ✨🎄

#LTKHome #LTKHoliday

A little weekend recap… because life in your 40s is a whole experience ✨

Friday set the tone — a 3-mile walk with my weighted vest, a new DIY project underway, and my High Tea perfume from @itsbrowngirljane arriving like a gift from the universe.

Saturday had me on the road early to see my girls at college, then a stop at Aldi, groceries delivered, lasagna soup simmering, and Christmas trees going up.

Sunday was peak “grown woman energy” — workout done, laundry moving, holiday décor almost finished, and me vibing to “I Wanna Be Your Man” while slipping into my new two-piece sweater set.

A full weekend… but full in all the right ways. ✨ #genx #over40 #blackgenx #fortysomething #nostalgia #weekendvibes #vlog

Loving this 2 piece sweater set! I’m wearing a size small and I’m allegedly 5ft 3.

#LTKOver40 #LTKdayinmylife #LTKFindsUnder100

Here’s my Thanksgiving Table setting!

#LTKHoliday #LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder100

Loving these light up ornaments for Christmas!

#LTKHoliday #LTKOver40 #LTKHome

Tried out Haus Labs foundation today!

#LTKBeauty #LTKOver40

Running errands in your 40s be like…
I said I was just running to the ATM, and somehow I ended up at all my favorite stores, grabbing lunch at Sweetgreen, and reflecting on how we’re really living in a cashless society now.

Jamming to Cardi B’s EERTIME, Beyoncé Drunk in Love, Tevin Campbell, and Mary J. Blige Not Gon’ Cry because the soundtrack is always going to be elite.

Just living my best life one “quick errand” at a time. 😏

Linking a very old sweater and my make up routine, which is giving very much so fall vibes!

A list of the top most recommended hand creams!

#LTKGiftGuide #LTKHoliday #LTKBeauty

Reasons I don’t answer the phone in my 40s 📞✨
I’m either:
🎶 Jamming out to Private Eyes by Hall & Oates
🥂 Taking inventory for my holiday tablescapes
💧 Prioritizing hydration & peace
💄 Trying out my new favorite lip gloss @fentybeauty
🍞 Venting about a messy sandwich (because why are they always messy?)
…and honestly, I’m just too busy being happy.

Happy Friday, y’all — call me after the vibe check. 😉#genx #blackgenx #over40 #nostalgia #worklifebalance #lifeinyour40s

✨ Date Night Dilemma — Help a wife out! ✨

13 years ago, Tiffany and I had our very first date at a cozy Ethiopian spot called Dukem on U Street in DC. 🥹 We talked for hours, laughed nonstop, and the rest was history.

Now it’s our first date anniversary, and I can’t decide what to wear! 💃🏽
I’ve got three looks in the running — each with its own vibe.
Which one should I wear for our night out? 👀

#LTKStyleTip #LTKOver40

✨ Sunday in Your 40s ✨

Sundays are for balance — Yesterday had a little productivity, a little indulgence, and a lot of joy.

• Tiffany and I finally made the viral savory plate — more to come on our thoughts 👀
• Quick trip to @wegmans because the samples were calling my name 🍴
• Perfume of the day: Milky Oudgasm by @kayali — warm, creamy, and unapologetically grown-woman 🤎
• Took an afternoon walk and got my steps in with my weighted vest — still and always a game changer 🏃🏽‍♀️
• Slipped into my new @coach loafers (linked in my LTK 👠) because comfort and style can coexist
• Ended the night with a sweet plate — @aldiusa chocolate chip cannoli dip paired with @chwinery Luxe Sparkling Wine, vanilla wafers, strawberries (for antioxidants, because balance 😂), and a handful of plantain chips. #genx #blackgenx #over40 #fortysomething #nostalgia #aldi

✨ Refined Hosting 101: Make It Easy on Yourself ✨

This season, I’m choosing ease over exhaustion. I want you to do the same!
✅ Buying the onions and peppers already chopped.
✅ Letting the bakery handle the rolls.
✅ Setting up a chili or baked potato bar so guests can build their own plate while I actually enjoy the night.

Because refined doesn’t mean complicated — it means intentional, effortless, and still beautiful. 🫶🏽

I’m hosting with joy, not stress — because that’s what this season is really about. ✨ #holidays #holidayparty #hosting #entertainingathome #dinnerparty

Here is what unwinding in your 40s looks like! It’s nowhere near Christmas, but if you hear me allegedly jamming out to Silent Night by The Temptations… mind your business 😌✨
A peaceful Friday night looks like:
🪞 Trying on a new L’Oréal Paris lipstick I may or may not love
🍝 Snacking on leftover spaghetti like it’s fine dining
🔥 Sitting by the fire pit pretending I’m on vacation
👗 Debating if this new dress is “yes ma’am” or “maybe next week”
All in all, just another calm ending to a chaotic week in my 40s.

#LTKOver40 #LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKHome

These loafers are a staple in my closet this fall!

#LTKSeasonal #LTKOver40 #LTKStyleTip

Why I don’t answer the phone in my 40s: because between being a Crumbl cookie critic 🍪, folding laundry like it’s an Olympic sport 🧺, and checking my @chwinery inventory 🍷—I’m booked and busy. Add in a mini Cash Money vs. No Limit concert 🎶 and breaking in my new favorite boots 👢… amongst other things..yeah, it’s a busy time for me 🤣🤣.

PS: I linked what I could in my LTK in my bio 🖤 #genx #blackgenx #over40 #nostalgia #worklifebalance #selfcare

These fold over cuffed knee high boots are My new favorite from Macy’s and they’re under $100.

#LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKOver40 #LTKStyleTip

Saturday started with a little laundry therapy and a quick trip to @chwinery — only to find out they ran out of the short rib grilled cheese I was craving 😩. The night turned around though with a front-row seat (aka my living room) to the No Limit vs. Cash Money concert 🎶 — what a time!

Sunday was all about balance — got my protein in, made a quick @wegmans + @ultabeauty run, tried a new recipe, and ended the weekend with Martin reruns. Also tried on my new favorite pants and discovered my new fragrance combo obsession: @nestnewyork Crème de Clementine layered with @henryrose Dàvĕ 🍊✨

Life in your 40s: a mix of comfort, style, and good vibes only. How was your weekend? #genx #blackgenx #over40 #fortysomething #weekendvibes #nostalgia

New pants, who dis? 👀 Two pairs—each under $30—because looking refined doesn’t have to break the bank. I’m also fully embracing my love for an all-black situation (aka outfit), and honestly… it never misses.🖤✨ They are perfect for in the office or being out and about!

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKWorkwear #LTKStyleTip

Date night outfit!

#LTKStyleTip #LTKOver40

Having the house to myself in my 40s is the definition of luxury ✨

It’s peace, playlists, and perfume.
It’s @saltair Saltwater Vanilla body butter + body oil on repeat.
It’s @theordinary glycolic acid, @prequelskin vitamin C serum, and @dermalogica PHYTO Nature firming serum + oxygen cream doing what they do best.
It’s @marcjacobsfragrances Daisy Wild in the air while @tonibraxton Let It Flow and Reasons by Earth, Wind & Fire set the tone.
It’s red lentil chili simmering, strawberry @nothingbundtcakes waiting, and groceries magically delivered because… soft life only.
It’s wallpaper samples, caftans, and pure contentment.

All items featured are linked in my LTK — link in bio 💫 #genx #blackgenx #over40 #selfcare #lifehacks #worklifebalance #metime

The perfect fall dress?

#LTKOver40 #LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKSeasonal