Nevertheless, we eagerly turned on the tube (back when TVs actually had tubes) and flipped the dial (back when TVs actually had dials) to watch our favorite shows in grainy, blurry, black and white.

Although some shows were focused on adults and grown-up interests, almost all were kid friendly and many were aimed just at us. We had our early favorites: Howdy Doody, Captain Kangaroo, and the blockbuster show no one would ever miss, The Mickey Mouse Club. Who can forget waiting with excited anticipation for “Anything Can Happen Day” or the latest adventures taking place at the Triple R Ranch with Spin and Marty?

The family sitcom shows were just as great. The kids would generally experience a problem at school, or with a friend, or endure some type of crisis of conscience. But, just when the dramatic tension reached its zenith, Mom or Dad would step in and impart a valuable life lesson—resolving the situation over a plate of cookies and a glass of milk.

No question that there were plenty of social inequities back then and TV reflected these in the lack of people of color on the screen. Families came only in one way: a wise (but sometimes goofy) dad, the ever-nurturing mom who happily dusted the house in her shirtwaist and pearls, and two or three well-adjusted kids.

However, as trite and role restrictive as these shows often were, they did try to provide us boomers kids with some positive messages about how to live productive and happy lives. I realize I’m sounding old, but looking at the reality fare out there today, what kinds of messages are children getting now? I wonder what Father Knows Best or Donna Reed might say about The Bad Girls Club or Jersey Shore?

Considering the “reality” being displayed in reality shows of today, I’ve just developed a hankering for a plate of cookies, a glass of milk, and some words of wisdom from Mom and Dad.

That said, I was just given one of those precious examples in life whereby my entire outlook on the physical signs of aging was transformed. We all know the saying: “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Well, it’s true beyond anything I might have imagined.

I was out to lunch with my 85-year-old friend when she shared a story I just have to pass along. A world traveler who’s interested in various cultures, she’d stopped by a Chinese grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. While there, she decided to buy a six-pack of Chinese beer she’d remembered from one of her trips to Asia.

At the checkout stand, my friend realized the clerk was probably new to this country and was trying her hardest to do everything exactly right. In fact, as she rang up the beer, the checker stopped and asked the octogenarian for her ID.

“What?! You’ve got to be kidding!” said my friend with obvious surprise.

“No, I need to see your ID,” came the response from the earnest rule-follower.

So, my 85-year old friend pulled out her driver’s license and dutifully handed it over to the clerk. The checker looked at the birth date (1925) and without missing a beat said, “You look good!”

I swear this is the truth and it thrills me beyond measure! In only a couple decades’ time, I might just get carded! Imagine that!

Her business, Heartlites, Inc., is based on her combined experience and education in both nursing and the ministry. As an R.N. and a Spiritual Minister, Marcy began incorporating spiritual development and energy healing techniques and created her own highly successful private practice. Eager clients began using her strategies and following her advice to achieve a sense of wholeness and wellbeing.

From there, Marcy developed her program entitled CELLpH (pronounced “self”) Love. The unique spelling refers to the fact that our cells require the proper amount of alkaline to balance acidic influences if they (and we) are to remain healthy. The same is true for our thoughts and beliefs. Too much worry and stress are acidic. So Marcy teaches techniques that bring us back to love, compassion, generosity and other attributes that are alkaline in nature. It’s a fascinating theory, which is supported by Marcy’s knowledge of neuroscience and spiritual psychology.

Take a listen to our fifteen-minute interview on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio and be sure to check out her website. I think you’ll be as intrigued and impressed as I am. After all, turning on your heart lights and celebrating your magnificent self by manifesting your dreams and living life to the fullest after fifty is a very feisty way to be!

I was born a towhead and, in certain ways, that was a perk. But it turns out blondes have our challenges especially as we age. According to a recent segment on the Today show, blonds are more likely to experience both skin cancer and macular degeneration. I knew about the skin cancer and am vigilant about applying a full-spectrum sun block. (Of course, having spent years tanning on the beach coated in baby oil doesn’t help the look of my skin these days). But I didn’t realize blondes are especially vulnerable to melanoma on our scalps. It’s critical we wear a hat when we’re out in the sun—so I guess the telltale, somewhat squashed look of “hat-hair” is our destiny.

I also didn’t know about the flaxen-haired predisposition to macular degeneration. It does, however, make sense. Melanin, or the lack of it in people born blonde, guards both the skin and the eyes from sun damage. To protect our eyes, the doctor recommends wearing UV coated sunglasses. She also suggests eating at least a cupful of greens daily because we need to be extra careful to get a protective supply of both lutein and zeaxanthin.

According to the doctor, each hair tone brings special challenges, so blondes are not alone. But are we still having more fun? Maybe so. Just look for the laughing lady who’s enjoying her salad slathered in sun block, eyes shielded by oversized sunglasses, and wearing a wide brimmed hat.  Maybe she’s a movie star or maybe she’s a blonde who’s just out having fun. Whatever the case, you can bet she’s not laughing at “dumb blonde jokes.” But that’s a whole other topic for another day!

Laura Ziskin knows this struggle firsthand. You may likely recognize her name because she is a well-known Hollywood producer. Laura has produced such films as Pretty Woman, As Good as it Gets, and Spider Man. Diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer in 2004, Laura went through the usual treatments. Although she’s a survivor, she still has the disease. Laura says she’s living with rather than dying from cancer, but terms herself and others like her “impatient patients.”

Aside from the obvious trauma surrounding such a diagnosis, Laura was struck by the lack of progress in combating a disease that kills 1500 Americans daily. As she puts it: “This is a crisis! In terms of lives lost, it’s the same as 9/11 every other day.” Yet, as a population, we tend to view cancer as an inevitable evil. Despite a certain amount of progress in detection and advancement in current treatment options, much of cancer management remains the same as it had been decades ago.

Laura is on a mission to change this. She and several other notable celebrities including Katie Couric and Sherry Lansing founded an initiative that seeks to make giant strides in finally coming up with the cure. Stand Up to Cancer funds cutting-edge research targeting all types of cancer. But SU2C takes things a step further—rather than freely handing over the money, they set milestones and benchmarks requiring measurable outcomes from the research they fund. Their goal is to generate real results within three years.

Laura says the old research paradigm, where scientists work alone in competition with one another, needs to change. Her two buzzwords are “collaboration” and “acceleration.” She spells out her goals clearly and compellingly in an interview on You Tube. It’s one you won’t soon forget.

So take a couple of minutes to hear what she has to say and be sure to visit SU2C’s website. If you or a loved one has ever been touched by this disease, it might be the best several minutes you can spend. The “Big C” might well stand for the words: “cancer,” “crisis,” “constituency,” “cause,” and “cure.” When you consider that one in two men and one in three woman will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime, the numbers make for a huge constituency, the cause is urgent, and with our help the cure is at hand!

What I’m really thinking, however, is that the season of new birth and renewed energy also brings with it a drive for each of us to stretch and grow in new and invigorating ways. How many of you have either restarted or re-upped your exercise routines? Perhaps, you’re vowing to eat more healthfully as the early spring vegetables arrive in your local market. Or maybe you’re considering making positive changes of a more cerebral sort: taking a class, learning to master a new aspect of the computer, or finally learning to play bridge.

At any rate, I thought it’s time we have a little fun. I got these few exercises in an email and found them fascinating. So say goodbye to the gray days of winter and hello to exercising your little gray cells in preparation for spring!

1- Find the C below…do not use any cursor help. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 2- If you already found the C, now find the 6 below. 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 69999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 3 – Now find the N below. It’s a little more difficult. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

As the author of Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever, she writes with skill and wit of the deep and lasting bonds of female friendship. And, true to her theme, on her website Judith encourages her fellow writers by sharing her tips on: honing your craft, marketing your work, and networking with fellow writers and authors. Be certain to check out her informative and helpful site and take a look at her remarkable book—it’s a great read for any mature woman who treasures her friends.

As a young woman, Judith lived the life that many of us dreamed of: she was a model! So, again true to her belief in supporting her fellow females, Judith is sharing her make-up tips for those of us who celebrated our half-century birthday a while back. Just because we now find ourselves inhaling huge quantities of air to blow out all of those candles, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look great doing it!

So here are some of Judith’s must-try make-up techniques in her own words:

“Has your look expired?  Are you still following the same make-up regime you did when you where 35?  Or 40?  Wake-up, girlfriend.  The Big Five-Oh decade and beyond means it’s time for a make-up makeover.  So put down your black eye liner and pay attention.

As we age, we have to be more specific about the colors and textures of make-up we use.  So let’s start from the beginning…

Face: Don’t use a heavy foundation and beware of mineral make-up (it can settle in cracks and creases and make you look drier than the Mojave).  Try liquid foundation mixed with moisturizer.  Apply it with a flat foundation brush and then pat it in with a sponge (don’t rub or you’ll wipe it off.)  If you have dark circles or puffiness under your eyes, dab on a tiny (and I mean tiny) amount of concealer with your ring finger after you’ve applied your foundation. I like Effacernes Waterproof Undereye Concealer by Lancome, but any lightweight product will do.  If you use powder to set your make-up, do so sparingly and use a translucent powder.  A little bronzer can be nice in the summer, but again, use sparingly only on forehead, cheeks, and chin.

Blush: Although they can give you a more dewy look, I find cream blushes hard to control.  I prefer powder in a peachy or pink tone.  I like Orgasm by Nars. The key is where to apply it.  Here’s the trick. Smile and apply blush on the apples of your cheeks, then sweep your brush up and out toward your temple, as if drawing the number 6.

Eyebrows: As we age, eyebrows become sparse.  You sometimes loose the tails completely.  Use a pencil rather than powder, which can be too harsh.  Make sure the pencil is sharpened to a point and use short, feather strokes to fill in your brows.

Eyes: Even if your eyelids have more folds than an Origami swan, covering your lids with a pale peach or pink shadow opens the eye. (Rule:  light bring out, dark takes away.)  Forget about a deeper color in the crease (if you can even find the crease).  Those days are gone.  Next comes eyeliner.  Yes, you can still wear it.  But choose a softer color — brown or charcoal.  My new favorite is navy.  It looks good with any eye color and makes the whites of your eyes pop.  Use a powder or pencil, liquid is too hard to control.  Keep the line close to your upper lashes, and extend it a smidge (no Cleopatra eyes, please) beyond-and-up from the outer lid to create an uplift.  Smudge it with a Q-tip, curl your lashes, and apply mascara.

Lips: By age 50+, your lips tend to be dry and perhaps flaky.  Prep them with a lip balm or primer, then before applying lipstick, line them with a nude lip pencil or one that matches your selected shade.  Avoid anything darker – the 80s are gone. If you have a problem with feathering, there are lots of lipsticks and stains targeted for this. Remember, darker shades exaggerate little lines and flakes and can make your mouth look smaller.

One last tip: Don’t spend a lot of money on color.  Save it for your skin care or perhaps even a facelift!”

Thank you, Judith!

(However, I do wonder if this might actually be true for my favorite friend food—corn chips! If I could list these delectable treats under the healthy food category, I’d crunch my way through the day and be one very happy camper, indeed!)

Yet, it’s mea culpa time so, for my second confession of the day, I wouldn’t even consider the doctor’s contention that, because pigs dine mostly on vegetables and grains, “eating pork chops can give you 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vegetable product.” In truth, I’ve been a vegetarian for over 20 years.

Now, admitting my dining preferences isn’t a call to anyone to forgo meat in your diets. However, there are several benefits to eating more vegetables on a daily basis. My friend, Magnolia Miller, over at The Perimenopause Blog, shares some great recipes aimed at diminishing the belly fat that plagues so many of us older gals. Her recommendations are delicious, packed with veggies, and you can find them under the “recipe section” on her blog.

One of my favorite blogs, Midlife with a Vengeance, is constantly providing us midlife gals with cutting edge information on health and wellbeing. A researcher at heart, Gregory Anne Cox shares her tips for eating right, taking supplements to ward off disease, the right kinds of exercise, etc. Wander on over to her site and take a look—you won’t be disappointed and I guarantee you’ll learn a lot.

And last, but definitely not least, is a wonderful website aimed at vegans and vegetarians, In a Vegetarian Kitchen. Even if you’re an omnivore, you’ll love these recipes. Nava Atlas is the author of a number of cookbooks filled with nutritious and satisfying treats. (No worries that your family will complain of eating rabbit food and leave the table hungry .) One of my all-time favorite cookbooks is Nava’s Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons. I had a few friends over for lunch this week, served up her “Moroccan Lentil and Chickpea Soup” and gratefully accepted the rave reviews. Believe me, Nava’s recipes are stick-to-the ribs delicious!

You can also check out my interviews on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio with Magnolia, Greogory Anne, and Nava as they share their insight and information on aging with health and wellness.

So, even though the “doctor” in my earlier post proclaimed: “What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables and grains. So steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system,” I’d advise you to check out these sites, try their recipes, eat your veggies as they come from the earth (not from a cow), and see how you feel. Forget the doctor and do what granny said. You’ll lose weight, recharge your energy, and kiss your muffin-top good-bye!

In response to the happy childhood our parents gave us, we rebelled and we rebelled hard. Eschewing their adherence to authority, we questioned it in as many ways as we could: mounting multiple movements and protests, and even questioning society’s code for dress and hygiene. Hippy chic was de rigueur and the longer the hair the better—including the thatch that grew under our arms!

And now, these wonderful folk who never wavered in their love for us (although they certainly must have experienced their moments of distress) are growing old. Many of us over fifty have lost our parents—others are caring for those that are sick and dying.

I have a friend, Debbie Zipp, who’s also a filmmaker and manages the marvelous site, In the Trenches Productions, where she shares fabulous and funny short films aimed at women over forty. You’ll enjoy every single one of her films, but Debbie has made a very special video that we should all take time to view. In it, she asks her eighty-something-year-old parents (who are lovely people by the way) their advice on love and marriage. In their common sense approach, they share the wisdom of their years and the content of their hearts. Their words may be deceptively simple, but their thoughts are deep and profound.

So take a couple of minutes, check out “Mother and Daddy Know Best,” and hear the voices of the Greatest Generation as they share their thoughts on life. Their words will warm your heart and feed your soul in ways that only a parent can.

And be sure and stop over at WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty where my dear friends have devoted their post to yours truly. I’d be ever so grateful if you’d stop by, make a comment, and spread the love!

What is it about this energetic and charismatic woman that has such a hold on the popular culture? Others in the media are energetic and charismatic but their stars seem to shine far less brightly than the mega-watt power exuded by Winfrey. One thing is for sure: nobody handed her success on a silver platter. As a child, Oprah would have been an unlikely choice to aspire to the heights of media success. When she was born, there were woefully few female or black faces on the tube and, if they did make it to TV, their roles reflected their lack of social power.

Robyn Okrant, thirty-seven-year-old Chicago dweller, performance artist, and yoga instructor sought out to discover the true influence of the Oprah effect by attempting to live “her best life” the Oprah way for a solid year. As she described it during our 15-minute interview on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio, she decided to play “crash test dummy for a year” and follow Oprah’s edicts word-for-word.

Every day, Robyn tuned in to listen to Oprah and her expert guests present their ideas on living our best lives healthfully and fully. Of course, some of these guidelines were easier to follow than others. Despite the difficulty, however, Robyn faithfully executed the latest pronouncements from the experts– if Oprah gave them her personal stamp of approval. Robyn dieted, exercised, meditated, and selected clothing according to Oprah’s rules and chronicled her journey in living the Oprah way on her daily blog.

Robyn has just released her book, Living Oprah: My One-Year Experiment to Walk the Walk of the Queen of Talk. It’s not only a hoot, laced with the trials and tribulations of attempting to incorporate lifestyle ideals into the author’s daily habits; the book is also filled with insight. Living Oprah is a true celebration of the uniqueness to be found within each of us. So, if you’re looking for a great read, you can find out more about Robyn and her book on her website.

And, if you or a boomer friend are unemployed and looking for a job, learn the 10 top strategies for finding work over 50. Land the Job You Love is packed with insider tips to present your strengths both verbally and on paper in the most effective and results-producing way. If you want to find work quickly and successfully be certain and check this out.