Kate Forgach submitted this special guest post that will definitely give you some food for thought in the romance department. Kate is a  

So you think marriage is for the young? Check this out: As of the 2010 U.S. Census, more than 16-million unmarried Americans were 65 and older. But these single seniors aren’t willing to sit on their laurels; Between 2006 and 2007 there was a 140-percent increase in senior online dating.

Clearly the message that marriage makes you live longer has made its way to the over-65 crowd. Seniors also have learned the effectiveness of online dating sites. According to a2011 international study conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute and funded by eHarmony, middle-aged men and women were the most likely people to use online dating sites, a statistic that particularly holds true for seniors.

With these glaring statistics to back up entrepreneurs, many new businesses have arisen catering to seniors interested in relationships. Here’s a sampling.

1. Dating Sites
Let’s see; There’s SeniorMatch, SeniorPeopleMeet, DatingforSeniors, SeniorFriendFinder, PrimeSingles, SilverSingles, DatingForSeniors…pant, pant, pant. And we’re just getting started. More commonly known sites, like Match.com and eHarmony, also appeal to the over-65 crowd. And let’s not forget AgeMatch, which targets cougars and sugar daddies seeking companionship out of their age range.

An interesting aside to this category is the research findings of two Bowling Green State University professors of gerontology. In the early stages of the study, they’ve found indications that seniors market themselves different on dating sites than their youthful counterparts. Appearance and status drop to the bottom of profiles while compatibility and self representation are priorities.

2. Gift Registries
Soon-to-be-wed seniors likely don’t need another blender, so alternative registries are proving just the ticket. CardAvenue is a wedding gift registry that lets them register for desirable gift cards, including those for stores, airlines, gas, etc. Cloud9Living allows couples to register for desired experiences, like hot-air ballooning in the Rockies, taking gourmet cooking classes in Houston, race car driving in Las Vegas, and much more.

3. Wedding Websites
Personal wedding websites are the latest rage, and WedShare.com in particular has reached out to seniors with it’s easy-to-use message. The company provides a free domain name, customizable website themes and matching eCards, a monetary gift registry with PayPal, and much more. Other similar sites include MyWeddingHosting.com, eWedding.com and Momentville.com. To comparison shop, check out WeddingWebsites.com.

4. Therapy for the Kids
Roughly 500,000 Americans over the age of 65 remarry each year, and most already have adult children, according to Grace Gabe, a psychiatrist and co-author of “Step Wars: Overcoming the Perils and Making Peace in Adult Stepfamilies.” Remembering their parent’s former spouse, the kids may have trouble accepting a new relationship. This has opened up an entirely new species of therapist. While many cater to younger audiences, there are those who provide assistance to both young and old alike.

5. Prenuptial Agreements
No longer a legal document solely for the rich, lawyers are creating prenuptial agreements designed specifically for seniors looking to protect their children’s inheritances or not interested in once-again paying alimony.

Even the fires that once roasted our chestnuts may have dampened over the years. In fact, some in our generation might confess that a growing inability to locate their groove thing has rendered mistletoe to becoming merely another piece of hanging plant material—devoid of romantic properties and just one more thing to dust.

But, before we all start shouting, “BAH!” let’s consider some of the ways the holidaze can be fun and festive—

Grandchildren: The absolutely #1 reason to enjoy the season is through the eyes of your grandchildren. These precious objects of any granny’s affections are sure to add a glow to your check and put the magic back into the holidays. Their delight is more than enough to warm your heart in a big, big way!

Reconnecting: Even though writing cards can be a chore, it’s wonderful to hear from those who were once a part of our lives but now live in distant places. This annual custom of catching up on one another’s lives is one I treasure and, I’m guessing, you do, too.

Taking Time for Fun: Parties and gatherings abound at this time of year. Carving out time from overloaded schedules to relax and enjoy friends and family is truly a cause to make merry…as long as you can avoid the fruitcake!

You Get to Flaunt Your Feisty: If you want to add a bit of feisty to the mix, drop by the Feisty Boomer Boutique and pick up a groovy, one-of-a-kind gift for your friends or a special treat for yourself. This bountiful boomer selection includes mugs, tees, totes, and more with psychedelic designs that are guaranteed to recharge any recipient’s flower power.

So here’s a ho-ho-holiday toast to the season—despite the stress, the crowds, and the cold, it really can be the most wonderful time of the year!

Christine is one of those women who appears to have it all. She’ s not only glamorous; she’s enjoyed a hugely successful career in the highly competitive entertainment industry. Christine is probably best known for her makeover expertise—taking “befores” and transforming them into alluring “afters” on such shows as Oprah, The Today Show, Live With Regis and Kelly, and Entertainment Tonight.

But Christine has been hiding a secret for years…that is until she published her latest book, Take Me Home From the Oscars: Arthritis, Television, Fashion and Me. In it, Christine shares the details of her high-profile life and how she initially hid her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. In the world of fashion and beauty, there isn’t room for a disabling disease. So Christine was forced to battle pain and other symptoms of the condition without letting anyone in on her struggle.

However the book is far from depressing or sad. Rather, it’s a mixture of humor, high drama, inspiration, and courage. And, even more, there’s a saucy smattering of Hollywood dish that keeps you turning pages until the end. (I read the entire book in one sitting—I literally couldn’t put it down!)

Having watched her on TV over the years, I know Christine has always possessed the engaging personality of a star. But sharing her story of arthritis has given Christine’s life a new meaning and depth… as well as infusing her with the enviable energy of a twenty-year-old when it comes to spreading the word. I had the pure delight of interviewing this remarkable woman on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio. Take a listen—the twenty minutes you spend is a guaranteed life-changer.

Then drop by Christine’s website, take a look at all she’s up to, and pick up a copy of Take Me Home From the Oscars. Rarely does a book touch readers like this one does. In addition to everything else, it’s a tale of turning adversity into an advantage…the perfect message for those of us on the feisty side of fifty!

In my last post, I wrote about L’Oreal’s ridiculous photograph of Diane Keaton claiming how comfortable she felt in her own skin. Problem was…there was precious little that resembled Diane’s own skin in that so-called “photo.” Facially altered almost beyond recognition, I bet the actress herself could barely make out her own likeness in that ad. Therefore, instead of finding “comfort in one’s own skin,” the words “bogus,” “demeaning,” and “insulting” came to mind for me.

The day after I spotted that particular ad that had so enraged me, I got even angrier. I watched the remarkable and important documentary, Miss Representation… and it all began to make sense. For years, marketers have tried to make us feel bad about ourselves. They figure, if they can present enough images of women with perfect faces and bodies, we’ll realize how flawed we are by comparison. Then, as our media induced insecurities grow ever stronger; we’ll spend precious dollars buying their products in hopes of fixing the defects Mother Nature bestowed upon our own imperfect features.

Miss Representation went on to show how, in years past, marketers achieved their ends by hiring glamorous models. They’d have these celestial creatures spend hours in hair and make-up and then bring in top-notch photographers to take hundreds of photos in hopes of catching just the one with the right look. Such contrived and nearly perfect images were enough to get us feeling bad about ourselves… and running to the nearest cosmetics counter.

But today’s technology has added a new and even more ominous wrinkle. Now the wily arbiters of beauty and fashion have the ability to enhance features and faces, removing any traces of the slightest physical flaw with the mere click of a mouse. Moreover, even the most beautiful of models and actresses can’t compete with digital perfection—take a look at what they did to Diane Keaton.

As Miss Representation pointed out, these blatantly deceptive practices go a long way to diminish the already fragile self-esteem of many teenage girls. But, rather astoundingly, they’re trying to do the same thing to us. Visible aging is a fear held many by women—therefore playing upon this fear and making us feel inadequate and “over the hill” is a virtual goldmine for the cosmetic companies.

So rather than falling for their devious methods and allowing them make us feel bad about our looks, let’s come together and use that energy to reignite our revolutionary spirit. Let’s draw upon our famous boomer bravado and shout “enough!” Let’s let vote with our wallets and not be buffaloed into thinking we’re “less than” because we have a wrinkle or two. And, finally, let’s educate our daughters, our granddaughters, and ourselves and watch Miss Representation. The documentary is playing on OWN. I urge you to view this truly incredible film with the women and girls you love. Then go to Miss Representation.org and take the pledge.

We boomers have worked hard in support of gender parity and the rights of all citizens. Let’s not waste precious time allowing the media to weaken our personal power and reduce our sense of ourselves as mature and attractive women through their photo-shopping ways. We’re way too with-it and wise (not to mention feisty) to fall for their underhanded ads. Feeling diminished and bad about ourselves is not only a waste of time; it’s a waste of the most important and vital years of our lives.

But every once in a while I’ll spot a pair of killer heels that make me want to throw caution (and back pain) to the wind and snap them up. Recently, photos of some oh-so-sassy stilettos made it to my email inbox and I just had to share. Take a look at the fashionable footwear some incredibly clever designers have created. Talk about a fashion statement! These amazing shoes would surely add a spring to your step and make you want to kick up your heels!

But—hey—we’re a new generation of strong and confident women who are revolutionizing what it means to be a woman of a certain age. Nevertheless, although the spirit is willing, the flesh is sometimes on the squishy side and displaying our bumps and bulges can prove daunting to even the bravest among us.

My great friend and founding editor of Ms. magazine, Suzanne Braun Levine, joined me on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio to discuss this very topic. Yes, even the courageous sisters who fought so hard for our parity of rights sometimes find themselves struggling with the very same body image issues we do. (It’s rather ironic that being thought of as a sex object was considered demeaning in the seventies…but how many of us would kill for a glance of admiration from the opposite sex now?)

So how can we best deal with the conflicting emotions that a summer wardrobe elicits in our mature (but far from matronly) psyches? Tune in and hear what Suzanne has to say. Her words might surprise you.

All the same—no matter how free and feisty you feel about showing off your body, it might be a good idea to think twice, check things out, and get the back view in a full-length mirror prior to leaving your home. Sometimes a bit of discretion can be a very good thing!

But Cristina knows plenty of additional paths to the happiness she shares with her family and friends. By the lengthy list of careers this gal has pursued and conquered, you can tell Cristina is into living life fully. She’s a big believer in seizing opportunities, expanding her horizons, and allowing her creativity to flow in ways that lead her in new and exciting directions.

Cristina’s life hasn’t always been a fairy tale nor did she escape some of the less than fun realities of menopause (as she described in her books, Realistically Ever After and Okay, So I Don’t Have a Headache), but Cristina knows how to use her infectious humor and abiding optimism to make that proverbial lemonade when life sends lemons her way.

Now Cristina is definitely smoking hot and cooking with each of her burners turned on high. Her recently released cookbook, Cristina Ferrare’s Big Bowl of Love has been receiving rave reviews for its tempting and tasty recipes. Moreover, she’s opening her kitchen and her heart to share her great Big Bowl of Love with well-known guests (everyone from Dr. Drew to the Fonz) and us viewers on the OWN network.

Accompanied by my co-host, Barbara Rose Brooker, I had the rich and rewarding experience of interviewing Cristina on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio. So, if you want to be inspired to find your own ingredients to happiness, tune in. All you’ll need to do is follow Cristina’s lead: use a splash of creativity, a dollop of humor, and a large dose of personal warmth—and you’ll have the surefire recipe to finding happiness and serving up your own great big bowl of love!

The latest job search figures show that boomers, aged 55 and over, are actually landing the most jobs… by far!!! There was a total of 1.9 million new jobs created over the past 15 months and 1.3 million of these went to applicants 55 plus. As they say: do the math! This means that our hiring figures were nearly double the second highest-ranking age group (25 – 34) who accepted 709,000 of the new positions. Figures were still tough for applicants aged 34 – 54 but, for jobseekers on the far side of 55, the news is fantastic.

This means we can stop feeling “less than” because of our age. No more believing that we’re doomed before we even begin our job search. Because of our vast numbers, boomers have always challenged and succeeded with changing social norms. In fact, with both the Women’s Movement and the Civil Rights Movement, we’ve already transformed the face of the workforce—it’s no longer only a white male’s bastion. Now our successful and spirited generation is doing the same thing with ageism.

I recently was invited to present at Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Career Expo and I shared these happy numbers with my audience. A San Francisco based TV crew was there to film my workshop and ran a piece on older jobseekers. You’ll need to scroll halfway down the page to watch the 2-minute video. For even more information, please take a little time to listen to the latest installment of my radio series on Essential Skills for Midlife Jobseekers.

There never was a better time to be proud of being a boomer. You know my catch phrase: we’re revolutionizing the spirit and style of aging. And now that includes the workforce, too!

Christine is one of those women it’s easy to admire. Born blonde and beautiful, she’s slim, poised, and highly successful. You’ll know Christine from her regular appearances on The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, Live With Regis and Kelly, Oprah, and a slew of other national TV shows. She is the go-to gal who works her makeover magic on style-challenged “befores,” turning them into grateful and glamorous “afters.”

Knowing the tricks of her trade held Christine in good stead. It was by relying on chic, eye-catching diversions that she became a bona fide expert in masking the telltale signs of her secret. Her well-honed ability for clever camouflage ensured no one would be the wiser.

But now Christine has decided to reveal her secret and shares her amazing story in her most recent book, Take Me Home From the Oscars: Arthritis, Television, Fashion and Me. The book is both spellbinding and deeply moving as Christine weaves insider Hollywood dish together with her personal struggle against a debilitating and, at times, life-threatening illness. The combination makes for a fascinating read that will keep you turning pages until the end.

Be certain to check out Christine’s site, find out more about Take Me Home From the Oscars, and learn about her newest role as spokesperson for the National Arthritis Foundation. You’ll be moved by what Christine shared with me on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio. It’s only a 15-minute interview but you’ll come away with a newly found understanding of what it’s like to deal with daily pain while holding a secret of this magnitude.

And, yes, Christine has emerged from her own (quite fashionable) closet to share her condition with the world. Brava, Christine! You’re an inspiration to us all for your courage and your class—may your stylish star shine even brighter now!

But we all realize that real life is different. Surprisingly enough, life can be all too real… even for a soap star. One of the brightest and longest shining stars told me all about it recently on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio. Tina Sloan, who played Nurse Lillian Raines for 26 years on Guiding Light, has written a wonderful new book, Changing Shoes. It deals with Tina’s experience of growing older using footwear as a metaphor for the multiple transformations that take place with age.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “No one knows more about aging than a soap star who started out as the star; then become the mother of the star; and then became the grandmother of the star.” Tina writes with great candor about how her role began to change, how her character moved from the center of the action to more supporting plotlines, and what she ultimately did about it.

But Tina also shares some intimate and profound lessons she’s learned from personal experience. She writes of a number of ups and some big-time downs, her various real-life roles, and her insights into growing older (but not old!) with style, humor, and grace. There’s plenty of solid information and practical steps we can take to make our lives better. Tina covers everything from make-up for the mature face, to adding a touch of the frisky to your love life, to getting your affairs in order.

Also, the book offers it’s share of delightful, laugh-out-loud anecdotes as Tina gives us the inside story of some of the more memorable moments in the sudsy world of soap operas. She also shared some rollicking tales with me in our 15-minute interview. So I invite you to take a break, take a listen, and then head over to Tina’s website and check out Changing Shoes.

Why not celebrate the Feisty Side of Fifty with some feisty new footwear? If it’s good for nurse Lillian Raines, you can bet it’s just the prescription to cure any of your ills!