Tuesday, August 31, 2010

"What I Know for Sure"


Beautiful nature does not have a problem with transformation.  Day transforms into night and then into day again.  One season changes into the next then into the next.  People have a much harder time changing.  We talk about changing for the better but sometimes do little to make that change.  There are so many ways that we can better ourselves.  I can name a few......eating healthier, working out (even if you start with small steps like marching in place or turning on the radio and dancing),  finding enjoyment in reading books,  taking a walk in your neighborhood and looking around at all the beauty, reaching out to a person in need, donating clothing to a charity, etc.
It is important to be the best that we can be.  Old Japanese proverb - "Fall down 7 times - get up 8".  If there are issues in the way of our changing then we have to address them.  We cannot leave things to fester and grow.  As Oprah states: "Rocks unattended turn into mounds, and then mountains".  We cannot ignore problems.  Even if we take baby steps and  chip away little by little we will make progress.  Reaching your potential is important.  We can do wonderful things!  "I'm talking about the real deal" says Oprah.  "Whose life did you touch?"   " This I know for sure is what matters.  For me, it's the only goal worth aiming for: a transformation of consciousness that allows me to know that I am no better or worse than any other being.  That I simply am."  Yes we all have it within us to reach out and better ourselves.  If we do fall down we must get up and try, try, try again.  Never give up!!!!! 
xoxo Elyse 



Quotes from "Oprah" magazine

Monday, August 16, 2010

Dating Over Fifty


Hi Ladies,

I have been discussing this subject with my girlfriends as of late because I wanted to write about dating over fifty. Actually my friends and I discuss it quite often.
First I want to say that there are many women over fifty that are quite happy with their lives and do not feel the need to date. Maybe they have never been married and are just fine with that or maybe they have been married and are loving their new found freedom.
With that being said so many of us ladies over fifty are dating again. Dating today is not like it was years ago. There are so many different ways to meet someone. There is introduction, joining groups (to learn a sport, dance, hobby, new language). Then there is going out with your girlfriends for dinner or drinks. Even if you do not meet someone it is still enjoyable to sit and chat with your friends. And of course there is online dating. Years ago we did not have online dating. I think the personals was the equivalent. You looked at them in privacy. It wasn't something that you would talk about. Now online dating is something that is very, very acceptable. In fact it is a very good option. There are so many dating sites available. The ones that come to mind are JDate and Match.com.
I asked one of my friends what she thought of dating over fifty and she used three words to describe it: complicated, interesting, and liberating. Another friend said that "It sucks". Well in my opinion I think besides being in your early twenties that being in our fifties is a wonderful time to date. I was reading what someone wrote about dating in our fifties. That men come with baggage. I mentioned that to my friend Beth. She said "it is not called baggage, it is called life". That is a good thing! We have been living life and we bring that with us to a new relationship. We have stories to tell. Good conversation. Life experiences. Most of our children are well on their way to being independent. We don't have to hire a babysitter! We can go out dancing for the evening and not worry about having to drive the babysitter home. We will not get phone calls from crying children. We can stay out past midnight and our coach will not turn into a pumpkin! And maybe we can still find our prince. People have found their true loves later in life. I know of a women who reconnected with a man that she went to high school with and they ended up getting married. Another of my friends has had numerous relationships and now is engaged to the love of her life! She didn't get discouraged. She learned from the relationships that she had and forged on to meet the man of her dreams. Yes she finally met the man of her dreams in her fifties. Many of us got married the first time around for all the wrong reasons.
It's exciting to meet new people and possibly find that special man. Not everyone has had immediate luck with dating again, but it can be fun. My friend Heidi said "you have to open yourself up to being in a new relationship". Yes that is so true. If you do not have an open mind then it will be near impossible to get close to anyone. Of course the best way to meet someone is by introduction. Although I've had two blind dates that were horrendous. You have to laugh it off and try again. Ladies this time around we are not looking to have children (my factory closed years ago). I think we are looking for a best friend. Someone to share life with. Someone to enjoy good food with. Someone to see wondrous sights with. Someone to take walks with and discuss the movie the two of you just saw. Someone to go to a concert with or a Broadway show. There are fun times to be had.. Ladies, that person is out there. As corny as it sounds your soul mate is waiting!
But be safe when you go on a date. Meet in a location where there are other people. Don't give out too much personal information until you know that you can trust this person. And for online dating don't put personal info in your profile like your phone number.
If you enjoy communicating with someone that you have met online then eventually that will lead to a date. When my friends go on blind dates they always tell me where they are going and we keep in touch until they are home safe. Don't get drunk.....you have to be in control if the date is not good and you have to leave. Also, have enough money with you......for whatever reason don't be stranded without any money. And don't let any man force you into having sex on a first or second date or for that matter until you want it too. If the chemistry is there then it will stay there and wait until you are ready!
Ladies when it comes to sex be safe. Before you have sex with a new person both people should be tested. Also until you are sure that the relationship is monogamous use condoms. Don't take a chance, it is not worth it! If a man does not agree with you then he is not worthy of having you for a girlfriend.
Remember take your time, be sensible but have fun. This is a new exciting chapter in your life.
It is not easy to start dating again but it is going to be worth the effort! As my friend Heidi said it is important to have an open mind. If you are in a social situation like a restaurant and you are approached by someone that has also caught your eye it is okay to flirt. Flirting is a good thing. Be friendly and give off signals that you want to socialize. But don't act desperate and throw yourself at someone. I think that a man is ultimately looking for the same thing that we are looking for. And I think that if a first date goes pretty well then a second date is in order. You may not fall head over heels on the first date but if you have a nice feeling about the man then you never know, feelings sometimes grow as you get to know someone better. Don't be discouraged, keep your options open, enjoy this new experience......we are over fifty and fabulous and have so much to look forward to!!!!

If you have any thoughts on the subject.......please post them so we can talk........Elyse Rose

Monday, August 9, 2010

Edy's Fruit Bars - Summer refreshment














Hi Ladies,
It has really been a hot summer. I am not complaining because I love the summer. I am not a winter person. Even though I love the warm weather so much it can get really hot and uncomfortable. Just want to share my guilty pleasure with you. I love Edy's Fruit Bars. They are soooo refreshing. My favorite is Pomegranate. One bar is only 70 calories. It is made with real fruit with 20% vitamin C, which is an antioxidant! Other ingredients include elderberry juice, black currant and carrot juice from concentrate. NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!!!
Ladies......what is your guilty pleasure?

Friday, August 6, 2010

Trans Fat

Hi Ladies,
Don't do it! Don't eat Trans fat! It is the worst fat that you could eat. It lowers your good cholesterol (HDL) and raises your bad cholesterol (LDL.) It is trouble for your heart and arteries. READ labels. Just because a nutrition label says 0 trans fat does not mean that it is so. If a food has less than 0.5 grams of trans fat it is allowed to say 0 trans fat. If you eat multiple portions like that throughout the day then you are eating a lot of trans fat. Trans fats are used to keep processed foods from spoiling. You can find trans fats in cookies, crackers, cakes, fried foods such as french fries and donuts, etc. Ladies if the label says "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oil this is a bad thing! "Fully" or "completely" hydrogenated does not contain trans fat. We must not clog our arteries. Please eat right to stay healthy. I know that it is not easy but there are healthy choices that we can make before we sit down to eat.........Talk soon.......Elyse Rose

Hair Length

Hi Ladies,
Used to be when you turned thirty you had to cut your hair. Actually years before that it was even younger. I remember my mom telling me that she cut her long hair in her early twenties because she became a mother. It is not like that anymore. I certainly don't agree with those rules. No one has the right to dictate to us how we should wear our hair. I feel what goes for fashion also applies to our hair. Look in the mirror. How does your hair look?  Does your haircut fit your lifestyle? Is it easy for you to manage? I don't do well with change. I have long hair for many, many years. I have on occasion cut it a little shorter only to grow it longer again. I do need some sort of bangs. I don't have a great forehead. I always felt that I needed hair close to my face to hide features that I didn't like. I am learning that it is more flattering to brush hair away from your face and also give it some height. Layers also work well. This actually flatters your jawline more than bringing your hair towards your face. I do believe that if you have very thin hair then a shorter cut is more flattering. I think that haircolor should make you happy. I hate when my hair is gray. My hair starts to turn gray about 2 weeks after it is dyed. I don't go to the salon each time because it is costly. I do use in between salon visits "Root Touch-up" by Clairol. It is so easy to use and it works. I like my hair to be a light to medium brown base with golden highlights. I have skin on the pale side. What hair color do you use? What length is your hair? Ladies, I know that I am giving a little hair advice here but wear your locks the way you want. My hair is considerably thinner then it used to be but hey I still can wear it long and I will for as long as I can! Do try to use a good conditioner and hair serum to keep hair shiny and healthy looking. Ladies......I always look to the beautiful celebs over 50 to see how they are wearing their hair. I realize that they have done a LITTLE more than just coloring and cutting their hair (we'll have to discuss those options another time!) Talk soon........Elyse Rose

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Bicep curls

Hi Ladies,
This is my first short exercise video. Please bear with me. I am going to show you one exercise for your biceps (front of the arm). Before you work out always warm up for at least 5 minutes and then remember to stretch when you are finished. I gave some tips in the video. I'd like to add a few more.....please don't flick your wrists....hold them straight, also don't hold weights too tight but please not too loose (we don't need a broken toe!)......and don't use momentum (control the movement, don't swing your body and let other muscle groups take over. Remember the only joint moving is the elbow joint.) Don't hold your breath.....breathe! If you feel pain....STOP!.....consult your doctor. There are so many different ways to work your biceps. This is just one. Never weight train the same muscle groups on consecutive days. You need at least 24 hours for your muscles to heal before you can work them again. Hope that my little video is helpful.......Talk soon.....Elyse Rose