"Fitness tips for menopause" from Mayo Clinic

Whether you've exercised faithfully for years or you haven't been active, physical activity during and after menopause offers many benefits. For example, regular physical activity can:

Prevent weight gain:
Women tend to lose muscle mass and gain abdominal fat around menopause.  Even slight increases in physical activity can help prevent weight gain.

Reduce the risk of breast cancer:
Physical activity during and after menopause can help you lose excess weight or maintain a healthy weight, which might offer protection from breast cancer.

Strengthen your bones:
Physical activity can slow bone loss after menopause, which lowers the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.

Reduce the risk of other diseases:
Menopause weight gain can have serious implications for your health.  Excess weight increases the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.  Regular physical activity can counter these risks.  

Boost your mood:
Physical activity can improve your psychological health at any stage of life. 

Read more:  Fitness Tips for Menopause

Good Eats - Carrot Soup

 Contributed by Ann Marie Orr

A great recipe to cook up all those fresh carrots you picked up at the Farmers Market this weekend and as daylight decreases it will give our skin a natural glow, our body a lighter feeling & an energetic skip in our step!  What's not to love!?  
 
1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
2 Tbs butter
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 1/2 pounds carrots-chopped
5 cups chicken stock…
 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
sea salt
1 cup sour cream
Plastic condiment bottle or medium plastic food storage bag
Fresh chives, cut into 1-inch pieces

Laura's Style - Body Type Tip

  Contributed by Laura Michaud

When you tend to carry a little extra weight in the middle there is always the tendency to want to cover that by wearing over-sized tops. This will only make you appear larger. Trust me! Here are a few tips for those that have a little extra in their mid section:

1) Jackets hide a multitude of sins. If you carry extra weight in the middle you will want a jacket that will hit just above your high hip for your best look. Make sure the jacket is cut with a slight hourglass curve in the middle to give you some shape. A slightly boxy style can work for you as well. The key word here is slight.

A Devastating Divorce (or was it?)

  Contributed by Jennifer Hooper

When my girls were five and six, I looked at my friend’s life and observed (despite the divorced part) her life was kind of great. 50% of the time, she was free to be a real person, not entrenched in the roles of “mom” and a “wife.” Wrapped by a blanket of guilt, I felt mildly envious.  I consoled myself by knowing that “at least my family is intact.” 

Fast-forward 10 years. I’m divorced, and my teen daughters divide their time between my house and their dad’s. I hadn’t seen that coming.

Life Lessons 'Jane Eyre' Can Teach Us

A great article from "Huffington Post" with great lessons from a remarkable women. Here are a few of those lessons...

7. You are stronger than you think.

Yet another pieces of Helen's wisdom: “Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it: it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be required to bear.” No matter what happens to you, you will find a way to overcome; as humans, we are resilient. We bounce back.

Barb Cookson's Word of the Week "Connection"

Letting go (inside your closet)

 

 Contributed by Deb Neuman & Kim Corey

I don't know what it is about this time of year but I start "nesting".  It must because the days of spending as much time as possible outdoors are now transitioning to days spent inside as cooler weather makes it's approach. So I decided it was time to tackle my clothes situation.   A situation that is challenged with very small closets, limited storage space and a change in careers that has taken me out of an environment that requires suits and heels every day into blue jeans.   I looked at those suits, skirts, heels that were overflowing from my closet and realized it had been a year since those suits have seen the light of day! It was time to attack, purge and get organized!  Thankfully our contributor, Professional Organizer Kim Corey has some great tips to help me and you do the same...    

Diary of a 70's Teen

Remember your diary?   I loved mine!  It was small with a little lock (to keep my little sister out.) My entries were mostly about my love for Tony DeFranco and my crush in Junior High (Dale looked at me today!)  

So when I came across this - I had to share it with you! What a great idea!  The creator of this site shares her diary posts from the 70's!  Here are a few entries from 1975 - the author was 11 and 12 that year!

Sunday, January 12, 1975

hi. Nothing good has happened so far. I'm just sitting here on the couch in my pajamas it's 9:20 p.m.. I'm going to clean my room tomarrow, mom says if I really do she'll faint. I got a record & some moccasins today. Gomez is sitting by me now. We're about to watch Candid Camera so I'm going to stop writing & watch it.

Tuesday, January 28, 1975

hi. nothing good has happened so far exept I'm keeping myroom clean so I can get a Tony Orlando and Dawn album

Monday, March 24, 1975

Hi! How are you? nothing has happened so far. But I will let you know if it does. okay? Oh yeah, Defrancos were on the Easter Seals telethon yesterday. Boy is Tony getting tall and skinny! Benny is growing a mustache! Tony Orlando was on Merv Griffin today. I found out that he smokes. And I saw his wife. She is pretty! We also went to an auction yesterday. The food there was good!

Wanna read the rest of her diary?  70's Diary

20 Marriage Tips Everyone Needs to Know

When we found this we knew we had to share it with you. This was written by a man who just got divorced after 16 years of marriage share the advice he wishes someone had given him.   
Read this - share it - cut it out and hand it to the groom...

#3) FALL IN LOVE OVER and OVER and OVER again. You will constantly change. You’re not the same people you were when you got married, and in five years you will not be the same person you are today. Change will come, and in that you have to re-choose each other everyday. SHE DOESN’T HAVE TO STAY WITH YOU, and if you don’t take care of her heart, she may give that heart to someone else or seal you out completely, and you may never be able to get it back. Always fight to win her love just as you did when you were courting her.

Read more here:  20 Marriage Tips

10 Life Lessons You Should Unlearn

Check out this great Huffington Post!

#8. The pretty girls get all the good stuff. Oh, God. So not true. I unlearned this after years of coaching beautiful clients. Yes, these lovelies get preferential treatment in most life scenarios, but there's a catch: While everyone's looking at them, virtually no one sees them. Almost every gorgeous client had a husband who'd married her breasts and jawline without ever noticing her soul.

Rest of the article:  10 Life Lessons You Should Unlearn

Kiss Me

 

 Contributed by Deb Neuman

 

Kids say the darndest things.   Not long ago, I was engaged in a conversation with my 7 and 9 year old niece and nephew when they decided they wanted to talk about why I didn't have a boyfriend and offer me some advice in the love department.  They started to make a list of the qualities I should look for.   I played along and listened as they thought carefully and wrote down the following:

"He has to be cute and funny - he has to be smart - he has to like your family (us) and cats - he has to like cats."   My niece added, "He should have good teeth and brush them.   Then my nephew added, "He has to be someone you want to kiss - or he'll just be your friend - not your boyfriend."   He was absolutely right and the results of new research prove how right he was when it comes to the importance of that kiss!

LOVE these travel tips!

Travel - yes I love it - and hate it!   I have experienced my share of easy-breezy trips and my share of nightmares. My worst was having to spend the night in an airport, after a flight delay and missed connection - with a 103 degree fever. I have never wanted my own bed more than I did on that long, sleepless night in that terminal.   But that has not stopped me from booking my next trip!   

There are things we can control and things we can't control when we book a trip.  The key to having the best travel experience possible is to take extra steps to control what we can and maintain a sense of adventure and humor!   

This article from "Conde Nast Traveler" offers some great advice and insights to help insure your next adventure is a happy one!  

Including this tip that I plan to follow from now on...   

" Handing your most indispensable possessions to a stranger. You never know when you might be forced to gate-check your hand luggage. Place your jewelry, iPad, camera, house and car keys, medication, and anything else you can’t live without in a thin pack or pouch inside your carry-on so that, if you must surrender your carry-on to a flight attendant at the last minute because the overhead bins are full, you can remove the smaller bag and keep an eye on it beneath the seat in front of you".

Rest of the article:
The 12 Biggest Travel Mistakes You Think You're Too Smart to Make 

Happy Birthday TWISTER!

 Contributed by Deb Neuman

It was on this day in 1966 when the Milton Bradley Company introduced the game Twister to us!   Such a simple concept and so fun!   Who doesn't remember playing this growing up and getting all tangled up! Even though times and toys have changed - Twister remains a favorite.   In fact, last Christmas I gave the game to my niece and nephew who were 8 and 9 years old at the time.   It was a huge hit!   They put down their electronics and we all took to the Twister "board" for hours of fun on the living room floor with the entire family!   Twister continues to delight kids and grown-ups alike and if you are looking for a fun costume idea - why not dress up as "Twister?"   

The Ultimate Superfood Guide

Fall is the time of year when we love cinnamon!  At my house you will likely smell cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove and cinnamon powder being used in apple "everything" recipes using apples freshly picked at local orchards!

So when we found this article and learned of all the health benefits of cinnamon - we thought - we need to incorporate more of this good stuff into our diet!  Cinnamon is great for treating colds and increases energy!    

But cinnamon is just one of many "power-packed" foods included in this comprehensive list of natural foods, spices, peppers and powders you might want to incorporate into your diet to amp up your health!  Maca root is described as being excellent for correcting hormonal imbalances caused by PMS and menopause!   

This article was written by a nutritionist for "One Green Planet"...  
The Ultimate Superfood Guide 

ahhh yes - who doesn't love the smell of a freshly opened box of crayons?!   Talk about "taking you back"! Check out this great article to reminisce about more great smells from our childhood! 
20 Best Smells From Childhood 

We already know that exercise is good for us - here's a great article from "Science Daily" that gives us even more incentive to get off the couch and move our bods today!

"...based on the available data, physical activity is potentially as effective as many drug interventions -- and call for more trials to address the disparity between exercise and drug-based treatment evidence."

Exercise - Potentially as Effective as Drugs

Meg Ryan... where is she now?

...When I think of my favorite chick flicks - my Saturday nights spent home alone with a bottle of wine, cuddled up on my couch - watching my favorite movies of all time - I think of Meg!   

"When Harry Met Sally" - "Sleepless in Seattle" --- who doesn't LOVE her?!    So we were excited when we saw this article in the "Huffington Post" to learn what she is up to these days!  
Meg Ryan - Where is she now?

The New Breast Rating You Need to Know

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
We thought this article was interesting...

"Knowing your density matters because it can affect your odds of getting breast cancer. For women with the densest breasts, the chance of developing the disease is four to six times as high as it is for those with the least dense breasts. As a risk factor, density is third in importance, coming behind gender (being a woman) and age (the older you are, the higher your chances of getting breast cancer), says Karla Kerlikowske, MD, professor of medicine, epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco."

Read the entire article in "MORE" here - The New Breast Rating You Need to Know

I've had a love affair with avocados ever since I was a little girl and my Uncle lifted me up to pick one off a tree in his California garden.  They are still my favorite.   Living in the Northeast - they aren't quite as delish as Cali avocados - but I'm still a fan!   

I eat one a day.... often in a rush - standing over the sink - cutting one open - spooning out the pit - then digging in!   Sometimes I eat them plain - other times I drizzle olive oil, hummus or salsa in the center hole.   That convenient pit hole is the perfect receptacle!
 ... and who doesn't love guacamole???!!!
   
Turns out these handy little goodies are also good for us - and not only for eating!   Check out this great article from the "Huffington Post" to learn why avocados are a must have! 

17 Reasons Avocados Are The Best Food In The Entire World

10 Breakfasts of Champions

Ahh yes - we all know we should start the day out right with a good--for-us breakfast!   Here are some great ideas from SHAPE - if you're a little bored with your usual oatmeal or cereal... click here 
Breakfasts of Champions