Wednesday, January 31
Getting 'fashion healthy'
I believe that all those sugary (and deliciously tempting) foods bear a direct resemblance to all the glitzy, over-patterned, over-styled clothes that clog the aisles of too many stores. Just as nutritious eating can be delicious, style can be understated and simple with being boring.
Lemon-lime punch
Infuse a winter's meal with the exotic appeal of Meyer lemons and kaffir lime leaves
When we need a hit of freshness to punch up our winter cooking, we count on lemons and limes. But trendy produce aisles are offering new takes on those old standbys.
Recipes with a citrus tang
Try your hand at Meyer lemon, gorgonzola and arugula pizza, Meyer lemon and onion relish, Lemongrass-coconut chicken soup with kaffir lime, Quick Thai curry, or Rapini risotto with Meyer lemon.
Smooth chapped lips
Intensive care for a rough kisser
Here's what's new on the site this Wednesday ...
BoomerGirl is bursting with new stories today. Read on to get a sneak preview and direct links to the fresh stuff!
Tuesday, January 30
Caring for in-laws can be tough but needn't leave one trapped
Dear Susan, I spent the last two years caring for my mother in our home until she died last October. Now, my elderly father-in-law has come to live with us. What can I do?
Italian potters have decorated tables and homes for centuries
Spectacularly colorful and richly decorated dishes, vases and figurines gleaming on shops' shelves are only part of the story of majolica, Italy's famous art pottery prized and sold worldwide.
The good, the bad, and the trans fats
Everyone is talking about fat in the American diet; animal, vegetable, saturated, polyunsaturated, hydrogenated, trans fats. How do you make sense of all the words? What are the differences and how do you know what to look for?
Calling all innovators and "good work" organizations ...
Nominations due for Civic Ventures' awards programs
Thousands of people in the second half of life have opened up a next chapter of innovation, productivity, and creativity, and, in the process, have transformed our communities and our country.
Beauty products that help you fake a rested look
Most often, those helpful people who always let you know how tired you look aren't really concerned with how rested you are — they're really just saying, "Wow, you look awful today!" Their unspoken message clings like a bad bumper sticker for the rest of the day: Look at me, or maybe don't — I look awful!
What can you learn in an hour at your local wine shop?
Per capita wine consumption in the U.S. has grown by a third since 1995, and as Americans drink more wine, more of them are also seeking out seminars, classes and tastings like this one. Some come to wine shop tastings mainly to socialize with friends and partake, while others are here to learn.
Take two for accuracy
Spend the time needed to avoid costly mistakes
Flashback of the day
Lorne Michaels kept trying to reunite them, but they didn't need the $3,000.
Here's what's new on the site today...
Today brings a new lead story on my creative idol, Anne Taintor, and three new columns and blogs. Read on to find out what's fresh today on BoomerGirl.com!
Monday, January 29
Poitier book restarts Winfrey’s club
If her goal was to erase the memory of the disgraced James Frey, then Oprah Winfrey couldn’t have made a better pick for her book club than a memoir by Sidney Poitier.
Success with ease
Many of us believe that we have to work hard from before sunup to after sundown to accomplish anything. This is not living, it's existing. And doing it too long will strip you of your joy for life and passion for your work.
The pain package
Most religious people give thanks for blessings when things go well. They see it as a sign of God’s favor. This is true but only part of the picture. God can also give the gift of blessings during periods of pain.
Flashback of the day
Maleficent makes her big-screen debut.
Vegan diet taught as cancer deterrent
Linda Blanchard took up running 23 years ago, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She figured regular exercise and getting herself from her home in Willow to her daily radiation treatments in Anchorage was about all she could do to combat the disease.
Pulpwood Queens a major publishing force
Kathy L. Patrick walks into the coffee shop badly in need of espresso. She has been up most of the night, serving homemade jambalaya to published authors from the East and West Coasts and points in between.
Hold the popcorn
An environmentally friendly shipping idea
Here's what's new on the site today...
It's Monday and there isn't a lot I can say to make you feel better except read on to find out what's new on BoomerGirl.com today!
Sunday, January 28
Here's what's new on the site today...
From the Arizona desert to the jungles of Costa Rica to the neighborhood gym, we're covering lots of ground on the site this weekend. Read on to find out what's new on BoomerGirl.com.
Friday, January 26
Do real cowboys eat pan-seared salmon?
After my trip to Tanque Verde Ranch, it's going to be hard to look a real cowboy in the eye. Real cowboys, after all, sleep on the ground with only a 10-gallon Stetson for a pillow. They're derned grateful if they get so much as beans for dinner.
Here’s how to jump right into the gym
So you’re one of the many who resolved that in 2007, you would exercise more — OK, at least some — let’s just split the difference and say some more.
Fewer women getting mammograms, study shows
Breast cancer screening rates, which have increased steadily for decades, have begun slipping, a trend public health officials warned could cost women’s lives.
Write On is spreading the word(s)
“They swarm the books like candy and help carry the boxes from the car.” That’s what happens to Dallas Woodburn when she delivers books to the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs in her hometown of Ventura, Calif. I was stunned; you would think that only electronic gadgets would get kids excited. I had to know what she did and share it with my Boomer buddies.
Ask your parents the tough question now
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Here's what's new on the site today...
TGIF! We're loading up the site for weekend reading. Read on to find out what's new today on BoomerGirl.com.
Flashback of the day
Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.
Thursday, January 25
Make your home office IRS-friendly
One of the most tempting but also terrifying small business tax deductions is for a home office — deducting the cost of operating out of your home can help you save on taxes, but complying with IRS regulations can be a little daunting.
Many who overspent at Christmas must deal with 'debt hangover' in January
Many people feel great when they're buying piles of gifts for relatives and friends at Christmas, but they can be overwhelmed when that blizzard of credit card bills arrives in the new year. Credit counselors call it the “debt hangover.”
A good reference book can be a cook’s best friend
Curious about new ingredients or techniques? Turn to culinary reference books. Here are a few of the newer books that we’ve found useful.
Repairing a broken trust
Some people are so preoccupied with major shifts that opportunities for small but important gestures are overlooked. Others mistakenly believe that a repair process moves along on its own energy and consequently do not bother to fuel it at all.
Snoring causes relation rifts
When it comes to the bedroom, snoring can be the Great Divide, a veritable chasm that some find impossible to span.
Here's what's new on the site!
We've got all kinds of fresh stories and blogs for you today on BoomerGirl, and we've made it easier than ever to find them!
Travels with my father
My father and I left for Fairbanks, Alaska, two weeks before his 78th birthday. He hadn’t flown since the Korean War. As we taxied down the runway, I looked at this face and saw the years being left behind.
Flashback of the day
World, meet Ms. Cruella De Vil!
Wednesday, January 24
Author tips her hand with debut of mystery novel
In the middle of Illinois, on a long return trip from visiting family in Canada, Elisabeth Lee plucked a heroine from a couple of road signs.
Spreading yourself thinner
Margarine often healthier alternative, but butter may be better for baking
Laurel Eastling understands any confusion a shopper might have in the dairy aisle. In addition to butter, there are dozens of butter substitutes on the market — in sticks, tubs and even sprays.
Quick facial fixes
You've gorged on eats, piled on the make-up, toasted the night and partied till dawn. Sure, parties can be oodles of indulgent fun. But the aftermath can mean unhappy, unhealthy, stressed-out skin.
Zoom with your Züca
Stroll through an airport with a Züca in any color and you're sure to get stares — and a few smiles. You may even see a few curious people point. Let them. If they're smart, in a few months they'll be wheeling a Züca through security lines too.
New varieties and bloggers’ buzz give violets a boost
Judged on its merits, the homely African violet is a pretty sweet houseplant. With a modest amount of care, it will bloom continuously in a house or apartment. The foliage is tidy and attractive. Good varieties are cheap to buy, and, if you stick a cut leaf in a pot, it will produce a fresh plant in a month. So why haven’t we got African violets lined up on every windowsill in our house?
Tame your wild brows
Try this free and easy 'brow lift.'
Let the games begin!
I love this moment in the electoral process, when presidential candidates start throwing their hats into the ring. With each new announcement, I become excited and gleefully patriotic as candidates promise to give America "new hope and fresh ideas."
Tuesday, January 23
Amy Tan’s San Francisco: Dim sum and then some
San Francisco’s Chinatown is too full of tourists, so passe. This, according to best-selling author Amy Tan. Chinatown can be fun, Tan concedes. It’s just that now there’s a cooler, lesser-known part of town where the newest immigrants from China, Vietnam and Russia have settled: in the Richmond District, around Clement Street.
'Mother's little helpers' can be bad for bones
Study shows safety risk for antidepressant users
Daily antidepressant use doubled the risk of bone fractures in older adults, researchers reported Monday, raising new safety concerns about the widely prescribed drugs.
Advice to in-laws: Mind your own business
Most of us know we should celebrate the joys of having raised wonderful children and seeing them find wonderful mates. OK. Not always wonderful. But the mates of their choice. We are not married to them, after all.
Get out of your dark place
Stick them where the light don't shine.
Monday, January 22
To B or not to B ...
If facial wrinkles are a roadmap of your life and you want to look like you took the road less traveled, the Botox bus is going your way.
Seven tips for creating the perfect online dating profile
If Cupid keeps passing you by, maybe it’s time to join the legions heading to dating Web sites — or, if you’ve already been there-done that, brush the cobwebs off your profile and give it another shot.
Beauty breakdown: Most women use cosmetics, but ethnicity is a factor
With hundreds of new beauty products introduced each year, one has to wonder if there’s a woman left out there who still has any room left in her cosmetics case. Yet women of all ages and all skin tones still feel they are missing products that are right for them.
Deciphering the ‘man-shake’
Even with an old friend, there’s still no road map for this oldest of male rituals. Your right hand goes forward — easy enough. His right hand parries. But ... someone has to make a decision at this point. Someone has to take control.
Resolve to get office organized in New Year
I call it a workspace; others might call it a landfill. You see, through the power of selective perception, for nearly a year I’ve managed to overlook the mounting morass of newspapers, files, mail, empty cans of diet soda, and moldy coffee mugs. I’ve become adept at working the piles and shuffling business cards while balancing lunch on stacks of papers poised for an avalanche.
Steam is more than just clean
The ancient Romans were famous for their baths. In those days, taking a bath was a very different experience from ours. Most bathing was communal, not as private as it is today. Bathers enjoyed hot and cold rooms, and medium-temperature lounging rooms with extra services such as food, wine and exercise.
From simplicity, a special kind of drama
Take the whimsical precision of an L.A.-born fashion designer and marry it with the business savvy of a South African counterpart and what you get is Wilster.
Where in the world have you been?
Thanks to the fabulous story about Bali on our Travel page, I've had to add Indonesia to my long list of "Places to see before it's too late."
Murphy bed solves guest room problem
(Hey, if it worked for The Honeymooners ...)
Sunday, January 21
Friday, January 19
Boost your metabolism (without pills)
It’s an unfortunate truth: As people get older, their metabolism — the process by which the body burns calories from food — can slow down by as much as 25 to 30 percent.
New speaker introduces Power Pearls to fashion
They’re now being called Power Pearls. As worn by Nancy Pelosi, a strand of pearls now represents elegant authority.
Supermarkets to stock fresher, more local, healthier
As if it weren’t already easy enough to assemble a last-minute meal, supermarkets say they’ll offer even more convenience this year, with expanded selections of ready-to-cook meats and seafood, pre-sliced fruits and veggies and more labels and instructions to help you sort through the abundance and get something tasty on the table. And don’t be surprised if many more of those items in your basket hail from local farms, ranches and dairies.
Uniform sizing system could shape the way women shop
If the pants fit, women will buy more of them, says Cricket Lee, the creator of a new fitting system that could make life easier for consumers.
From mother-in-law to mother
My mother-in-law and I took our time warming to each other.
Keep gray hair soft and manageable
Don't wash the fun out of your hair
Flashback of the day
The first pop-culture soundtrack to get the gold
Be prepared
The Boy Scout motto should be the mantra of every baby boomer in this country. Without proper preparation, we're going to be up the proverbial creek come retirement age.
Thursday, January 18
No expense spared in upkeep of aquatic hobby
"A lot of the times when men get older, they think they need to have a little red Porsche in their second childhood, so to speak. Well, I figure that this is my little red Porsche."
Hair loss signals need to consult professionals
Dear Crabby: Ever since I hit 50, my hair has been coming out in handfuls! I am so freaked out. What should I do?
Work, sleep and recuperation become themes in tourism
Women have their spa vacations, their retreats, their girls nights out. But what about guys? One of the more popular forms of travel this year is expected to be “mancations” — trips for men only, where buddies can bond over a six-pack and enjoy a few days away from home.
Bask in Bali’s beauty
There’s magic to be found on Indonesian island
About 30 years ago, I worked for an international film festival in the Virgin Islands. Part of one film was shot on location in Bali, and it included scenes from the famous monkey dance. Bali was so gorgeous in this film, I made a decision I would visit one day.
2nd year of decline in cancer deaths may mark new trend
A second straight year of declining cancer deaths announced Wednesday marks the beginning of what is expected to be a long-term drop as the success of anti-smoking campaigns launched decades ago accelerates progress against the biggest cancer killer of all: lung cancer.
Board game beats new TV as family favorite
In a curious turn of events, a $33 board game has been beating a $2,000 high-definition TV in the after-dinner amusement sweepstakes at our house.
What's hot in the yard for 2007
If you like living the good life outdoors — planting perennials and then barbecuing a few ribs on the grill — there are some new twists in store this year.
Want more catalogs?
It’s a little too early to break out the gardening shovels, but it’s the perfect time to stack plant and seed catalogs next to your favorite reading chair.
Good night ... and good luck!
Your bed should be supremely, beckoningly comfortable, so you can rest. And as cohabitable and conflict free as possible to help you nest.
Getting rid of stuff you don’t wear — probably most of your wardrobe
Some immutable facts: The size (insert impossibly small number here) jeans in the back of your closet will never again be in style — even if you do get back down to your middle school weight.
Bernanke warns of 'baby boomers' effect on economy
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warns Congress that the U.S. economy could be gravely hurt if Social Security and Medicare are not revamped.
Afghanistan’s efforts to boost women falter
Sharifa Hamrah does not go to work much anymore. Her job is just too dangerous, considering the rocket attacks, the threats on her life and the would-be suicide bomber who disguised himself as a woman in an attempt to get to her office.
Raising the bar
While on honeymoon at the Grand Wailea on Maui about four years ago, Steve Kalpakoff and his wife, Julie Caglia, saw something that left a lasting impression. One of the pools had a swim-up bar.
The Minority Report
According to the New York Times, married women are now fewer in number than single women in the United States. In 2005, fifty-one percent of women were living without a spouse, compared with 35 percent in 1950 and 49 percent in 2000.
Flashback of the day
We can rebuild him. We have the technology.
Fresh idea for a hostess gift
Take the trouble out of flowers
Wednesday, January 17
Choco-logical counseling
Try chocolate therapy to chase the blues away
I know all the diet books say don't substitute food for love. Forget it. I say cave in just for today and have your chocolate — but don't eat it alone. Get some friends together and you'll feel a lot better.
Think small for your next knitting project
If you're a knitter, the craft can offer a perplexing mix of pleasure and frustration. It's gratifying to make one-of-a-kind gifts, but disheartening to give them to people who don't always appreciate your handiwork.
Stomach this: Health and beauty tips for that troublesome gut
That cheese- and sauce-laden pizza sitting in the office lunchroom looks splendid. Too bad you can't even look at it without getting heartburn. However tempting, you pass up the fried chicken, too.
Boomers take it to bank: 25 percent don't use direct deposit
They like to bank and pay bills online, but what is it with Baby Boomers and paper paychecks?
Cold weather calls for a veggie compromise
No sooner was I plunged into deepest winter than I found myself craving fresh vegetables. The incongruity in this situation should be obvious, given that our winter appetite is supposed to lead us to tubers and root crops and less so to the green and leafy veggies that sustain us in warmer seasons.
When to go organic
Research signals which produce most important to buy pesticide-free
When Nancy O’Connor is giving nutrition education classes, she often is asked which foods are most important to purchase from the organic shelves. Sometimes people can’t afford to buy both the organic papaya and the organic celery.
Women of faith and a 'radical atheist' share space on shelves
Katharine Rhodes Henderson gathers the stories of 21 women who are taking the transforming power of faith into jails and shelters and hospices and Richard Dawkins, professor of the public understanding of science at Oxford University, solidifies his position as the premier international evangelist for “radical atheism" in two of the new books on spirituality to hit the stores.
Will, power of attorney, living will ... what else?
Did you prepare your beneficiary designations to be consistent with your estate plan?
Get your 40 lashes
I have short, thin lashes, so I’m always on the prowl for something to make them look long and full.
Stay safe while traveling alone
Front desk workers can help
"All in the family" blogging
I can't tell you how many times I've had to swallow my pride and let my kids save me from disaster on my laptop computer.
Flashback of the day
The return of the death penalty
Customers go to great lengths for eyelash extensions, tinting
Twenty-five years ago, if you wanted permanent eyeliner, you went to a cosmetic surgeon's office. But the procedure has since been dominated by full-service beauty salons and tattoo artists. And now salons are starting to offer semipermanent eyelash extensions, which are nothing like the old glue-on false eyelashes from the drugstore.
Tuesday, January 16
Three basic rules for staying healthy
There are many "rules" you can follow but today we present three simple, basic ones: The Three-Foot Rule, The 15-Second Friction and The 10 Percent Solution.
Dance workout is full of pleasant surprises
Hallelujah. Yoga and dance instructor Hemalayaa has finally raised the bar in dance workout videos with this high-energy workout based on Bollywood-style dance.
Walk a mile in comfort and prevent falls
A new pair of high heels may feel empowering and look great. But what impact do they have on a woman's feet? And can they pose a safety risk, making the wearer more susceptible to falling?
Cocktail of the week: Grapefruit cocktail
Better than the Grapefruit Diet any day!
Baby boomers opt for less spacious, lower-maintenance accommodations
Baby boomers, unlike their parents, are looking to downsize at an earlier age.
Post-holiday rehab for your home
If you’re like most people, chances are you did some entertaining during the holiday season. Though the Christmas decorations are down and the candy, cookies and treats devoured, there are probably telltale signs that have left your home looking a little worse for the wear.
'Collaborative divorce' helps people avoid judges, confrontation and drama
“Collaborative divorce” sounds a little like “tea-party rumble,” “peaceful war,” “polite battle” — pick your own contradictory pair. But it is an up-and-coming way for couples to work together on taking apart their marriages.
Martha Grimes’ ‘Dust’ is nothing to sneeze at
Martha Grimes is a fine writer whose new novel, “Dust,” continues the series her fans seem to like most, the whodunits featuring Richard Jury of Scotland Yard.
When there's a will ...
Prepare for the future
Flashback of the day
They nominated a pig for president of the United States.
Are you stuck in the 80s?
Sherrie Mathieson believes you're never too old to look cool. But "cool," in her book, isn't about designer sunglasses or punked-out hair. It's about style that's timeless, contemporary, young-at-heart and natural.
Letting go of fashion security blankets
True confession time: I still have a pair of shoulder pads in my underwear drawer.
Monday, January 15
Recipes without remorse
Here are some recipes to enjoy during these comfort-food months.
You can change for the better no matter your age
In its study of personality, psychologists often peg the age of final jelling as early as 5 and as late as 30. In other words, adults past their 20s should just forget about making meaningful changes. Well, chin up.
Go to pros to find the right bra
What could make a nearly 50-year-old woman blush and squirm like a 13-year-old adolescent girl? The prospect of getting fitted for a bra, that's what.
Two-car garage boxes in the family
Man hasn’t been seen since entering his garage
As a homeowner who really doesn’t own his home (the bank lets me live here for the privilege of paying a mortgage, homeowner’s insurance and property taxes that are so exorbitant I almost can’t afford to live here), I like to think outside the box.
My mother, Marie
In Tribute: Marie Coble Moyer: May 18, 1927-July 17, 2004
Everyone tells you to say the things you want to say so there are no regrets. I just couldn’t keep my composure when she was giving me instructions of what to do when she was gone. I just couldn’t. It was confirmation that our time was about up.
Flashback of the day
Moving on from "Love, American Style."
My legacy, myself
What are we going to leave behind? A better, healthier planet? A six-figure endowment for a community theatre? A bunch of reproducing rabbits for a family in Ecuador?
Sunday, January 14
Get on the good foot
Weather permitting, I'm devoting my whole weekend to finding the perfect pair of shoes. (Cue music: "To dream the impossible dream...")
Friday, January 12
Work that toe! Work it!
Regularly exercising your southernmost appendages can ward off tendonitis, plantar fasciitis and good old-fashioned foot pain.
Best to know what can befall the feet
From the pickup basketball player to the motivated marathoner, all who exercise can suffer the agony of the feet.
Tame static electricity in hair
Dryer sheets help with more than just socks
Flashback of the day
Boy, the way Glen Miller played ...
Check out our daily diversions!
If you haven't already, wander on down to the bottom of our HOME page and investigate our daily features.
Thursday, January 11
Has your face gone flat? Try dabbing on a creamy blush
Welcome to the Land of Washed Out and Pale. Winter rain and chilly weather have left us all looking pallid and monotone just when we need a little high color on our cheekbones.
A room with a view
The room is about five stories up. Right outside my window the top of a tree splits, branches pointed outward, framing the view like two fragile hands. The view is of a rugged, snowcapped mountain, highlighted in the reflection of an angled sun. It tells me I’m not in Kansas anymore.
Readers make memorials special
One of my favorite places on BoomerGirl is our Memorials page under LOVE.
No time to cook, less time to shop?
Get dinner on the table quickly and healthily
Flashback of the day
A new step for world music
Wednesday, January 10
Mom's magic lives on
In Tribute: Lucille Richards Green: Oct. 31, 1914 — July 21, 2000
I cherish a mystical world my mother created for my sister and me as we were growing up. Her love came to us through puppets and magic and fairytale stories and a fair amount of teasing. My earliest memories are chimerical flights into make believe.
My colleague, my friend
In Tribute: Deborah "Misty" Gerner: 1956-2006
The beginning of a new spring semester always brings thoughts of spring semesters past. Right now, I am thinking of the one just past, in 2006. Looking back, I know that Misty wondered if she would hang on until summer vacation started. She knew, certainly, that this semester would be her last.
Global warming’s silver lining could be longer growing season
My cilantro bed, which usually reseeds itself about three times each year, from early spring to fall, came alive during late December when daytime temperatures got stuck in the 60s. While the heat wave didn’t last long enough for the seedlings to get more than an inch tall, I see this as a flashing neon sign of what’s to come.
Enter The Men's Room, if you dare!
A couple of readers have posed the questions: Why is there a "Men's Room" on BoomerGirl.com? Why let men on the site at all?
Flashback of the day
Hit her with your best shot!
Uh-oh, spilled Merlot!
Hit the pantry for a super stain remover.
Tuesday, January 9
Soaps, shampoos can be de-LUSH-ously yours
New airport rule worries, be gone! Think solid shampoos good enough for Julia Roberts. But that's just one reason to head to LUSH. An oldie but a goody, this funky, fun beauty emporium is all washed up, but in the best way possible: Filled with soaps, scrubs, and all things girly, this self-proclaimed "purveyor of fresh handmade cosmetics" always has something new on its shelves.
Take those sparklers out and pop 'em
Sparkling wines are ready to drink as soon as they're sold, or so the French strongly insist. So don't keep that mid-priced bubbly too long; get to work on your friend's "stash."
Husband's avoidance of doctor raises concern
Dear Susan: The weekend before he was supposed to see the doctor, we were at a dinner party with friends and my husband admitted he never made the appointment. I was mortified and angry.
Sticks and stones
Remember that classic line: Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? Wouldn’t that be marvelous if it were true? But it isn’t. Words can hurt.
Light bulbs to the rescue
Have you heard the news? Starting this month, Wal-Mart is putting fancy displays in all its stores to encourage 100 million consumers to buy at least one compact fluorescent light bulb as a way to save energy and stop global warming.
Mom loves to Dumpster dive
Well past dinnertime on a chilly, moonless night, Barb Kruse climbed into her Toyota minivan and began her weekly quest. While others opt for well-lit parking spaces and entryways bathed in neon, Kruse eschews such places for the murky, unnerving quiet behind the super stores and bargain shops. Her target: Dumpsters.
Flashback of the day
It certainly was a big bun ...
Classic soup sticks to ribs
Some foods belong to the season. This is certainly true of the summer produce that comes from the garden, and it also applies to the deep-flavored and stick-to-the-ribs dishes that are so appealing on a cold winter evening.
Tame your Monkey Mind
I have what Buddhists call "monkey mind." People afflicted with this condition jump from one thought to the next, much like a monkey jumps wildly from tree to tree searching for the perfect fruit.
Cocktail of the week: Spiked apple tea
Here's a low-cal hot toddy (under 75 calories) for cold winter nights.
Set time limits on decision-making
There's something to be said for deadlines.
Monday, January 8
Boomers seek new balance of work, leisure
“Leading-edge” boomers — who turned 60 last year — are dreaming about retirement, but don’t expect to see the Forever Young Generation on the shuffleboard courts or in the bingo halls anytime soon. The midlife transition that boomers envision looks very different than that of their parents, who picked up gold watches and headed for Florida.
Flashback of the Day
I bet you think this Flashback is about you.
My Oprah Complex
I'm holding a grudge against Oprah. The reason? I suspect she has cornered the market on steel cut oats.
Leave your message on the Internet cave wall
Do you want to change the world without dipping into the retirement fund?
Make short work of paperwork
Cut the paper trail off at the pass.
Do you see this woman?
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about a female who “gate crashed’ an all-male event and threw herself at the feet of Jesus. We are told she washed his feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and then proceeded to massage them with expensive cream. Can’t you just see it? What a spectacle!
Oprah Winfrey opens school in South Africa
Oprah Winfrey opened her school for disadvantaged girls in South Africa Tuesday with a tearjerking ribbon-cutting ceremony that capped a five-day, star-studded celebration with 200 of her celebrity pals.
How to meditate
If you’re lucky, as I was, you’ll fall into a practice that fits right away. Or you might have to check out a few before you find one that feels right. Please don’t believe anyone who tells you they have the One True Way.
Sunday, January 7
Weekends are for blog browsing
We're thrilled to have so many different voices chatting us up in our blog section.
Friday, January 5
I got the junk mail blues
There's no doubt that spam filters serve a purpose. But now, these aggressive cyber security guards are preventing your BoomerGirl passwords from arriving in your inboxes!
Flashback of the day
A horse is a horse, of course, of course!
Mix business with exercise
Now discuss... and walk!
Thursday, January 4
Growing gripes
Gardeners sound off on the plants they love to hate
Plant chauvinism has deep roots. The most interesting part of gardeners’ dislikes is how irrational they can be and how each discrimination truly is in the eye of the beholder.
Despite tropical feel, ginger plant can be grown at home
The finest ginger root is grown in Jamaica, but that’s no reason you shouldn’t give it a try.
Big sister's advice never failed
In Tribute: Ann Eiesland Herrin 1955 - 2003
Ann taught me how to do the twist to the Beatles; Ann taught me how to pluck my eyebrows; Ann taught me how to make a white sauce; Ann taught me that no matter what, what matters most is that I am true to my own skin.
Pretty in pink
Get hooked on the versatility of salmon
I got a couple of "clean out the freezer" phone calls from Hubster while he was in the Great White North and promptly blew them off. I was too busy shopping, going to the movies and having dinner with my best girlfriend every night. Besides, how much could he catch? Then the call came: "I'm coming home, honey. With 50 pounds of salmon."
Wine and chocolate, perfect together
You may know (or think you know) most of the rules about pairing wine with food, but what about pairing wine with chocolate?
Flashback of the day
Run for help, Timmy!
Keep your hips ship-shape with a bone-density test
The bone-density test is a simple X-Ray that measures how dense your hip bone and your low spine are and assesses your fracture risk. You should totally go for it. This may be the only time in mid-life that anyone tells you that you have the hips of a 20-year-old.
Who are you calling 'Girl'?!
Who among us doesn't bristle when called "girl" by a male colleague in the office or a construction worker on the street? It's inappropriate, demeaning and it ticks us off.
Wednesday, January 3
Makeover offers busy teacher some fashion lessons
Kathi Farmer has taught high school for 11 years. But lately, she's had an itch to be a student — of fashion. Stuck in a style rut, her boring and outdated look didn't match her energetic and artsy personality.
Now THAT'S a lunch break!
Tuna on rye with a side of ahhhh....
Helping a friend through grief requires watchfulness, patience
Losing a loved one — partner, friend, family member, or pet — is hard in so many ways. It changes the way we think, feel, and act. And some of those thoughts and feelings may seem to contradict each other.
The 51-Year-Old Virgin
Six months ago, I was a virgin. Well ... ahem! ... at least where Internet interaction was concerned.
Tuesday, January 2
Research shows that mental exercises can boost brainpower
So you think you’re losing your memory and your mind? Join the club.
Couscous and corn dogs
A Topeka caterer serves governors and presidents from her Ziploc bag of treasures
The little pink door in the Southwest 21st Street alley between Mission and Seabrook streets in Topeka opens into a kitchen of whisks, spices and dog-eared cookbooks held together with rubber bands. Carol Hamilton presides over this cluttered stainless steel world with love and laughter.
It's a Web site!
Like all new parents, we think our baby is beautiful but we know she isn't perfect. That's why we want to hear what you think. What do you like? What could we improve?
Sicca and the solstice
Although we can’t prevent yet another solstice from passing us by, there are effective and helpful treatments for dry eye syndrome.
Timely guides for a more healthful you
Looking to upgrade your diet in the new year? These books can help you add more healthful recipes to your repertoire, eat “young” and be more mindful of what you put in your mouth.
Help for dry and brittle nails
A quick and inexpensive drugstore remedy.
Poll: Most of us love our television — just not the same shows as our spouses
As you sink into your couch to watch a favorite TV show this holiday weekend, take comfort in the knowledge that you’re not alone. Nationally speaking, at least. Unity within your own home is another matter entirely.
Get your game on any way you want
Have a Super Bowl fun day!
If you love bone-crunching football, big pots of chili and a rug full of nacho chips, good news: the annual extravaganza that is the Super Bowl is coming to your living room soon. But if you’re like me, you’ve got little patience for the hype.
Cocktail of the week: Screwdriver light
Here's a lower-calorie twist on the traditional screwdriver that's more in keeping with your New Year's diet.
Monday, January 1
Making weight loss an art form
For Janice Taylor, the vision came during a group meeting at a weight-loss center. Squeezed into a pair of elastic-band pants, size XXL, the New York City artist was about to embark on yet another miserable diet. She felt hopeless. That’s when she heard The Voice.
Quick and easy room freshener
Light up the room with fresh scent.