Well, I Thought I Was Better

Well, I thought I was on my way to health and happiness, but I woke up with my hands and face all swollen.  And, I don't mean can't-put-on-your-wedding-ring swollen.  More like can't-open-your-eyes-all-the-way swollen.  Hey, I was so good yesterday, I thought I would be out riding a bike or doing cartwheels today. 

BTW, why does Mongolia have better stamps than we do?

Baby Boomers ARE NOT Dead Yet, Baby!

The Face of Middle Age - Wikimedia Commons

Here's a post from my writer pal, Brenda. She gives some examples of the ways marketers and politicians misread (or ignore) the Baby Boomer cohort. And, far from being dead, Boomers are alive and ready to kick booty...while taking no prisoners.

Ignore the affluent (in aggregate) Boomer market at your own peril, GenX. We are used to having advertisers pander to us and we don't like being called Seniors or being called old.

The blog post: Baby Boomers Are Not Dead Yet

By the way, not all Boomers look like the photo above. Demi Moore is a Late Boomer.

A Baby Boomer's Life in Fashion and Music

Some of my fondest Boomer memories include fabulous 60s hats with boho outfits. But, I also remember the Mod 60s. And, I actually loved the 70s and disco...but the freaking 80s with those big shoulders still give me nightmares. So, take a walk on the wild side, my fine young friends.

I have to redo a lot of articles and a lot of memories, but here are some of the articles I've found on my site... lots of articles were lost, so it might take a while to redo some of this.

1960s Fashion and Music:

 
60's Fashion Style: 1964 Mod Dresses, Go Go Boots, Quant, Beatles


Mellow Songs from the 60's


This is my friend's article: My Daddy Didn't Take the T-Bird Away

Best Top Hippie Albums of the 60's

 

Hippie Clothes: How Did Hippie Fashion Start?

 

1970s in Fashion and Music:

70's Fashion Trend for Women: Flared Legs, Disco and Platforms

Retro Dance Party Songs from the 70's
 

1980s in Music and a Tiny Bit of Fashion:

 

Baby Boomer News

This Boomer has evil, glinty eyes

Every now and then, I like to search online for “Baby Boomers” in Google News or Bing News, and I just found something interesting.  As usual, Baby Boomers with evil, "greedy, glinty eyes", are responsible for someone’s unhappiness…in Auckland.  And, Auckland is one of my favorite cities in the world.  Kiwis are the nicest, friendliest people in the entire world.  (Well, I haven’t seen all of the world, but I’ve seen a lot of it.)

So, here’s the article Baby Boomers, a Plague on All Your Houses...along with a suggestion for the author: Why don't you just blame your mom and dad like a normal person. 

Catherine, my first house was $179,000 in 1982 dollars (US) and we really couldn't afford it, but we didn't want to raise our future children in an LA barrio at a time when drive-bys were rampant.  I was in my thirties, and our house was a dung-hole in Huntington Beach...nowhere near the beach.  So, Catherine, I feel your pain, but suck it up like the rest of us. 

No one "owes" you a freaking house. 

Song of the Day: Your Song.  Catherine, I did not know one person (when this song came out) who could afford a house, and if you will kindly listen to the lyrics, you might understand that most Boomers could only dream of having a place with a little yard where they could grow their own organic veggies.  That one line about the house was what made this song popular.

If I keep getting older, I'm going to have to kill myself.

I finally tweeted something that made someone laugh.

Song of the Day: My Generation

Eileen William's Fab Info for Job-Seekers Over 50

I've always wondered how to handle my college info and graduation dates when filling out job applications. (I went to school in the 70s.) Sure, I believe in honesty...so I don't want to hide my age, but I don't want to sound like I'm absolutely ancient, either.

God knows I'm no expert on finding employment in a tough job market....I've gotten most of my jobs by knowing the CEO or owner of some company. However, I do know good info when I read it / see it / hear it, and I like what Mary Eileen Williams says about resumes and interviews in this Youtube video. So, click here to watch Critical Tips for Finding Work After 50 from a fellow Boomer babe. 

Here's the Song of the Day:  People Song.

Why Are There So Many Baby Boomers?

Once upon a time, a bunch of horny sailors came back from the war. They had unprotected sex with nice girls who weren’t Nazis in the backseats of cars while listening to Fats Domino.

Then, all those horny sailors married those girls and had sex in the backseats of cars for eighteen more years.

READ articles about Baby Boomer Women at  Boomerinas.com

What Is Baby Boomers?

What is Baby Boomers? This phrase is so funny that someone on another Baby Boomer website stole my line. You see, I'm a Topic Editor and writer at Suite101.com and other sites. One day I received a comment asking, "What is Baby Boomers?"

I wanted to say that "it" was a new type of diaper, a play on the phrase Baby Bloomers, but instead I wrote a quick article explaining what Baby Boomers is: What is Baby Boomers? What are Baby Boomer's Characteristics 

Song of the Day: Be My Baby

Will Your Stocks Make a Comeback?

It's difficult to know what will happen while Helicopter Ben is keeping the floor under the market but you can find one long-term prediction by clicking on the video below.

I am in the midst of reading the book, Aftershock, and it is not clear whether or not all of it is correct. I believe almost everything I have read from the book, because I look at things from a Macro perspective. My husband, who I must admit, has been dead right about our personal finances for as long as I've known him, does not believe in buying gold, selling our house (because it's a cheap place for us to live), or bailing out of dollar-denominated assets. So, as you can imagine, our discussions can occasionally become quite heated.

So, I'm not going to say that everything in Aftershock will come to pass, and I will say that Baby Boomers are in a different situation than many other folks. If you own your home outright or your mortgage payments are low, you might want to hang onto your home. The problem with selling to recoup any gains is: Where the hell do you put your profits? And, here's the dilemma:

CDs are around 1% or less. You don't want to go long on Treasuries because you know there WILL be inflation. (That has already happened with QE 1 & 2. You just haven't seen it yet.) If you were to buy gold, where would you put it? And, how would you transport it if you moved? (Don't ask me, I don't have any.) Is it safe to invest in one of those places where the corporation has physical possession of your gold, and will that company be around when The Sh*t Hits The Fan (TSHTF)?

Anyway, I haven't had a chance to see this whole video because it can't be paused, but I will see it soon. So, take what they say with a grain of salt because no one can predict the future. And, hang on to your ass because, whatever the future holds, you are probably going to need a level head.

See video discussion of the book, Aftershock here: Aftershock Video Discussion. 

Song of the Day: I'd Love to Change the World.

One of the Coolest Documentaries of All Time

The Nature of Existence

The Nature of Existence:

If you're like me and you like documentaries, you'll like this movie.  It's on Netflix Instant.

This guy who made the flick goes around the world and asks all kinds of interesting people (scientists, clergy, kids, waitresses, Satanists, New Agers, soapbox preachers...) questions like, "What is the meaning of life?" All I can say is: The answer is probably G.

A. What Christians believe.

B. What Buddhists believe.

C. What Jews believe.

D. What Muslims believe.

E. What Aetheists believe.

F. What Jet Gypsy believes.

G. All of the above.

Song of the Day: Faith (Accoustic Style)

Music Helps Alzheimers and Mild Cognitive Impairment

"The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function reports that early research on the therapeutic effects of music indicates that it may help improve scores on cognitive function tests. It is also widely believed that music improves the mood, alertness and quality of life ... (of peeps w/ Alzheimers or Mild Cognitive Impairment blah blah)"

Let's try it with some Jimi Hendrix.

The article continues:

"The sessions that (some guy) held with the residents were amazing. As the group of individuals around the table focused and articulated past memories, as well as the tunes that go with them, clear recollections poured out about first dances.......choirs and love songs. Observing the group and listening to their memories, you would not believe that they are living with Alzheimer’s disease."

OMG. They're right! I feel much more lucid now. Gimme that Mensa Test.

Wow...I was about ready to go to Lourdes.  (Hope this post gave you a laugh...or a groan.)

Read the rest at Music Has Theraputic Effects Bla Bla Bla

My 10 Favorite Ports of Call - Cruising Tina's Way

I'm in need of a vacay, so I thought I'd tell you my favorite cruise ports just for the fun of it.  (Thinking about vacations is almost as much fun as going on them.)
 
First of all, I want to mention that my fave cruise line is Oceania. My second fave is Princess or any ship where we have a group of friends....on any line...in any sea.  And, I get mildly seasick even in small swells, so the ports have to be good.
 

1. Best Port of Call - Venice: Sure, there shouldn't be cruise ships to pollute that lovely, ethereal land, but ships go to Venice and Venice rocks. The only bad thing is embarkation. I was in Venice for a few days and then I had to leave. Bummer.

2. Corsica: I don't know why I love Corsica so much more than other spots in the Med, but I do. I like the stone steps between the old stone buildings and the way it all feels so ancient. Hey, I'm from the West Coast. We think the Space Needle is old.

3. Capri: Well, you don't really stop in Capri; you stop in Naples and take a boat over. It looks like the kind of place where you will see Sophia Lauren sitting at a nearby table. Well, you might see a wannabe.

4. Auckland NZ: You will never meet so many nice, friendly people as you will in NZ. I also, liked all of the other ports, especially Tauranga and (forgot the name) the port in the south with the big uni.

5. Sydney: There is nothing about Sydney that's not to like. Just leave your husband at home, because the men are gorgeous.

6. The port in Turkey (Kushdaasi or Kusadasi?) where you go to Ephesus. If you want old ruins, forget Pompeii and go to Ephesus. Those are the best ruins I've ever seen. I did not want to leave...and they're still digging.  It may be better every time you go back.

7. Talinn Estonia: The surprise port was Talinn. Who knew? It has a fairytale castle. Just ignore the Russian era buildings and factories. I would have stayed for days. Very artsy in feel.

8. Hong Kong: I didn't cruise there but it's a fabulous city. I'm sure you can find a ship to take you there.

9. Quebec City: It's a bit of old France in the middle of nowhere.

10. Honolulu: I've lived on Oahu twice so it was nice to get off in a city I knew. The place is so crowded now, but it's still a great beach. And, no sharks. Where should I go next?  Should I cruise?  Should I try my first European river cruise? (yes!)  Should I go to Eastern Europe and hope I can read the signs? 

Here are some articles about cruise wear.  I didn't realize I was such an expert on the subject until women recognized me on my last cruise.  It was very cool.  And, I hope my advice helps you pack the right stuff:

Sexy Plus Size Cruise Wear: Cocktail and Formal Dresses  

Daytime Cruise Wear for Women With Style 

Women's Travel Cruise Wear Online: Chicks Over 40 or 50  

Cruise Clothing Articles for Baby Boomer Chicks

Yeow. I was locked out of this blog for a while. I don't think it was anything that I did, but now I'm back on. So, I'm happy.  Here are some groovy articles about clothing for Boomers.

Plus Size Long Dress at Simply Be

Thank God, the people who buy for online stores are starting to give us decent plus size clothes. And, here are some great options for those of us who like to cruise. Read more at Plus Size Cruise Wear to Make You Feel Beautiful

Luna Luz Tie Dress from Hello Boutique

I have a Luna Luz dress coming in the mail and I can't wait to get it. Luna Luz is one of my new go-to brands for cute travel wear. The clothes are made out of great fabric.  Read more at Sexy Luna Luz Dresses Fit Like a Dream: Great for Travel Wear

Sheer Cardigan from Long Tall Sally

One of your basic travel pieces should be a sheer or lace cardigan or shrug. These babies weigh about as much as a scarf, but you can't live without one of these once you get hooked. Featherweight cardigans cover a multitude of sins.  Read more at Sheer or Lace Cardigans for Hip Women Over 40 or 50

And, here are more articles for your reading pleasure:

Sexy Plus Size Cruise Wear: Cocktail and Formal Dresses 

Daytime Cruise Wear for Women With Style 

Women's Travel Cruise Wear Online: Over 40 or 50

What to Wear to Paris if You Want to Be a Chic Woman Traveler Over 40 & 50

I just got back from Paris about a week ago...maybe a bit longer. It was recent enough that I still long for a crumbly, light, fluffy croissant every morning and a small piece of European cheese to go with it. Give me that combo and an Orangina and I'm happy. It doesn't take much...why can't I find anything like that in Seattle?

photo: food_in_mouth Flickr.com

Anyway, I've been writing about what the chic Parisians were wearing. In the past, I've been to Paris in the high summer months and at the end of September. Fortunately, this time, I threw some black garments in my suitcase at the last minute or I would have had to stay in my room. Only a few colors seem to be allowed during the colder months and the main color is BLACK. You can get away with gray, brown, khaki, and other muted or dark colors, as long as you don't wear anything that makes you stand out. Oh, I also saw navy blue and other dark blues worn with black.

Warning: The following photo of me is really bad. I swelled up from medication and I don't know when I'll be normal again....but I'm fearless in posting photos.

Here is that photo of me shopping for cosmetics on the Champs Elysees in the middle of March. At least my stockings and my boots were black. (The stripes are a shopping bag.)

People stared at me. I mean that people stared at me and took photos. I actually heard one woman say in English, "I think what she's wearing is cute." And, of course, she had to be replying to someone else saying something like, "What is that woman wearing?" God only knows what the French were saying. They talk so softly (and so quickly) that I can catch a few words here and there, but not all.

Okay, I don't really mind. Actually, a guy in Montmartre (straight guy) came up to take photos of me because he thought I looked "cute". Well, that was a weird experience.

Anyway, you should not wear too many colors (such as two non-black colors) unless you don't mind the extra attention. Personally, I don't think my outfit is bad. It's just different. And, I'm not a model. I'm a 58 y/o Baby Boomer from the West Coast.

What to Wear in Paris if You Don't Want to Look Like a Tourist:

Well, you can learn from my slight faux pas. If you want to look like a chic Parisian, chic American, chic Italian, chic Brit, etc. when you are on holiday/vacation, you will find the answers in the following articles:

What to Wear in Paris in Early Spring or Late Fall

Paris Street Style for Women Over 40 & 50

How to Dress in Paris Using Layers and Accessories

Women Over 40 or 50: Parisian Women's Style is in the Details

And, I thought I'd throw in something about handbags and shoes. I knew my flowered cloth handbag was going to be "unique", but I didn't think it would make people stare. Actually, my bag might have been acceptable in summer, when everyone lightens up about wearing that "black uniform"...but I had never been to Paris when it was the end of winter, so I didn't realize what it was like.  Learn from what I saw:

Comfortable Shoes for Women: Travel Footwear for Walking Europe

Extra Large Leather Handbags Worn by Chic Parisian Women

 There will be more articles about Paris. And, you don't need to be in Paris to use French fashion rules. With some minor adjustments, everything I saw in Paris could be worn in Texas, Seattle, New York, or San Francisco. It might even work in Montana. However, I wouldn't try it in Miami or Honolulu. People might think you are in mourning.

Song of the Day: Le Vent Nous Portera

Swimwear for Women Over 40 & 50 - Online

Hey ladies, what could be more fun than trying on swimsuits in front of a snarky, pretty little thing in a semi-public dressing room?  Yeah.  You know the answer to that.

In my opinion, it is much better to try on swimsuits in the privacy of your own bedroom, with your own full-length mirror, while using your own critical judgement and not following the advice of some chickadee who wants a commission.

I'm talking about online shopping, the godsend of all women over 40, 50, 60, etcetera.  If you have a daughter who will go with you to a store and become an advocate on your behalf, shopping in a mall can be acceptable.  It's up to you.  As for me, I will, never again, humiliate myself in front of some little snot.  I will always try on swimwear (and most other things) in my own home.  Oh, the horror of swimsuit season...

Swimsuit Articles for Women Over 40 or 50:

Hope you like my ideas:

Best Swimsuits for Women Over 40 & 50

Two Piece Swimsuits for Older Women Over 40 & 50

Cute Women's Bathing Suits - Chic Summer Styles


Bathing Suit Articles for Plus Size Baby Boomers Like Me:

Best Bathing Suit Brands - Plus Body Types for Women Over 40 & 50

Plus Size Bathing Suits: Cute Prints & Large Full Figure Swimwear

Plus Size Swimwear, Plus Size Swimsuits, Plus Size Help!

Beach Dresses and Cover-Up Articles:

Cute Swimwear Coverups & Beach Sundresses

Beach Coverups for Women: Plus Size Tunic, Dress, Caftan, Sarong

LATEST FASHION TRENDS 2011 - MIX AND MATCH PRINTS

You know it's the latest trend.  Mixing and matching prints and florals has been around for a while, but I think it will start to catch on in summer 2011.  So, here are my ideas (as a creative, artist chick) about how you can do this look without looking like a bozo.  

I'm going overseas soon (I hope) and I'll be able to see how it's done.  And, I'll be writing about any other trends that jump out at me. 

Just click on the links (the captions below the photos) to learn how to mix and match like an Italian fashion designer.

How to Mix and Match Clothing Prints: Copy Japanese Kimono Rules
  

Trendy Clothes for Women Over 40 & 50: Blue and White Prints

Summer Floral Prints: Trendy Plus Size Clothing to Mix and Match

Nautical Clothing for Women: Mix and Match Dresses, Jewelry, Tops