Building a New Website

Unfinished Painting by Gustav Klimt

Wow, it's been so long since I've posted on Jet Gypsy that I couldn't remember my password for it.  Sad, but true. 

Yes, I have been busy.  I'm working on a new site and what I thought would take a few weeks, at most, is into the second month.  Of course, if you've ever done anything online or worked with computers, you know that every little change often brings something else out of wack.

Have You Ever Painted? 

Those of you who are artists will know what I mean.  When you are painting, and you introduce a new color to some other part of the composition, that bold, new stroke will often change the balance of the whole painting.  Well, building a website seems to have the same effect.  One little part of the code is altered, then some other part of the code needs readjustment.  Holy sheet, it makes every little thing into a "situation" or whatever you want to call it. 

The Long and Winding Road to a Finished Website
Well, if you want to see my site, please do.  But, remember that it's not finished and if it crashes...it shouldn't...you'll know that I'm working on it.  Hey, even though I have a wonderful woman helping me with the design and the HTML, I have never worked on any part of putting a site together before now.  Hopefully, it will all be over soon so I can get back to writing....because, even though I never wanted to be a writer, I think that writing is what the universe intends for me to do with the rest of my life.  (It's in my genes.  My father was a failed writer...but a very good one.)

Link to My Beta Site

So, write I shall.   Here is my site:  Boomerinas.com, and if you want to know why I picked a name that is a combination of Boomers and Ballerinas, just click on the article with a picture of flowers.

How to Be Cooler Than Shizzit

Hey, Demi Moore's a Boomer and she looks pretty good.  Of course, she has an army of surgeons, stylists, and everyday handlers who will tell her when she has lipstick on her teeth.  For the rest of us, there's hats and accessories.  I like to call my way of dressing, "Smoke and Mirrors".  You can use my methods to cover/camouflage your "bad parts" and shift people's attention to your "good parts". 

Well, I've found a video that I love and I will watch it every day.  Of course, it's easier to be a bit zany in NYC or SF, but all of us can gain a bit of courage from watching this video:

The Countess of Glamour

Notice the hats, glasses, and accessories on the old birds in the video.  Both hats and glasses can be used to great effect and help deflect people's eyes away from your wrinkles.

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:

 

The Cold Song

It was just way too cold at the dog park today.  Sure, the sun was out.  Sure, I was dressed all wrong.  No, there wasn’t any snow.  But, even the dogs looked cold, and they were wearing their fur coats!

I should have worn my snow jacket.

Fortunately, I have found a song that will help convey how it felt at Marymoor Park today.  (Yeah, I know this song is more about death than about cold…but I feel frozen like Klaus.)

Song of the Day: The Cold Song.

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

Wedding Ideas for Indie Brides

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Wedding Ideas for Indie Brides

I have been married more than once.  And, though your "big day" will be big to you, to the rest of us it's just another wedding.  Sure, we're happy for you.  Sure, we want all of your dreams to come true.  However, we don't want a long, tedious ceremony and (I think I speak for most of us) we want to get to the party part as soon as possible.

Anyway, here are some ideas about ways to cut costs (hippie boho wedding - indie dresses - yes, I lived in Haight Ashbury briefly, in the 60s) and other ideas about having fun.  Sure, a wedding is a solemn occasion, but it's also a joyous occasion.  So, let's get this party started.

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Wedding Ideas for Boho Chic Hippie Weddings

Bohemian Vintage Wedding Dresses - Low Cost Marriage Hippie Style

Inexpensive Gothic Wedding Dresses in Black, Red, and Purple

Wedding Dresses for Older Brides: Boomers Over 40

All White Outfits for Women: Spring Summer 2011 Trends

Bridal Hats and Veils: Wedding Hats for the Bride (younger brides should check out the top hats)

Beach Chic Weddings:


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Wedding Ideas for Casual Beach Weddings

I have been to two beach weddings, although I've never had one of those.  The wedding in Hawaii was a brunch affair and very elegant.  The second wedding was at some swank hotel in Newport Beach.  I think it was there or it could have been further south.  Anyway, the California beach wedding was in the evening.  You can't imagine two weddings that were more different.  Well, I have seen other people's weddings that were very casual, and they were extremely different from the ones I'm talking about, but I wasn't invited to those super casual weddings and I was just a Lookie-Lou. 

Actually, a friend and I crashed a wedding reception at Shilshole Marina (near a beach in Seattle) in the 70s.  Does that count as a "beach wedding"?  Patricia and I were bored, and I think that we did the right thing.  There were quite a few single guys who were just hanging around looking bored, so we had some drinks, ate some shrimp and other goodies, danced with the guys, ate some cake, then left before we were busted.  (We were the original wedding crashers.) 

Casual Beach Wedding Dresses

Casual Beach Wedding Flower Girl Dresses for Toddlers & Girls

What to Wear to a Beach Wedding in Hawaii: Guest Attire for Women

How to Wear a Hat - Women's Hat Etiquette at Restaurants, Parties

Beach Cover Ups for Women: Plus Size Tunic Dress, Caftan, Sarong

Second or Third or Fourth or Whatever:

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Wedding Dress Ideas for Second Weddings

There is nothing wrong with getting remarried.  Heck, these days, it's rare that anyone even bothers to get married.  I'm always happy to hear of anyone's wedding or to hear that someone is having a baby.  Everything is so different from the 70s and the 80s.  So many couples are marriage-phobic.  Are gays the only people who want to tie the knot?

Remarriage After Divorce - Second Marriage Wedding Dresses 


Summer Maxi Dresses for Women Over 40 & 50


Second Marriage - Should I Wear a Colored or White Wedding Dress?

Thank You Cards - Real Life:

How to Write a Thank You Note: Wedding Thank You Cards & Samples

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



MOTHER OF THE BRIDE CLOTHING

Mother of the Bride Dress - Frank Usher

I am still holding my breath and waiting to wear something befitting (or not befitting) a mother of the bride.  I'm a 58-year-old Baby Boomer Chick and I can't hold my breath much longer or I shall expire. 


Being the hat freak that I am, I am going to wear a hat when I am a mum of the bride.  And, I'm going to wear a feathery fascinator when the dancing starts.  I am totally obsessed with hats.  I want to be Louise Green or the Royal Milliner or Hatter or whatever it's called in my next life.

Mother of the Bride Hats - Frank Usher

Why do I love hats?  I have crummy, fine, thin hair and it hastn't gotten any thicker over the years.  And, I love dress up.  And, I'm a former hippie.  And, life is short...


Anyway, here are some articles that you might want to read if your daughter has just announced her engagement to what's his face.


Mother of the Bride Dresses: Pictures of Hot Outfits & MOB Rules

Mother of the Bride Dresses: Tea Length

Elegant Mother of the Bride Dresses: Plus Size


*************************************************************************Have fun and drink too much - for me.

My Favorite Articles About Europe

Hey Boomer Gals,

I've been to Europe quite a few times.  The first time was when I was a teenie-bopper in 1965.  Then, once, I lived near Montreux for a doomed-to-fail semester at a Swiss boarding school...I decided to get kicked out because I couldn't understand a word of their mandatory French.  Then...well I've been on the Continent more times than that, but I'm getting bored with this monologue.

I just want you to know that I am a confirmed people watcher...a student of personalities and societies.  And, I promise not to steer you wrong on where to go, how to save money, or what to wear.  If you're a guy, you basically need to know that if I see you in shorts, I will ask you to move to the back of the line.

I've gathered up the articles I've written so far.  And, I'm going to a cheap hotel in Paris, soon (so I'll be writing more on Paris).  If we don't use up our miles, they will expire.  Also, we're going at the very beginning of the season (Spring) instead of the high season...so, it's not going to cost an arm and a leg or even a toenail.

Planning Your Trip

I know that all you suburban gals who went to Catholic school think you have to map out your vacations a year in advance, but I'm here to tell you that it's just not true.  It's not too late to throw together a last-minute road trip, cruise, or anything.  And, you have so much time between now and September and those glorious tourist-free months...oi...trust me.  Go while the Euro exchange is decent.

Baby Boomers' Europe: Cruise Ships vs Hotels


Planning a Trip to Europe: Tour Group, Cruise Ship or Self-Guided


Free Rick Steves Graffiti Wall: Best Info Site

What to Wear if You're a Boomer Chick

I always bring too much.  The new rule is to take half the clothes and twice the credit cards.  But, you're not going to see the same people everyday...and even if you do...as long as you are presentable and you don't stink, you should be fine.

The Best Sites for Women's Travel Wear


Best Women's European Travel Accessory - Long Summer Scarves


What to Wear in Europe - Women's Travel Clothing Summer Vacations


Cheap Bohemian Travel Clothes - Spring / Summer


Cute Women's Packable Raincoat, Trench or Jacket


Best Women's Purses and Handbags for Travel

Break in Your Shoes or Cry Every Night

Comfy Women's Travel Shoes for Chicks Over 40 or 50


Fall Fashion Trends - Flat Boots in Europe

Things to Know Before Going to France

Common Phrases for Restaurants in France


Tips on Manners for Shopping in France

A Bit of Info About Italy

The Best Movies Set in Venice Italy


Rick Steves Italy: Travel as a Temporary Local

My Opinion of Different Cities in Europe

My Top Ten Cities in Europe


Top Honeymoon Destinations

You can add your opinions, travel ideas, or questions in the comment section below.  I love to hear your opinions.

Just Got Back from Maui and I Really Miss Being Kamaaina

I had such a great time on Maui that I had to write down some of my ideas in these articles:

Best Beaches in Maui for Kids: Hawaii Vacations
I used to take my kids to Maui every year.  Then, I got a divorce and I couldn't afford it.  When I have grandchildren, I hope to take them to the beaches on Maui.

Kaanapali Beach: Hawaii Vacations
For years, I only stayed in Kihei.  I still love Kihei as a place to live or a place to buy a condo (someday), but for a week-long holiday, Kaanapali Beach is where the action is.


Where to Stay in Maui: Hawaii Vacations 
I've been to Maui about 20 times.  It's my favorite island.  Find out why.


Kaanapali Beach Hotel on Maui: Hawaii Vacations
We just got back from 10 days at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel.  The room was nothing special but their accommodations are 1/2 to 1/3 the price of nearby hotels on the same fabulous beach.  Get some cheap aloha at this old-school hotel.

Maui Honeymoon
I've never been to Maui for a honeymoon, though I have been to Waikiki for a honeymoon.  I can be a very jaded traveler, but I also tell the truth.

All-Inclusive Resorts: Hawaii Honeymoon
There is nothing like Sandals or Beaches in Hawaii.  Those are East Coast inventions (well, actually they are Club Mediterranae in Europe inventions).  However, Hawaii has some vacation spots that are quite similar.
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Cute Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Trends

Boohoo.com

There are so many fun and cute spring/summer 2011 fashion trends.  I think that there is something for every woman and girl...and just as important...there are trends that can be adapted to flatter all body types, all ages, and all chicks.  You are going to love this stuff.

Spring Fashion Trends 2011:

Here's a review of the fashion trends for 2011; spring summer 2011 trends seen by an average suburban wife. Well, average is probably incorrect.

Spring 2011 Trends: Bold Color:
One of the hot trends for spring 2011 is fabulous washes & blocks of bold color. Go head-to-toe orange, blue or white & light up the room or work it.

Hot Trends for Spring 2011:
Bold colors like Coral Rose orange, Beeswax yellow, and Regatta blue (and white) all make my day. See the cute hot trends for spring 2011 for teens & women.


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

If you want to go '70s style, you need flared jeans, pantsuits, bow blouses, shiny or metallic clothing and platform shoes. But, give it your own twist.

How to Wear Leggings:

Teens know how to wear leggings but adult women over 30, 40, or 50 have stricter fashion rules. Most older women shouldn't break the rules for leggings.

Cloche, Fedora or Newsboy Cap - Best Hat Styles for Petite Women:

If you're short, should you wear a small brimmed hat like a cloche or newsboy cap? Or a larger brimmed hat like a fedora? What is the best hat for petites?
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