My Boogie Board Adventures

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Judi

I am an official boogie board owner. My boyfriend L treated me to an official boogie board at the local surf shop in town during our mini vacation at my condo on the corner at the shore. It was a ‘do nothing’ vacation. We were in slow motion, except for when I was riding the waves…or trying to ride the waves on my new Wave Board.

“Angled rails, smooth, responsive and quick curved tail for added flotation and easy tackoffs. Sturdy leash with wrist strap” was the promotional copy on the package. It sounded good to me. But, wait, wait, wait. Oh, no. There was a WARNING in red right below it:

“Before riding this board be sure you can swim to shore.” (Not a problem, I thought. I wasn’t going to be going too far out in the ocean on my boogie board. I knew I would be okay.)

“ALWAYS ride with your head behind the nose of the board.” (Not a problem, I thought. The salesman said I should buy a 41-inch boogie board. He said that size was appropriate for my height and that the length should reach from my feet to my waist. I picked out a very dark navy and white design which closely matched my strapless bathing suits. I wanted to look good holding my boogie board in the water since I lacked boogie boarding skills.)

“BE ALERT unpredictable surf can lead to fatal accidents. This is not a life saving device.” (Not a problem, I thought. On second thought, really? Maybe this is a problem. At 50+ years of age I didn’t want to have any fatal accidents. I made sure I had some caffeinated coffee before I went out on the surf. But, I can’t see too well once I take my glasses off so forget about being too alert.)

“Children must not ride without adult supervision.” (Definitely not a problem, I thought, I am an adult. Ha, ha, ha. It should really say ‘adults must not ride without child supervision.’ I surveyed the ocean waters and I have to tell you that I wanted to stick with the kids. Most of them were in the shallow waters, right where I preferred to hang out.)

“Please observe all instructions before using this board.” (I read all the WARNINGS and I still opened the package. I put the leash strap tightly on my right arm. I looked to my left to see how the kids were boogieing. I looked to the right to see how the adults were boogieing. There were a few other new boogie boarders nearby. I could tell that not everyone was a pro. And then I tried to ride the little waves. I wasn’t very good, but I do intend to take my boogie board back out in the ocean next week and try again.)

I looked up boogie boarding on Wikipedia. According to Wikipedia, “bodyboarding (sometimes called boogieboarding) has been growing very rapidly over the last couple of decades and has now developed into one of the fastest growing sports of all time.” (Maybe other baby boomers are getting into this trend too. Oh, I am so with the trends, just like my astrologer said! Go Judi. Go Judi. Go Judi.)

I also found a tutorial complete with a u-Tube video on “How to Boogie Board” on Wiki-How, the how to manual. I will have to study up and learn all the techniques.

Sooooo, that is my baby boomer boogie boarder story for now. More to come as I continue to ride the waves this summer…or try to. Meantime, I think I’ll just sing the “I Love To Boogie” song and maybe practice a few dance moves while I’m at it.

Judi

Sweet and Salty Snacking

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Judi

I gave in this weekend and went and bought the new Pretzel M&Ms. They are a tad lower in fat since they are stuffed with pretzels not full of chocolate. I really liked the sweet and salty combination and one individual size bag contains 150 calories and 5 grams of fat. Yes, there is some saturated fat in there too. I’m not going to buy them all the time, but for an occasional treat, I will definitely add them to my list.

Getting With The Boomer Trends

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Judi

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about aging boomers. I think the topic is all over the news because Ringo Starr turned 70 a few weeks ago. (Can you believe it?)

Just yesterday I read an article about Nielsen research in the online newsletter of Advertising Age that says in the decade to come my fellow boomers and I will likely rule the world as the largest demographic population and may indeed help set the trends. (As my astrologer said during my astrology reading back in January, I am a trendsetter. Yes, yes, yes. I wasn’t surprised to learn that the wine-colored Steve Madden satchel handbag I just purchased at Nordstrom is now one of the top selling handbags of the pre-season sale. What a trendsetter I am and will continue to be.)

“According to Nielsen research, baby boomers in 2010 account for approximately 38.5% of all dollars spent on consumer package goods such as diapers, toothpaste and laundry detergent.” (That’s interesting. Wonder if boomers are buying diapers for their grandkids or perhaps they are buying adult diapers? And toothpaste, hmm, hmm, hmm. I do now brush my teeth twice a day and I also floss all the time too. And I just got my two front teeth fixed with shiny new veneers. As for the laundry detergent, I do seem to still do quite a bit of laundry now that my son is back in the nest. Not that I am doing his laundry anymore. No, no, no. However, he does seem to pile up so many dirty clothes each day.)

“Nielsen research says that boomers account for 40% of customers paying for wireless services and 41% of customers paying for Apple personal computers.”(Yep, I’m one of those boomers. My mobile phone bill costs more than my land line – likely because I am paying for some of my boomlet’s mobile phone bills. Ooh, ooh, I am so with the trends – I do have an Apple personal computer and one day I’m going to take classes at the Genius bar in the Apple store and become a Genius.)

Boomers are soon going to set the television trends as well. ”Nielsen says that while TV advertising was founded on reaching the demographic of consumers between the ages of 18 and 49, the median age of viewers of prime-time broadcast TV is nearing 51.” (Oh, no, I just missed the median age by a year. I really don’t watch much prime-time TV anyway. I’m too busy blogging or surfing the worldwide web on my trendy Apple computer. Okay, okay, I do watch a few favorite shows like Gossip Girl, Entourage and Mad Men. Okay, okay, I will admit I do have one other favorite reality show that I watch. Okay, okay, I’ll admit it is a Jersey show. No, it’s not the Jersey Shore, it’s Jersey Couture. I just love to see all the dresses at Diane and Co. in Freehold, NJ.)

In addition, I liked the comments from Alan Wurtzel, president of research and media development at NBC Universal. Go Alan. Go Alan. Go Alan. Alan says that “while baby boomers are leaving the demographics that have been favored by advertisers for decades, their value is actually increasing in many ways and no one has noticed it. Thanks to their wealth and the rise of new product categories, the generation could maintain importance.” (Alan, you are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. I couldn’t agree more.)

I also agree with the statement that “old dogs can learn new tricks.” When I was at the beach this weekend I so wanted a ‘boogie board.’ Yes, I wanted to ride the waves like the kids were riding the waves with their ‘boogie boards.’ It looked like so much fun. I wanted to ask one of the kids if I could borrow his ‘boogie board” but I thought he likely would think I had flipped my lid or that I was wanting to steal it. I never had a ‘boogie board’ when I was growing up. They weren’t allowed in the waters at the NY beaches where my family vacationed.

Can I learn to ride a ‘boogie board’ at 50+? Should I learn to ride a ‘boogie board’ at 50+? Will I look like a fool? Should I go buy a ‘boogie board’ this weekend? Yes, no, no, yes. Okay, maybe…why not have some fun!

On second thought, did I tell you that I saw dolphins in the water at the Jersey shore last weekend? It was so neat to see them out in the water popping up and down with the waves. Maybe I should forget the ‘boogie board’ and just go out and boogie with the dolphins!

Judi

In Love With Fall Fashions

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Judi

I was in bed feeling sorry for myself last week with an upset stomach and sore throat. Then the mail came and I started to perk up. There it was – the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale catalog with, as the cover said, “The Newest Fashion Now” with all the new looks for Fall 2010.

As I turned the pages smiles came to my face. Oh, how I loved all the Fall fashions. Each outfit was nicer than the next. I wanted them all (well, not technically every single thing in the catalog, but there was almost one thing I liked on every women’s attire or accessories page and I also liked the men’s clothes and accessories pages too, for my son D that is, so he can be a trendsetter this Fall too.)

I quickly sent a text to my daughter A (instead of calling, so as not to upset my sore throat.) The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale catalog is here and I love EVERYTHING! And the sale is so GREAT! A quickly sent a text in return saying she was looking at the same catalog and agreed. “We must go shopping this weekend when I come home,” said A.

I studied each page. Yes, no. No, yes. What will be appropriate for my 50+ year old body? Can I wear some of these new looks for Fall? Yes, no. No, yes, yes. But, why doesn’t Nordstrom use any mature models in their catalog, especially when they are showing Misses size clothing? Everyone looks like they are twentysomething.

Despite my negativity about the lack of mature models, and despite my upset stomach and sore throat, I was determined to learn more about these new Fall Fashions. Soooo, off to Nordstrom, A and I went on Saturday afternoon, with catalog in hand (which I will say was not in great shape after being woman-handled for three days.)

“You must have a Nordstrom credit card to access the gray tents and pre-order,” said the nice saleswoman. “Okay,” I replied very quickly. “Where do I sign?” (Earlier in the day mind you, I had asked my boyfriend L who is a financial advisor, about how much money I needed to save for retirement. That question quickly went out the window as I entered the gray tents around the store. I’ll save more next month I decided. Today, I’m going to live in the moment or live as though it is Fall 2010.)

From the bottom up: First, we entered the shoe tent. Ooh, ooh, ooh. A bought a pair of cuffed black suede boots. “They look fabulous,” said the nice saleswoman. A also bought the second pair of black studded leather booties when we returned on Sunday to shop for her brother D. No boots for me – at my age I cannot wear the heels, nor do I want any studs around my feet. Instead, I picked out an embellished pair of purple suede ballet flats. “They look so cute on you,” said the nice saleswoman. ”And they will go great with jeans,” said A. “You should buy them.” And so I did.

The ultimate utility: A and I both liked the same trench coat. Could we, should we, dare we, both get the same DKNY black coat? Unfortunately, Utility Chic, as the trend goes, was more fitting on A than on me. Everything looks good on A. “It fits you so well and with a coat like this you can wear it all year round,” said the nice saleswoman. “You should buy it,” I told A, “It’s such a sale.” And so she did.

Work it, work it, work it: It was my turn next. I wanted to try on some of the “polished wardrobe builders declared effortlessly stylish and easy on my budget.” Into the dressing room I went, with several three-quarter sleeve cardigans adorned with trendy decorative details (I bought the purple and black ones) and two pencil skirts in eggplant and olive (I am a writer, I should wear pencil skirts.)

“Buy the more form-fitted petite size,” said A.

“Really?” I said, “Are you sure the petites aren’t too tight?”

According to Kim Johnson Gross, author of “What To Wear For The Rest of Your Life,”eighty percent of women are wearing the wrong size, which makes you look older and heavier.” (I don’t want to be one of those women, so I bought the petite skirts.)

-Must accessorize: While I’m not a BIG fan of the BIG Satchel bags, I did purchase a BIG wide patented leather belt, which will give my waist the right amount of cinch to make my skirt and sweater a real trendy outfit this Fall…just like the model in the catalog. As for a Fall handbag, I did find one of the newest drawstring bags in my favorite wine color. It wasn’t too large or too small. It was just the right size for my frame. (Stop, wait, hold on, I told myself. Not today. Steven by Steve Madden must wait, even if it is named “Tulip” shopper, after one of my favorite flowers. I was a good boomer girl. I didn’t buy it….yet!)

A and I left the store with more than we had planned. We also returned the next day to outfit her brother D with the newest Fall trends for men – all on sale.

“Don’t those jeans look amazing on D?” said A.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm, are you going to shorten them, or does the pant leg just hang way below the sneaker?” I asked politely.

“That’s the style, MOM,” said A.

What does mom know? I’m so glad that style consultant Sherrie Mathieson emailed to tell me about her style books. I may need to buy copies. Sherrie’s website says that Steal This Style is “the perfect guide for the fun enterprise of borrowing from younger generations (pieces that are hip yet appropriate) as well as past generations (classic items that are forever cool) – and attaining great style in the process. “ Sherrie also has another book for boomers called Forever Cool, that the New York Times Book Review said is “dedicated to the over-50 set (both women and men) who are looking for what’s comfortable, appropriate–yet hip.”

One more thing, do you know 47% of those who responded to the June InStyle Readers’ Poll said that they “feel sexiest the moment they put on beautiful new clothes.”

Is it Fall yet? Is it Fall yet? Is it Fall yet? Can’t wait to put on my beautiful new clothes!

Wait, wait, wait, one more thing, do you know that 30% of those who responded to the June InStyle Readers’ Poll also said that they “feel sexiest the moment they get the perfect haircut.”

So glad my hairstylist J gave me a great haircut on Friday afternoon.

Judi

Reading Again

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Judi

It felt so good this weekend to actually finish reading an entire book. I don’t think I had taken time to read this much since my January vacation.

I was at my “condo on the corner” at the shore the entire weekend. I hardly turned the television on. And I didn’t have my computer to check my emails or search the web. I had my Blackberry, but I didn’t even take a peek. It felt soooo good.

I read Jane Green’s latest novel called Dune Road. It was a light, entertaining chick-lit. Great, I thought to myself, I can check this one off my retirement reading list.

I was so excited to be reading books again (don’t worry, I read my July issue of Vogue too, I’m not giving up on my magazines), that I couldn’t wait to pick up another book from my pile which is about to topple over. There are so many books on my shelf. Hard cover, paperbacks, and oh yes, my Kindle, which is filled with the Twilight series.

“Are you going to go to see Eclipse with me?” asked my daughter A, who has read the entire “Twilight” saga. In fact, I think she may have even read some of the “Twilight” books twice.

“I think I’ll wait until I read the book,” I said to A.

“Oh, mom,” said A, ” You never even finished New Moon, Eclipse is the third book. There’s Breaking Dawn too.”

“I’ll add them to my retirement reading list,” I told A. ”However, I have other books that are higher up on the list.”

Next up, are three memoirs. They all sound so interesting. Since I want to write my own memoir, I think it will be helpful to read a few:

1. Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. I loved Gilbert’s memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, when I read it shortly after I lost my spouse. Like Gilbert, I wanted to run away to Italy and eat, to India to pray, and to Bali to fall in love again. This second memoir is about her marriage to the man she fell in love with in Bali.

2. The Journal Keeper by Phyllis Theroux. Theroux sent a copy of her book to me after she read my blog. It’s a journal about six years in Theroux’s life filled with change, loss, love and laughter. Since Theroux is an accomplished writer (she teaches writing workshops too, ooh, I may have to go to one of her workshops, yes, yes, yes) and a fellow baby boomer woman, I thought it would be worthwhile to read her story.

3. For My Next Act…Women Scripting Life After Fifty by Karen Baar. The minute I opened the book jacket I knew this book was for me. Listen to the first sentence: “Baar looks at the challenges and opportunities facing women as they struggle to come to grips with their own mortality, unrealized dreams, the myth of the empty nest, aging parents, and raging hormones.” (Me, me, meeee!)

If I read a chapter in each book each night and read each morning while I’m doing my 15 minutes on my stationary bicycle, how long will it take me to finish all three books? Hmm, hmm, hmm. When is my next vacation? Ooh, ooh, ooh, it’s in a few weeks. I’m taking a few days off to spend at the shore.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, I’m so excited to be reading again. But, I wish I could remember the title or author of another book I read about recently in Entertainment Weekly. It was written by an author who self-published her book and then it became so popular that a publisher decided to publish it. Maybe my menopausal mind will remember the title or the author by the time I’m ready for my vacation. Or maybe I was really dreaming and that was a book review about my forthcoming book if I ever get a chance to write it!

Judi

A Fan for Menopausal Women

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Judi

Awhile ago, I received a sample of a little fan that you can fold up in your pocket and take out to fan yourself when you have a hot flash. I thought it was a cute idea, especially for menopausal women like me. I tried it a few times, but I had a tough time putting the fan back into the original pouch it came in. Since it is the invention of two baby boomer women (kudos to the both of them for starting a little business) I thought I would write about it. Take a look and see for yourself at the “Not So Hot” website.