Next week is Valentine’s Day and there’s no better way to celebrate than to show yourself some love during your life after 50 and enjoy some dark chocolate.
Like a good yogi, I set an intention at the beginning of 2013 and my intention was to love myself more this year. Part of loving myself more is to get more sleep, say “no” to more things instead of trying to “do it all,” and take time to practice my mindfulness meditation. Ah yes…and to enjoy dark chocolate.
Leave a comment and enter to win a box of GODIVA Dark Chocolates. Read below for details.
In this month’s AARP Bulletin, Nissa Simon includes “choosing chocolate” as one of her “10 Tips For Better Health.” Nissa says that “Dark chocolate is rich in plant compounds called flavonoids, natural antioxidants that help the body’s cells resist damage that may contribute to cancer and other maladies. In addition to their antioxidant properties, flavonoids help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain and heart, raise ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels and lower ‘bad LDL levels – all of which protect against heart attack and stroke.”
No wonder my boyfriend L eats dark chocolate every day, he is so smart. Maybe that’s why he is a healthy boomer guy! I’ll definitely have to give him a gift of dark chocolate for Valentine’s Day.
Nissa quotes Dr. Richard Stein, professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine, regarding reaping the benefits. She says Dr. Stein recommends that you “choose dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cacao, or cocoa” and “advises to limit yourself to about an ounce a day since dark chocolate does contain calories.”
I visited the GODIVA boutique at Rockefeller Center, NYC, to see their interactive pop-up kissing booth created entirely out of chocolate.
After reading all this wonderful info about dark chocolate, I called up my wonderful friends at GODIVA Chocolatier and they agreed to provide a box of dark chocolates for my Valentine’s Day raffle. So boomer girls…do you want to know how you can win a box of dark chocolates? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?
Okay, okay, okay, I’ll tell you. All you have to do is share a comment on this blog post about how you are ‘going to love yourself more in 2013’ (or join Judi Boomer Girl on Facebook or follow Twitter@judiboomergirl and leave your comment there). One lucky winner will be chosen at random to win a GODIVA Dark Chocolate Assortment Box (retail value $36). Deadline for comments ends on V-Day February 14th, so leave your comments now. (Note: Boomer guys and Boomlets can enter the raffle too. Okay, okay, okay – all generations can enter. The more the merrier.)
If you want to win other GODIVA chocolates you can enter their “Share the Love” Photo Sweepstakes, which encourages consumers to upload and share photos of themselves with their loved ones on the GODIVA Facebook page and website GODIVA.com, for an opportunity to win and share the grand prize of free GODIVA chocolate with 500 of their beloved Facebook friends. All entrants to the 2013 “Share Your Love” sweepstakes receive 25% off one GODIVA item at GODIVA boutiques or 25% off an $80 purchase at GODIVA.com.
Remember to love yourself during your life after 50 and have a happy and healthy Valentine’s Day!
Judi
P.S. Please take time out to vote for your favorite boomer blogger. Tell your friends to vote too. My blog is a finalist for SeniorHomes.com Best Senior Living Award for ‘best boomer resources.’ Click here to vote. Deadline is February 18th.
Loving myself more already by exercising and working up a sweat daily. Got myself motivated after a disastrous video shoot and now a good cardio workout is part of my business! Not just something I ‘should’ do. So many perks come with it – less muscle strain, back ache, more energy, fuller breath, clearer skin and mind… I love the me I am becoming and embracing every wrinkle I earn along the way!
Elaine, Good for you – keep exercising. So glad you are loving yourself more!
I’m going to love myself more this year by allowing myself to enjoy what I do without feeling guilty about not doing what I THINK I should do…does that make sense?
Sharon, your comment absolutely makes sense. I agree! Love your blog too.
I’ve blogged about the health benefits of dark chocolate, too. Isn’t it wonderful to know that something formerly thought of as decadent is actually good for us? It’s terrific of Godiva to share the goods with you for this raffle!
Marci, thanks for your comment. Yes, it is wonderful that we can enjoy dark chocolate knowing that it is good for us in moderation.
Hope I win!
Lexie, you are definitely entered into the raffle for the Godiva chocolate. Will let everyone know who won after V-day. Thanks for entering.
I love myself more by living a dream of moving to another State despite all the naysayers and I also decided to love myself more by saying no and putting myself first over everyone else. So far so good and those that matter are still with me and those that were users of my time and energy and money are gonePutting yourself first is essential to a happy life.
Lexie, congrats to you for putting yourself first.
Love subscribing to your blog. This topic hits home for me: after Christmas, I wrote a similar post on the skin and general health benefits of dark chocolate on my beauty blog. I was never a dark chocolate lover myself, but my signif other is. Over time, he has gotten me to see the light…especially with a nice glass of red wine!
Allison, thanks for your comment. Ooh, like the idea of the red wine with dark chocolate. Will have to try on Valentine’s Day.
I am so enjoying your blog…Thankyou I am loving myself more this year by finally actually reading the books that have been sitting on my night table.
Thank you for your positive words about my blog. Glad you are keeping up with your reading. I have a pile of magazines on my nightstand that I need to get to also.
drink lots of water, eat superfoods like leafy greens, sweet potatoes, switch to pescatarian diet , walking and pilates.
Good for you Beth. Sounds like you are eating healthy and doing your exercise. I want to try pilates sometime too.