EXTRA! EXTRA!

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EXTRA!  EXTRA!  Read all about it!

On Tuesday, I had tea with an intelligent, passionate and delightful young woman –  Lora Tucker Kaasch. We talked and laughed for more than two hours…and that was barely enough time. We even had an interesting young “pick-up artist” join us and share some tips on efficiency!

Lora has RA (rheumatoid arthritis), and after her diagnosis, she was shocked at how few positive support groups existed. Rather than be one of the many people who do nothing about their illness, or view themselves as victims, she took action!

Her intention, and in fact, her accomplishment, is being an everyday outlet of Hope, Courage and Inspiration for people with RA and other auto-immune disorders. I am sure you know someone who can/will benefit from visiting her site.  While RA is more common in my age group, it’s being diagnosed in younger people everyday, even in teenagers!

Yesterday, I was a guest-writer on her blog, and that’s what I want you to “read all about.”

Below is the link to her site, which I encourage you to explore and share, and my post, which is an excerpt from my upcoming book. I am glad to have Lora as a new friend!

http://rheumwarrior.com/2014/02/26/bed-sweet-bed/

XO Donna

Decisions, decisions

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Lately, I have been beset with big decisions.  Life-changing decisions.  Do we sell the house and move closer to town?  Or stay here, in our home that we’ve worked on for ten years? If we move,  do we buy a condo, lease an apartment, or buy another, smaller house?   Can we retire?  Can I stay home and make a living writing full-time? Can we downsize drastically, and buy a motorhome (my sweetheart’s biggest dream) and spend time traveling? 

What do we do when we’re facing a big decision and we’re not sure which way to go? Fork in the road Read on, and I will share the solution for making the right decision when faced with a fork in the road.

You may be my age, you may be younger, but I’m sure you’ve realized that as we get older, time goes by faster.  It’s no illusion!  Life is short, so you must do the thing you’re dreaming of, and you have to do it now!  Marie Forleo (www.marieforleo.com) has the perfect solution: her 10 Year Test. Just ask yourself,  “Ten years from now, will I regret not doing this?”

Rather than focus on all of the reasons that you think you can’t do/be/have your desire, simply decide to follow your heart. Block out all of the other noise. What do you REALLY want?  I believe we have an innate wisdom as to what is right for ourselves.  To wit; I never wanted to be a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon.  I always wanted to be a writer and an artist. I believe we desire what we desire because it’s something we  are uniquely suited to accomplish! (although there were a few years when I wanted to grow up to be a cowboy or a horse…)

Follow your heartTrust your heart, trust the Universe, your Higher Power, your God. When making a big decision, know that the best decision for you…is ultimately the best decision for everyone else around you! You will be happy and fulfilled, and that will make you a better employee, parent, lover and friend.

As Marie Forleo said, and you can take this to the bank, “I have never, ever, ever met anyone who’s regretted following their heart!”

Whether you succeed or fail isn’t important when you are on the path of your heart’s desire. 

You can’t do it wrong…it’s all an opportunity to experience life. 

And, isn’t that what we came to this planet for in the first place?

XO Donna

Face It

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MirrorI love the fact that I am getting older, it certainly beats the alternative.  But, it’s not without it’s drawbacks…mostly mirrors!

As I wandered through the drugstore looking for a few products that had been voted “Best of 2013”  by New Beauty Magazine, I thought of Catherine Deneuve’s famous quote:  “After a certain age, you have to be ready to trade your ass for your face.”

Meaning the slimmer we are, the more it will show up on our faces.  So, we can carry an extra 10 pounds to keep our faces full, or we can keep our weight down and have our face look a little bit drawn.  Tough choice!

New Beauty Magazine caught my eye because I had never seen it before, and the cover promised Anti-Aging Innovations and Breakthroughs.   Their first, and foremost point: You Are What You Eat!  They advise us to adhere to an “anti-inflammatory diet” to improve skin, and heal it from the inside-out.  When you eat heavy, processed, sugary foods they make your skin dull and puffy.  Eating fresh foods with a high water-content:  veggies, berries and water-rich fruits are the best choice.

Green tea can boost your health, too. It’s rich in anti-oxidants that help fight inflammation and defend against cavity-causing bacteria, and it boosts the health of our teeth and gums while fending off bad breath.  These are all important aspects of staying sexy!

GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDIS PERALTANora Ephron wrote a great book of essays called, “I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman.”  I can relate to her anguish over her neck, and I hate to think that mine would have looked worse if I hadn’t exercized all of these years!  With that as my driving force, I read everything I could find on Ultherapy, a new non-invasive neck and chin-lift.  It’s FDA-cleared, and uses ultrasound to stimulate the production of collagen. (Another reason our skin looses firmness – we lose about 1 teaspoon of collagen from our faces each year after age  30).   While I’m impressed with the results and reviews, I will need to buy a piggy-bank and save up. The cost averages around $3,000. 

Until my piggy-bank is full, the winner of the best Neck Firming Cream is Perricone MD Cold Plasma Sub-D.  It’s a DMAE and caffeine-infused formula that claims to firm saggy skin and improve the neck, chin and decollete area. Reviewers said they had a healthier and firmer appearance overall.  Cost:  $135.00 which won’t break that bank!

  downward dogAnother way to improve the health of the skin on our faces and necks is Yoga!  The inverted poses provide reverse blood-flow giving skin both nutrients and oxygen. Take that, gravity! Yoga also helps decrease stress, increase flexibility, and calm the nervous system. All of which are  great ways to stay sexy.

I remember seeing the magnificent Katherine Hepburn on TV one night, and she was asked for words of wisdom on aging.  I was on the edge of my seat to hear what she would offer!  She smiled, and her head wobbling as it does, she said, “Your body rots, and it’s a goddamned shame!”

You know…it does, and it is.  So have fun.  Learn to love yourself. Eat well. And do the best you can with what you’ve been given.  An attitude of gratitude, an open smile, and some beautiful lipgloss will go a long way!

XO Donna

Running On Empty

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I just read an article that got my knickers all in a twist.  It’s entitled, “19 Hard Things You Need To Do To Be Successful,” by a gentleman named Dame Luthas.  Most are right on, but I take issue with the five below, that are just plain wrong!  (In my humble opinion, of course). 

Why is this worth writing about?  Because, in their quest to reinvent themselves, or excel at their job, or succeed at a new career, or be a great mother, women are often too tolerant, and way too accepting. We have generally been raised to be “nice.”  When we do stand up for ourselves, we might find people telling us that we’re selfish.  That’s a manipulation, and one that we as women need to get beyond. 

 A woman who is strong enough to be generous, knows what she wants and where she’s going,  AND takes care of herself FIRST, IN ORDER to take care of others…is pretty damned sexy!

Without any further ado – the excerpts from the article and my response:

  1. You have to care more about others more than they care about you.   (DO- You just have to care about what you’re doing, a lot.  Leave “the others” out of it.)
  2. You have to look like a fool while you’re looking for answers you don’t have.  (DO –  Baloney…a fool is the person who doesn’t search for the answer.)
  3. You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot.  (DO – The author seems to have some issues with looking bad.  Making mistakes makes you look like someone who is trying to succeed!)
  4. You have to be accountable for your actions even when things go wrong.  (DO – Even?  Try always.)
  5. You have to be kind to people who have been cruel to you.  (DO – Bullsh*t!  Don’t ever let anyone be cruel to you for any reason. You deserve better.  Actually – you deserve the very best!royalty-free-vector-logo-of-a-retro-pink-fuel-pump-by-patrimonio-743)

You can have big goals, be clear about how you allow people to treat you, and prioritize your own needs…and not be a bitch.  Trust that. Putting yourself first, in order to take care of others is the only sane choice. What will you have to give, and how will you succeed at anything, when you’re running on empty? 

XO Donna