Aging Gracefully Blog Hop

Today I am part of a Blog Hop. The wonderful midlife women bloggers of GenFab have been taking on the topic of Aging Gracefully. My post on being called a steel magnolia is here. You'll also find at the bottom of my post picture links to what the other women have posted. These women are terrific bloggers and have great stories to tell. Be sure to check them out.

Play Back Your Best Memories

Just came across this article in Psychology Today about the benefits of playing back your favorite memories. According to the author...

"Being able to call up positive and detailed memories helps us to deepen our inner sense of well-being and joy."

She also gives you a trick to enhance your ability to bring back good memories— a technique called the "method-of-loci" strategy.

National Umbrella Month

Did you know it's National Umbrella Month? I am more of a hood on my raincoat kind of person, but when I found out umbrellas had their own month I decided to do a bit of research.

First of all you can rent umbrellas for events...who knew? Bella Umbrella has a wonderful collection, especially for weddings. 

And there are quite a few websites about umbrellas...

Victorias Past tells a bit about how they became a fashion status for the rich. I love the part about how the locals carried colanders on broomstick to mimic the first umbrella fashionista.

Umbrellas.net carries designer umbrellas. 

There are even Armani umbrellas at European-Umbrellas. You also can find out more history and how they are made and the proper way to fold them up!

Ever wonder about the difference between an umbrella and parasol? Umbrellas are for rain and Parasols are for shade against the sun.

The Bay Bridge Lights Sculpture

The Bay Lights is the world’s largest LED light sculpture, 1.8 miles wide and 500 feet high. Inspired by the Bay Bridge’s 75th Anniversary, its 25,000 white LED lights are individually programmed by artist Leo Villareal to create a never-repeating, dazzling display across the Bay Bridge West Span through 2015.

New Dancing with the Stars Cast

One of my guilty pleasures is watching Dancing with the Stars. Today they announced the cast for the upcoming season. (premiering March 18th). Included in this year's cast is Wyonna Judd, Dorothy Hamill and Andy Dick.

Writers and Pinterest

Poets and Writers Magazine has a helpful article about how writers can best use Pinterest to connect with their readers.

Making Music By Swinging

This is a community project in Montreal. The swing set makes sounds as you swing. Together you can make melodies. How cool is that?

Anybody Need a Laugh?

I tivo most of my television programs so I don't see many commercials. Bumped into this one and love it. Hope you laugh today!

White House Kids State Dinner

Now this is just way cool. Michelle Obama had healthy recipes contest winners (all kids) at the white house for a State Luncheon. 

Winners and Recipes

Pictures of the Event

Beat the Heat

...with 23 Strategies from Real Simple
I particularly like the idea of putting a pan of ice in front of a fan. I remember my grandmother doing that when I was young.

Another good idea is to put a spray bottle of water in the refrigerator, so you can spritz yourself with cool water when the temperature rises!

Lady Gaga is On the Cover of Vogue

Read the story.

Photos of the 2012 Olympics

The official Olympics site has lots of great pictures of all the wonderful things happening in London this week. Check it out here...

Did You Know...

...a Third of Emmy Nominees are Over 50? They include...

Julianne Moore, 51, "Game Change"
Michael J. Fox, 51, "The Good Wife"
Loretta Devine, 62, "Grey's Anatomy"
Giancarlo Esposito, 54, "Breaking Bad"
Christine Baranski, 60, "The Good Wife"
Maggie Smith, 77, "Downton Abbey"
Glenn Close, 65, "Damages"
 more...

30 Reasons Being a Woman is Awesome

Saw this post about why women are awesome. I especially liked...
#4 Nancy Drew was a chick
#6 Women are more likely to remember where they left their keys
#11 Women are better leaders
more...
To these I would add...Women are fabulous bloggers and women wear cuter sandals.
What would be on your list?

Ten Life Lessons I Learned From My Garage Sale

1.  Smiles are contagious - One little boy had a smile from ear to ear when he gave my dog Lola a treat and she put up her paw to shake. He beamed! And so did I.
2.  People don't care if I crazily spent $425 several years ago on a super duper large paper cutter. They only want to spend $25.
3.  If you want to find out some good books to read. Sell books. Book lovers love to talk about their favorite books when browsing yours.
4.  If you place the tables along the path in your flower garden, people linger longer. And only a few people will cut across the plants instead of walk on the path.
5.  Everyone has stories and they like to share them.
6.  It pays to be generous and kind.
7.  Ask a child if they want to have a bake sale/lemonade stand at the same time. People appreciate the snack and cold drink. Last year my friend's daughter sold scones and lemonade to help raise money for her laptop. This year people were disappointed that she wasn't there.
8.  Give something away. I had a bunch of hand fans that I made a while back and gave them away to the people who looked hot.
9.  Wear a hat and sunscreen. I have a sunburn today and probably more wrinkles by tomorrow!
10.The best moments of joy are the little moments. I had the most marvelous time negotiating a price with a 5 year old boy for two large boxes of art pencils - one for him and one for his 3 year old sister. I started to just give them the pencils, but realized that the negotiating was important to this little boy. They carried those boxes out to the car like they were absolute treasures. The five year old was so proud and my heart just spilled over with their joy.

Flirting after 40

I have quite a few friends who are out there in the dating world again. I saw this article which has some tips if you are out of practice in the flirting area.

Ellen Burstyn Stars on Political Animal

In “Political Animals,” the USA Network series event, Ellen Burstyn stars as Margaret Barrish, part of a Clinton-esque political clan. A straight-shooting, one-time Vegas showgirl, Margaret is the mother of Elaine Barrish Hammond (Sigourney Weaver), a former First Lady who subsequently divorces her philandering husband and is named Secretary of State. The six-part series premieres July 15. More.

I have my tivo set. Are you going to watch Political Animals?

Versailles Commuter Train Designed In Homage To French Palace

Now this is a fabulous idea for commuter trains. Why can't we do this for all commuter trains? There could be the Picasso train, the Chagall train, the Rembrandt train...

How To Make Wine

Love the graphics at Visual News.

Meryle Streep - Just turned 63

And she is fabulous.