Book review: I Love You And I’m Leaving You Anyway
I believe I can sum up Tracy McMillan’s book I Love You And I’m Leaving You Anyway in one word.
Gritty.
grit·ty
1. consisting of, containing, or resembling grit; sandy.
2. resolute and courageous; plucky
Yep, definitely gritty.
In a very good way, I might add!
Resembling grit
You know when you are walking along the beach and you get sand in your shoes? And the walk along the beach is extremely pleasurable, but the sandy grit in your shoes is a bit painful? That’s exactly what it felt like reading this book.
Extremely pleasurable because it is a well told and written story, and I didn’t want to put it down. A bit painful because Tracy was hitting just a little too close to home.
Not because my dad is a convicted pimp and drug dealer. Tracy’s dad is.
Not because my mom is a former prostitute. Tracy’s mom is.
Not because I have lived in foster homes. Tracy has.
Because Tracy all too well writes about what it is like to doubt being a desirable woman, worthy of a strong stable loving relationship. This I could relate to!
Regardless of childhood and upbringing, I am sure it is something we all struggle with as women at some point in our lives.
Resolute and courageous
Did I mention Tracy’s dad was convicted drug dealer and pimp, her mom was a former prostitute, and life consisted of foster care?
Sounds like the perfect recipe for an Oh Poor Victimized Me story.
Instead, what we get is an honest assessment of Tracy’s life with no trace of lingering bitterness. I say ‘lingering’ because she takes us through each emotion felt during the various stages of her life. Bitterness. Outrage. Anger. Grief. Fear. But it is very clear Tracy is simply reliving those emotions for us, not still trapped by them.
There is a very fine line between blaming someone for your undesirable behaviours, such as drug and alcohol abuse, and explaining your behaviours in terms of other people’s influence on your choices. It is all too easy to slip into absolving oneself of accountability over one’s actions.
However, Tracy takes a very interesting approach. Each chapter juxtaposes the events of her upbringing against the development of a more recent day relationship. In this way, we see how her past experiences led to her current choices. As do our own past experiences! But, there isn’t a trace of sensationalism or dramatizing to be found.
Instead, we see how one woman resolutely and courageously works her way through the pain and disappoints of childhood to become a strong, whole and healthy woman.
I would love to hear your thoughts
I summed up Tracy’s life story with the word gritty. If you were to write your life story, what one word would you use to sum it up?
More information!
Make sure you return on August 11, 2010, to win a copy of I Love You And I’m Leaving You Anyway.
You can follow Tracy McMillan on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TracyMcMillan
This book review was sponsored by TLC Book Tours. To read more reviews of I Love You And I’m Leaving You Anyway, please check out the schedule by clicking here.
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Interview: author Gina Barreca
Loved Gina Barreca’s book It’s Not That I’m Bitter … ! Gina is my kind of woman. No sugar coating the vagaries of life; just cut right to the chase. So, I knew I could ask her about why we insist on beating ourselves up as women, or selling ourselves short, and she would earthy hard hitting answers.
Eliza asked:
I would like to explore this statement in your book in which you extol us to not create Girly Rules: you are getting what you need by the privilege of your sex rather than the right of your humanity. I remember being in university with a brilliant young woman. Super intelligent, but whenever we were in the presence of men she turned into this doe-eyed weaker sex creature. I was astounded, and horrified, with the transformation. Mind you, she got the dates and I didn’t. But I was me no matter what situation I was in. Far less exhausting that way!
I think it is important to acknowledge and celebrate fundamental differences between men and women, but when it comes down to it, our humanity should get us what we need, not our gender. Supposedly we have come so far, baby, but do you think we really have?
Gina answered:
We have not come as far as we need, darling, and part of the reason is because women continue to believe that it is somehow easier to snag privileges instead of insist on rights. What young women especially don’t understand–and perhaps it’s impossible for us to ever communicate to those under 35–is that every woman at some point in her life has been the ingenue or could have been. She is the young woman who, perhaps even without knowing it, manipulates her youthful attractions to her advantage, receiving attention because she is adorable and yet believing that the attention she receives is given to her because she is brilliant/witty/clever/sensitive/one of the boys.
No woman is one of the boys. That’s one of the hardest things to learn and you don’t learn it until you give up the idea that you’re Elizabeth Bennet’s soulmate or that you have sprung Athena-like from your father’s head with no help from your mother.
It’s interesting to realize how ubiquitous it is for smart women to think they are their fathers’ daughters and how little credit they give to the influence of their mothers or to the influence offered by any other women in their lives. Only by acknowledging the significance of the adult female in our own lives can adult women get on with the process of really growing up and accepting, with gratitude and generosity to ourselves and others, our lives as women.
The doe-eyed, brilliant, young women we encounter may have gotten the dates and may still, but this doesn’t last for long. It’s like the fact that going to a good university helps get you your first job; after that, you’re more or less on your own.
Eliza asked:
You have a chapter devoted to being the Second Wife. I suffered serious Second Wife Syndrome for the first year I was with Mr. Very Right. Every time she called, or otherwise reminded me she existed, I would suffer the most irrational jealousy. Kudos to my extremely patient man! As you point out, he picked me. Eventually, I was able to relax, but seriously, Gina, why do you think we Second Wives insist on questioning our worth? Oh, um, or is that just me?
Gina answered:
Of course we question ourselves when we marry a man who has been married before. There are times when marrying a man who has been married before seems to have all the problems of investing in a timeshare with none of the benefits: you have to deal with complicated schedules, with matters of ownership, with questions of taste. And we should also be aware of the fact that any man who’s more than 17 is probably going to appear as the demonic ex-boyfriend/ex-husband to some other woman on the planet, even as we think of him as Mr. Right, Mr. Very Right, or Mr. Suitable Enough for this Occasion.
I think that Second Wives question whether we have a right to be happy in our relationship when another woman clearly wasn’t. But that’s like looking at some fabulous pair of shoes that you see on sale, perfect and in our size, and wondering why no one else has bought them yet. It’s probably the origin of the whole Cinderella myth. Just because this guy hurt other people, just like the shoes might have hurt other people, doesn’t mean he’s going to hurt you. In other words, don’t walk a mile in her shoes. Walk happily into the sunset in your own.
Eliza asked:
First of all a huge THANK YOU! I will take Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia any day over whats-her-name … Padmé. As a matter of fact, the whole sucky bad boy/long suffering girlfriend story line meant that I watched exactly 1.75 out of the 3.0 movies. And don’t get me started on Twilight (although admittedly I only managed 1 movie, so can’t say if the boy/girl storyline got any better). Okay, now that we know my views on simpering heroines *smile*… in your opinion why oh why are young women of today buying into these characters?
Gina answered:
Don’t get me started on Twilight. This post that I did for Psychology Today explains everything and more: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/snow-white-doesnt-live-here-anymore/200911/why-middle-aged-woman-loathes-twilight-encore.
(Eliza’s note: please do hop over to this post. Of course, I agreed with every word. Yep, I do like Gina.)
Would love to hear your thoughts?
Who is your favourite female movie heroine? And why?
More information!
Gina Barreca can be found at Untamed & Unabashed .
If you haven’t already done so, you can read my review of It’s Not That I’m Bitter … by clicking here
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Book review: Healing with Words
There are very few books that I read in one sitting. However, Diana M. Raab’s Healing with Words happens to be one of them. And not because it was a light read either. A short story, yes, but by no stretch of the imagination light reading.
You see, Healing with Words is all about Diana’s journey through breast cancer, followed up with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. I couldn’t put the book down, because I needed to know how on earth she got through this and came out strong enough to share her journey with all of us!
Diana got through it one day at a time.
But this book is not so easily written off with that over used cliché. Many of Diana’s days were filled with grief, fear, depression, and an ocean of tears. In other words, Diana tells it like it is.
A large part of Diana’s healing came from writing poetry and chronicling her emotions in her journal. Healing with Words is actually a workbook intended for women diagnosed with cancer. By adding questions and space to write at the end of each chapter, Diana created a tool for women with cancer to journal their own experiences and emotions.
While careful to state that medical choices documented in the book are uniquely her own, Diana provides advice on cutting through the information overload to be found on cancer and treatments. As well, she provides guidance on the questions to ask and whom best to ask them of.
We are also treated to Diana’s beautiful, yet intense, poetry. Again, there are no holds barred, such as this short but to the point poem entitled Bifurcation:
Having a breast sliced off
leaves a woman with two lives –
the one before the lost
and the one after.
There is a time for platitudes, but there is also a time for “hey, this is the reality of what it is like”. Healing with Words is that reality. But, it is also validation that the roller coaster of emotions is normal, and they need to be experienced in order to heal emotionally and physically.
I would love to hear your thoughts!
Do you write to help heal? What other methods do you use to work through pain, be it physical or emotional?
More information!
Make sure you return on August 3, 2010, to win a copy of Healing with Words.
Diana can be found at Diana M. Raab
This book review was sponsored by WOW! Women on Writing
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Yoga and Beyond: Refreshing Inspiration for a Brand New You
I try to go to the gym. I really really do. But the gym is in my office building, and well, there’s meetings and emails and … Okay, so I am not very diligent about getting there on a regular basis. Fortunately, as Silver & Grace guest post author Victoria Crowdell explains, all we need is a section of floor at home and we are good to go.
Getting in shape is definitely one of the nicest gifts that anyone can give to themselves. While it might not be your idea of an enjoyable past time to spend endless hours at the gym whilst only nibbling on carrot sticks, having the time and energy to be active at least once a day is an essential part of leading a healthy and long-lasting life.
There’s no need to fall victim to all of the marketing involved in fitness routines these days. After all, there were numerous healthy and trim people before the days of the local gym, so don’t feel the need to spend a large deal of money on equipment and memberships. In fact, these kinds of big leaps sometimes end up acting more as roadblocks, inflating expectations and causing less motivation when one’s body doesn’t look just like the television advertisement might have claimed.
Staying fit as a woman is sometimes an entirely different experience altogether. In fact, there are definitely no two ways about it: in today’s world, it is still easier for a man to be considered ‘mature’, whereas a woman is often just referred to as ‘old’. But a number of powerful, confident, and beautiful women who don’t happen to be in their twenties are re-writing the book on what it means to look fit and be attractive. Susan Sarandon has never looked more beautiful, and Helen Mirren certainly feels confident in her good looks, or else she wouldn’t be posing topless in a bathtub.
While some of women might take their inspiration from the more surgically inclined, self-proclaimed ‘cougar’ set, the fact is that getting into shape is a much better way to maintain one’s looks, regardless of age. Even adding an extra hour of activity to your daily schedule can make a difference in a surprisingly short amount of time.
While celebrities might have personal trainers while at home, those who are on the road most of the time often end up making do with the sort of activities that are easy to accomplish in the confined space of a hotel room. This is one of the reasons that yoga has become so popular with those who are constantly on the go: the only necessary equipment is one’s own body and a level surface for sitting down.
Of course, getting in shape is about more than just taking on yoga. It’s also about learning moderation in all things. There’s no need to forgo a slice of Brie and glass of Merlot altogether, but after a nice afternoon yoga session, a delicious fresh fruit salad or sushi might be a much better bet than a heavy hamburger.
Changing your fitness choices is a simple way to get your body ready to change its eating habits without even considering a diet. If you’re spending more time walking and keeping your heart rate up, after all, you’re going to find yourself attracted to food choices that give the same feeling of refreshment and pep.
So, instead of setting unrealistic expectations for a new fitness routine and what it can accomplish, consider focusing more on the ways that investing some time in yourself will improve the way that you feel. After all, in a world that’s changing the way that it looks at women over 40, it’s never been a better time to start a fitness regime that has you feeling confident enough to flaunt your hard work beachside in no time at all.
More information!
About the Author: Victoria Crowdell works for SportsEquip.co.uk, leading suppliers of ‘capital’ sports equipment and wet pour safety surfaces.
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I am working my dream job!
In Nancy Anderson’s book Work With Passion in Midlife and Beyond, she says the key to your dream job is to do what you truly love. The rest, she assures, will simply fall into place.
What do I truly love?
My generic answer is being creative. But it’s more than that.
- I love to work with my hands and my mind at the same time
- I love variety
- I love my creative endevours to enhance the well being of others
It all started out so innocently. On a whim I went out and bought some beads, wire and chain, and made myself a necklace.
My mind was fully engaged figuring out colour combinations and bead placement. My hands were bending wires and stringing beads. Way cool!
Next thing I know, different designs are flying into my head. To the point, I was actually having very vivid dreams of designs and waking up not only remembering the dreams, but able to turn the dreams into actual necklaces.
Then a friend wanted one for her very own. Then another friend. Then another friend. Soon my friends were wandering around wearing my necklaces with big smiles on their faces.
I was working with passion, and just like Nancy promised it would, everything simply fell into place.
There I was with my dream job!
Today, I am thrilled to share my passion with the Silver & Grace community and introduce the Silver & Grace Jewelry Collection.
Each piece in the Collection is inspired by one of the four classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. By thinking about an element as I create a design, I truly believe I infuse the piece with the essence of that element. The Collection as a whole represents Spirit.
Quantities of each design are deliberately kept low so that only a handful of Collection piece owners share the essence of that design.
On Fridays, I will feature a single design which will be discounted for seven days. Make sure you come back each Friday to check out the feature design and get your discount code.
However … !!!
To honour the gift of passion, until July 29th, 2010, all the designs are discounted 10%.
To immediately start your own Silver & Grace Collection:
- head over to the Silver & Grace Collection store by clicking here
- select what calls to you
- at checkout enter discount code A8889
It’s as simple as that!
May each piece in your Silver & Grace Jewelry Collection bring a smile to your face.
May each piece in your Silver & Grace Jewelry Collection infuse you with the elemental essence it represents.
May each piece in your Silver & Grace Jewelry Collection enhance and lift your Spirit.
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5 Tips For a Hot Style Life After 40
I find as I age, I am becoming more bold with my style. For one thing, I NEVER accessorized. Now I feel naked without at least one ring on my hands, I am totally into necklaces, and I have been known to wear a scarf now and then.
I am also discovering clothing styles that work for me. I feel my most sexy in jeans, tank top and a blazer, but I also love dresses. Classy but sensual dresses.
Silver & Grace guest post author, Heather Claus, is here to tell us how to embrace our own unique styles after age forty. And feel totally hot!
Has your style life flagged over the years? Have you gone from having style several times a day to only once or twice a month? Worse yet, has your style life become nonexistent?
One thing is for certain, 99% of women over 40 will say that the year that they looked and felt their absolute best is behind them.
I say that’s a shame.
You deserve style each and every day. You deserve the sashay in your step, the smile on your face, and the appreciation from those eyes you want to see filled with admiration.
So, let’s stand up and say, “YES! I will take back my style life!” It’s easier to do something about that than you might think.
I’ve heard the excuses:
“My body isn’t what it used to be.”
“A stranger with grey hair and wrinkles looks out of the mirror at me.”
“I have a lot going on, and I don’t have energy to spend on frivolous things.”
I ask you, what is LESS frivolous than looking good and feeling great about yourself? Not a whole lot.
As far as that body and face you have, well, it may not look like the one you had in your twenties, but it’s what you have to work with. Besides, great style has nothing to do with how you look – it’s all attitude, baby! Even Coco Chanel agreed:
Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.
~Coco Chanel
So, are we in agreement? We’re NOT giving up our style life without a fight? GOOD!
Here are a few ideas to spice up your style life, right now:
1. Pretend you just bought it
Remember when your relationship was new? You looked for excuses to spend time together… Well, why not bring the spark back? Grab one of your exes hanging there in the closet, and look with new eyes. Try it on with a dozen other outfits – find new combinations and ways to wear it that will bring the fresh back.
2. Act on your moods
Gosh, you used to do style for now reason, now you wait for an event? “Bah,” I say! Do style whenever and wherever you want! Feel like getting a bit dressier today? Do it! Want to wear fire engine red? Go for it! There is no reason in the world not to have some afternoon delight!
3. Head to a “toy store”
When was the last time you brought in a little outside help? I bet you used to be more adventurous. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with toys! Toys come in a variety of models and prices, from the quick, cheap and dirty (Claire’s Boutique), to the quirky (Etsy), to the serious eye-candy unless you have major bank to spend (think David Yurman or Omelle). Pick the toys that suit your mood and your budget to liven up your style life.
4. Slip into something a bit more comfortable
You’ve probably heard that pain in the name of fashion is acceptable. I happen to agree – to a point. The fabulous news is that it’s not required. You can have an amazing style life in your casuals, too. Stilletos are super-sexy, but quirky flats are stylish too, and give you a pulled-together look while running errands, heading to yoga, or taking the kinds (or grandkids) to the park. Always keep in mind afternoon delight from #2.
5. Appeal to all the senses
Sight is a big part of a style life, I’ll admit, but there are certainly other options. Pamper yourself with some amazing bath products, luxury fabrics that feel silky smooth against your skin, scented oils and perfumes, the rustle of taffeta (there is actually a word for that sound: it’ called scroop), and even a spicy curry dark chocolate. Yes, think of your style life as expanding to more than just the closet. Flirt with the possibilities!
So what’s holding you back? You know you used to love it. Bring back the passion and excitement. Fall in love again. Have a style life your friends will envy!
More information!
I’m Heather Claus, and I love style. I didn’t always, but once I learned I knew anyone could, so I taught. Register at 365DaysofStyle.com for weekly style lessons, fashion giveaways, and daily style resources – and don’t forget our FREE 12 Simple Separates guide – it’ll show you how to turn 12 simple separates into 80 Easy Outfits! *smiles*
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Blog carnival
Do you have a post you would like to share on aging? Submit your post to the monthly Silver & Grace blog carnival.
Sex and the Woman over 40
I have never understood the concept that a woman’s sex life is over past the age of 40. I like sex. All my female friends like sex. Heck, I would even go so far as to say we love sex!
Even when our bodies think we don’t love sex, we dive right in — in a manner of speaking — and pretty soon our bodies catch up to our minds.
I have decided to take it upon myself to promote the acceptability of us older gals enjoying sex. I think it is a very noble goal. Don’t you agree?
To that end, I have asked Joanna Cake to do a return guest post engagement and tell us all about her attitudes to sex after the age of 40.
You remember, as a teenager, how you used to think it was disgusting if you got even the whiff of an idea that your parents might be having sex?
Well, that’s pretty much the way most people seem to feel about the possibility that women over 40 might actually enjoy sex.
Films like The Graduate paint such women as voracious huntresses, intent on capturing and devouring any young man who strays into their path.
The media pounces on the so-called cougar generation of older women with younger male partners, like Demi Moore with Ashton Kutcher, and tries to vilify or, worse, mock them.
It’s official, once you’re 40, you’re supposed to be dead below the waist! After all, with all that hormonal menopausal stuff, your bits have all dried up anyway. It’s common knowledge that that’s what happens. Who wants to think about all that friction? Ewwww… old lady sex!
OK, this may come as something of a shock but, at around 40, women actually reach their peak sexually. This is because the hormonal imbalance allows the ratio of testosterone to oestrogen and progesterone to become greater. Which is why most women get a sudden surge in their libido.
Unfortunately, for a lot of women, this is also about the time that they realise their current relationship is seriously underperforming on just about every level. Prior to the testosterone rush, the state of their love life meant that they really couldn’t be bothered with sex and were looking forward to the Menopause when they wouldn’t have to deal with it any more.
And, suddenly, there they are, with all this rampant sexual appetite and no man with whom to share it. Cue an obsession with vibrators and other girl toys to satisfy these overwhelming desires.
However, should this unbalanced woman come into contact with a man whose pheromones can push all her buttons… well, there are going to be fireworks in the bedroom department.
Yup, I can tell you this from personal experience.
I was just minding my own business. I knew I was no longer in love with my husband and didn’t fancy him any more but I had made my peace with this and accepted that it was going to be me and the toys until the Menopause kicked in and then I wouldn’t want to have sex any more anyway.
Of course, I didn’t take ‘the Ruf factor’ into the equation. At a seminar, I was saying goodbye to a bunch of old male friends with a hug and peck on the cheek and Ruf was in the group so it seemed rude to just ignore him. I reached up to kiss his cheek and it was as if the 1812 overture went off in my head.
I turned away for a moment and he was gone.
To cut a long story short, six months later, I was driving 160 miles to visit him in his bachelor flat and my sex life went into overdrive for the next four years.
Sadly, the last few months of missing periods have seen my libido take a bit of a nosedive but there is no stopping Ruf’s manly urges and, when we are together, my body just responds to his.
Now, I’m really lucky because my lover takes the time to research the best way to stimulate my recalcitrant bodily parts into achieving orgasms that are even more electrifying than they were four years ago. It just takes a bit more emotional commitment.
The root of a lot of problems is body dysmorphia. Whilst our minds mature like a mellow wine, our bodies tend to age like a dried up prune. But, as Ruf says, “I love you because of your imperfections. I see a woman who has carried children, a woman who has lived through a lot of challenges and come through to the other side victorious.”
With a man who feels like that snuggled up next to you, who wouldn’t want to have sex?
And I intend to continue enjoying it until I’m extremely old indeed!
More information!
Joanna Cake writes about everything that life has to throw at her at Having My Cake and Eating It Too and regularly contributes to Tighten My Vagina, a site that tries to address the sexual effects of the Menopause.
If you haven’t already done so, please read Joanna’s very sensitive and poignant post here at Silver & Grace on anorexia, A woman’s journey from anorexia to self-love.
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Someone You Love Has Anxiety—How You Can Help
In my post You aren’t crazy, you just have menopause anxiety , I talk about the need to communicate what is happening to you during an attack with your loved ones. Silver & Grace guest post author, Jill Green, expands on this with an entire list of advice for loved ones of anxiety sufferers.
If you love someone who suffers from severe anxiety or panic attacks, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and frustrated. You know they are in a lot of pain and struggle with aspects of life that you don’t quite understand. You want to help, but maybe you don’t know how to approach the situation. Here are 10 tips to help a loved one with anxiety.
1. Educate yourself. You want to learn as much as you can about panic attacks. There is a lot of helpful, free information available on the internet, and the more educated you are, the more supportive you can be for your family member. Two trusted and abundant sources of information are the National Institute of Mental Health (nih.gov) and the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.com).
2. Support them by being a good listener. Sometimes your loved one will need a shoulder to cry on or someone to vent their frustrations to, especially after a severe panic attack or while going through an anxiety provoking situation.
3. Assure them. Tell them it’s not their fault they have anxiety. They are not weak, worthless, or mentally ill. Let them know you believe in them and have every confidence that they can get better.
4. Be patient with them. Anxiety doesn’t just happen overnight, and anxiety treatment can take time as well.
5. Get help. Anxious people are often ashamed of their feelings, but keeping it a secret is not healthy. Encourage your loved one to talk to a doctor or therapist or try an anxiety self help program. For a list of recommended anxiety self help programs, click here.
6. Help yourself. Helping your loved one can take its toll on you and zap your energy. It is crucial that you remember to take good care of yourself with adequate rest, nutrition, and taking time out to do things you enjoy. Don’t let your loved one’s anxiety overtake your life.
7. Advocate for them. Put yourself in their shoes, try to learn what having anxiety really feels like, and appreciate the stigma of mental illness they are faced with out in the world.
8. Vent your frustrations appropriately. It’s okay and perfectly normal to feel upset, angry, frustrated. These are valid feelings in response to a very trying situation. Join a support group like families anonymous or an internet forum where you can vent your feelings to others who are in similar situations.
9. Don’t take it personally. Remember that an anxious person’s behavior is not indicative of who they really are. The anxious person has impaired social skills. If they are irritable or withdrawn, it’s because they feel bad about their anxiety. Remember it’s not about you, and it doesn’t mean they don’t love you.
10. Love them unconditionally. When they truly know you care, this is the best medicine of all.
Keep these tips in mind when you want to help a loved one with anxiety. As your loved one begins to get their anxiety under control, you can be their biggest champion. If you care about someone with anxiety, these are great ways to help.
More information
Jill Green is a 40 something, mom, wife, and recovering anxious person who no longer lives in fear of her next panic attack. To learn more, or to start your own recovery from anxiety and panic today, visit her anxiety self help blog.
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Blog carnival
Do you have a post you would like to share on aging? Submit your post to the monthly Silver & Grace blog carnival.
Blog carnival: Summer reading
Have you noticed that the older you get, the quicker time flies by? I remember being a child and thinking that Summer lasted forever. But here I am posting July’s blog carnival, which means another month has zipped by at the speed of light. It also means that Summer is half way over!
At least we can make the most of it. Grab your favourite Summer drink (mine is sparkling water with a dash of pomegranate juice), and check out these interesting articles.
Nancy Kriege presents Frumpy–”A woman regarded as dull, plain, or unfashionable” | What To Wear Over 40 posted at What To Wear Over 40.
Madeleine Begun Kane presents Whimsical Limerick posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.
Aparna presents Superfoods and your skin posted at Beauty and Personal Grooming.
Charles Chua C K presents Brain fitness – 15 Healthy Habits posted at All About Living with Life.
Clara Myers presents Blueberry Hamburgers and Skin Care | Great Face posted at Great Face.
Nesher presents Sex life can be better than ever after retirement posted at Planning your Retirement Smart Way.
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Blog carnival
Do you have a post you would like to share on aging? Submit your post to the monthly Silver & Grace blog carnival.
Book give-away: It’s Not That I’m Bitter …
Book give-away contest time! This time it is a very funny book by Dr. Gina Barreca, It’s Not That I’m Bitter …
Reading It’s Not That I’m Bitter … is like watching a stand up comedy routine, without being subjected to the inevitable annoying heckler in the audience. Check out my book review if you haven’t already read it.
Here’s what you need to do to win a copy of It’s Not That I’m Bitter:
1. Using the Silver & Grace contact form send me an email
2. In the subject line write Not That I’m Bitter Give-Away
3. Submit email by July 21, 2010, midnight, Eastern Standard Time
After the contest close, I will number the submissions in order of receipt and pick a winner using a random number generator.
I will notify the winner by return email and ask for an address to mail the book to. Then I’ll pop it into the mail and you can get ready to curl up and have a good chuckle.
Have fun and good luck.
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