Aging - Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh About It

Please follow this link to enjoy a great video. Laughter is Good for the Soul at Any Age

Oiling the Rusty Parts by Pastor Carol L. Morris, Guest Blogger

Dorothy's oil brought life back to the Tin Man

Renew your spirit with the love of God and the oil of His anointing.


Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 2 Tim. 1:6

A Prophetic Message 


You look at your past and the things that you accomplished before and you wonder where the fire and ability went. You consider the experiences that you had in my spirit and the joy you felt and you yearn to have these once again.

My child I have not forsaken you! I have not taken my anointing away from you. You have simply allowed these things of power to become rusted over time. It does not mean that these things no longer work, you have just not put them into practice for some time now.

So as you are looking to me now to rise up once again and to experience my presence once again, you must start turning those things that have become old. Come back in my presence child and let my oil pour over you again.

Come and let me show you the way. Start now by taking your eyes off yourself and looking to others. As you begin to pour out again, the water of life that is inside of you will begin to flow again. For far too long now you have looked only at your own needs and conflicts. This has caused your spirit to dry up and my anointing to wane in your life.

If you hunger to sense my power again, then pour out to others! As you reach out your hand in love, my anointing will come once again and you will feel life in your bones. The rusty parts that have been dormant will begin to turn and they will resonate with a new life in your spirit.

So begin now by submitting to me and then look and see who you can pour out to. Slowly and quickly you will feel that stirring in your spirit again and you will be reminded of the joy you once felt in my presence. Come child and tap into the blessing that I have for you.

About Pastor Carol:

Pastor Carol L. Morris is the founder of Morris Ministries. She is a dedicated mother, a hard worker in the community. Pastor Carol has been in the ministry for several years and for the last four years the Lord directed her to spiritually and physically feed the UN reached; one person at a time, with his word and bread.

Minister Carol also serves as a board member with Spiritual Growth Ministries, The National Association of Professional Women and The Southfield, Michigan Housing Commission.

What to Do When You Find Yourself Making Excuses Not to Exercise

"Excuses are for losers. Winners find a way to press past the pain and manifest the Reign!" - Shelita Williams, Motivational Speaker and author of How to Reign in Life.

If you've been making excuses for not exercising, know that you're not alone. Even though I'm on an active quest to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle, I sometimes allow myself to get in a rut. Then, I make lots of excuses for being sedentary.  I felt convicted today though, when I looked at the last page of the 2011 wall calendar provided courtesy of my health insurer (and former employer), HAP.  Each month has tips for people "my age" and above on how to stay healthy.  As a bonus, they also included a January 2012 calendar and the following are tips they offer for combating Couch Potato-itis:

"I'm Too Busy" Write down time to exercise in your daily calendar.  Send yourself an e-mail or a voice message reminding you to take an activity break every day.

"It Bores Me" Choose several activities you enjoy and alternate them on different days.  walking, stationary bikes, swimming, dancing, skating, snowshoeing, weight lifting, aerobics classes.

"I'm Too Tired" You'll have more energy if you get regular activity.


"It's Expensive" Outside of the cost of a good pair of shoes, walking and jogging are free.

"I'm Too Old" No matter what your age, activity will help control your weight and improve balance, mobility and flexibility.  If you've been a jogger most of your life, you may need to start walking.  Switch from aerobics classes to yoga or tai chi.  Play doubles tennis instead of singles.

"It's Too Dark, Too Cold, Too Hot" That's why they make gyms and indoor shopping malls for walking.

"I'm So Far Out of Shape It's Hopeless"  Take a class for people who have weight or fitness issues.

SOURCE: Health Alliance Plan of Michigan  LiveWell Mid-Life Calendar Tips

*Always consult your physician before starting any fitness programs. 

Here's some advice from HGTV regular Sharon Anderson and Theresa Henn on how to throw a holiday cookie exchange party. Learn how to make recipe card invitations, a garland of gingerbread men and how to trim the Christmas tree for the party.

Invitations not only announce the party, but they also serve as recipe books. Include blank recipe cards and have guests write some of their favorite recipes on the cards. At the party, guests can exchange cards and collect recipes in their invitation books.

Create a tasty decoration for the party by baking up a wreath of gingerbread men cookies. Use a drinking straw to punch holes in the hands of the cookies before baking.

After baking, string the cookies together with a ribbon and hang them from the fireplace or other area.

Make a centerpiece for the table by decorating a small artificial Christmas tree with miniature cookie cutters and kitchen gadgets. The miniatures are available at most craft stores.

Send guests home with a unique and tasty treat this year, and give them a head start on preparing for next year's cookie party, by making cookie-cutter fudge favors. Buy large copper cookie cutters in the shape of Christmas trees and other holiday favorites, and place the cutters on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Fill the cookie cutters with a favorite flavor of fudge, and decorate the fudge while it's still warm, using candies and other toppings.

After the fudge has cooled, wrap the cookie cutters in cellophane and give to guests to take home. Then they can use the cutters to make cookies to bring to next year's party.

If you need some pretty gift bags for small Christmas gifts, you can turn a brown lunch bag into a beautiful gingerbread house gift bag. These gingerbread house gift bags are the perfect size bags to hold food gifts  such as cookies, muffins, homemade candy or even some fresh fruit. You can also use these bags to hold other small gifts like little toys, mittens, DVDs, gift cards, etc.

How you decorate your gingerbread gift bag is totally up to you. I will give you the basics and you can decorate any way you want. But, to give you an idea of what your finished gift bag might look like, click here to see an image. You can also see this image for another way to decorate your bag. The second gift bag is not made from a brown paper bag, but the idea is the same. In fact, you don't have to use a brown paper bag. Any craft bag will work. The brown bag just makes it look like gingerbread.

Start by filling the bag with whatever gift you are tucking inside. If you want the bag to hold its shape, you can line the inside of the bag with cardboard inserts. Just cut some cereal boxes to fit and attach them to the inside of the bag using double stick tape or a glue stick. Then fold the top of the bag over and staple it closed.

Cut two pieces of brown craft foam or brown construction paper to make the roof. Cut the pieces just a bit wider than the bag and about 3 or 4 inches tall. Attach to each side of the bag using glue or staples (use the image as a guide).

Now you are ready to decorate the gingerbread house. You can use craft foam or construction paper to make your decorative pieces. You can also buy pre cut Christmas foam shapes (trees, stars, snowmen, etc.) if you prefer. Most craft stores carry them or you can order them online.

If you want to design the entire house on your own, you can cut your decoration free hand. If you are not comfortable doing that, you can print some online clip art to use as patterns, or you can even trace around cookie cutters. Do not worry about making perfect shapes. Just use the images as a guide to give you ideas as to how to decorate your gingerbread house. Your kids will have no trouble coming up with ideas of their own.

One fun thing you might want to try is to cut images out of magazines and use those on your gift bags. You might find nice images of actual windows or an actual door. You can also make it look like a dog or a child is  looking out a window by pasting a little picture of a face then adding window panes over the picture to make it look like the face is behind the glass. Once you start searching through magazine pages, you will find all sorts of images to use for your gingerbread house.

You can also use things like buttons, ribbon, and bows to decorate your gift bags. You could even hang a little wreath (that you make, of course) on the door. The ideas are endless!

If you need a large gift bag, you can use this idea with a large brown grocery store bag. You can also decorate a big brown box the same way (just use extra cardboard to make a roof).

Venus' View on Turning 50

Me with my maternal grandmother circa 1957

Five years ago when I turned 50, I created a card to insert with the party favors I gave my guests.  I want to share my thoughts about the big 5-0 with you now.

• God's majesty becomes more evident to me each day
• I've been blessed with a phenomenal family
• I had a really good childhood
• Waistlines are overrated
• I'm smarter than my kids think I am
• My kids are smarter than they pretend to be
• I won't go to hell for drinking an occasional Margarita or doing the hustle at wedding receptions and birthday parties
• My joints can predict the weather
• Favor ain't fair - neither is gravity
• Nips, tucks and liposuction are becoming more appealing to me every day
• The 60s and 70s produced the best music in history
• 50 isn't nearly as old as it used to be
• It's hip to be square
• Worrying about what others think of me is a waste of my time
• The only enemy I have is Satan
• My parents were right about pretty much everything
• I wish I'd learned how to make Nana's cornbread dressing 
• I'm glad I learned how to make Nana's pound cake
• The bible is the best How-To book ever written
• Being a grandparent is like math.  It adds joy to your life, subtracts from your wallet and multiplies your Kodak moments
• Watching my children grow up was bittersweet
• Watching my children raise their children is sweet revenge
• I'm grateful for my girlfriends
• What goes around really does come around
• I HAVE become my mother
• Children have a way of humbling you - one way or another
• Tea is the nectar of God
• Being transparent is far less stressful than faking it - people find out anyway
• NOW I respect money
• There is no such thing as too many pairs of panties
• I''m convinced that bras, girdles and pantyhose were originally intended to be used torture devices for war criminals
• Now I have a legitimate excuse for losing my keys, forgetting where I parked - MY AGE!

Listen to Battle Ready Prayers for Women

As we end the official corporate prayers for husbands today, let us now pour into our own souls.  Pray for your sisters who are wives, and wives in waiting.  Ask God to replenish them with His love and fortify us with His strength.  No matter what your current situation, realize that help is only a prayer away.  

Click to listen to healing prayers of calm, safety and reconciliation Battle Ready Prayer
visit Battle Ready Prayer Website for more prayers and powerful resources

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 31

Day 31
Pray that your husband will recognize the lies of the Enemy in his life. Pray that his attitudes and actions will be guided by the truth as he brings his thoughts into captivity to the Word of God. (John 8:44; 2 Cor. 10:4-5)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 30

Day 30
Pray that your husband will serve God and others with pure motives. Pray that he will obey the Lord from his heart, and glorify Him in everything. (1 Cor. 10:13; John 7:17-18; Col. 3:23-24)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 29

Day 29
Pray that your husband will surrender his time and talents to the Lord. Pray that his spiritual gifts will be manifest in his career, at church, and in your home. (Eph. 5:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:4, 7)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 28

Day 28
Pray that your husband will be a man of prayer. Pray that he will seek and pursue God in purposeful quiet times. (1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 22:46; James 5:16)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 27

Day 27
Pray that your husband will understand the importance of taking care of his body—the temple of the Holy Spirit—for the glory of God. Pray that he will practice self-control by making wise food choices, and get sufficient exercise to stay healthy. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 9:27)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 26

Day 26
Pray that your husband will discover and live his God-given purpose. Pray that he will offer all his dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those goals that will bring God glory and count for eternity. (Jer. 29:11; 1 Cor. 10:31)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 25

Day 25
Pray that your husband will be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will stand for the truth. Pray that he will protect you and your family from Satan’s attacks. (Ps. 31:24; Eph. 6:13; Ps. 27:14)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 24

Day 24
Pray that your husband will have a balanced life—that he will balance work and play. Pray that he will fear God, but also gain favor with people he knows at work and church. (Luke 2:52; Prov. 13:15)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 23

Day 23
Pray that your husband will be a good father—disciplining his children wisely and loving them unconditionally. If he is not a father, pray that he will find a young man to mentor in the things of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim. 2:1-2)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 22

Day 22
Pray that your husband will practice forgiveness in your relationship and with others. Pray that he will recognize any roots of bitterness, and yield any resentment and unforgiving attitudes to the Lord. (Eph. 4:32; Heb. 12:15)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 21

Day 21
Pray that your husband will learn how to relax in the Lord and, in his greatest times of stress, find joy and peace in his relationship with God. Pray that he will submit his schedule to the Lord. (Neh. 8:10; Prov. 17:22; Ps. 16:11)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 20

Day 20
Pray that your husband will yield his mind and thoughts to the Lord. Pray that he will not entertain immoral or impure thoughts, and that he will resist the temptation to indulge in pornography. (Prov. 27:12; 2 Cor. 10:5)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 19

Day 19
Pray that your husband will be patient and a man of peace. Pray that he will not give in to anger, but will allow the Holy Spirit to control his responses. (Rom. 14:19; Ps. 34:14)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 18

Day 18
Pray that your husband will have an eternal perspective—living in light of eternity. Pray that he will reject materialism and temporal values and put God first in his life. (Matt. 6:33; Deut. 6:5; Eph. 5:16; Ps. 90:12)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 17

Day 17
Pray that your husband will enjoy his manliness as he patterns his life after Christ and strong men in the faith. Pray for his physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual strength. (Eph. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Cor. 10:11)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 16

Day 16

Pray that your husband will choose healthy, God-honoring activities. Pray that he will not live in bondage to any questionable habits or hobbies, but that he will experience freedom in holiness as he yields to the Spirit’s control. (1 Cor. 6:12, 10:31; 2 Tim. 2:4)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 15

Day 15
Pray that your husband will choose his friends wisely. Pray that God will bring him men who will encourage his accountability before God, and will not lead him into sin. (Prov. 13:20; Prov. 27:17)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 14

Day 14
Pray that your husband will speak words that build you and your family, and reflect a heart of love. Pray that he will not use filthy language. (Prov. 18:21; Eph. 4:29)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 13

Day 13
Pray that your husband use practical skills to build your family and make wise decisions for your welfare. Pray that he will serve unselfishly. (Gal. 5:13; Phil. 2:3-4)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 12

Day 12
Pray that your husband will yield his sexual drive to the Lord and practice self control. Pray that your sexual intimacy together will be fresh, positive, and a reflection of selfless love. (Prov. 5:15, 18; 1 Cor. 7:3; Song of Solomon 7:10)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 11

Day 11
Pray that your husband will have a humble, teachable spirit and a servant’s heart before the Lord. Pray that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Prov. 15:33; Eph. 6:6)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 10

Day 10
Pray that your husband will cultivate strong integrity, and not compromise his convictions. Pray that his testimony will be genuine, that he will be honest in his business dealings, and will never do anything that he needs to hide from others. (Prov. 20:7; 1 Tim. 1:5, 3:7; Eph. 6:10-12)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 9

Day 9
Pray that your husband handle finances wisely, will have discernment concerning budgeting and investments, and will be a good steward of his money in regard to giving to the Lord’s work. Pray that money will not become a source of discord in your family. (Prov. 23:4-5; Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:5)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 8

Day 8
Pray that your husband will work hard to provide for your family, to the best of his ability. Pray that the character qualities necessary for a successful career and ministry will be a growing part of his character—persistence, decisiveness, strength, an analytical mind, organizational skills, positive relationships with people, determination, etc. (Rom. 12:11; 1 Cor. 15:58)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 7

Day 7
Pray that your husband will safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex. Pray that his heart will be pure and undivided in his commitment to you. (Prov. 6:23-24, 26; Rom. 13:14)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 5

Day 5
Pray that your husband will be faithful to his wedding vows. Pray that he will have a desire to cultivate your relationship as a sign of his loyalty and commitment to you, and as a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. (Prov. 20:6; Gen. 2:24)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 4

Day 4
Pray that your husband will grow in leadership skills in your relationship—protecting and providing for you. Pray that he will lead you wisely and love you sacrificially, so that God will be glorified in your marriage. (Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:19)

Now Is Your Time To Reign In Life!: 7 Ways to Reduce Arthritis Pain To Reign in Health...

Now Is Your Time To Reign In Life!: 7 Ways to Reduce Arthritis Pain To Reign in Health...: Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. There are over 100 different types of arthritis but osteoarthritis is the most common. Over 21...

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 3

Bless your husband by praying for him! The Apostle Paul instructed all Christians to pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18). This includes wives’ responsibility and privilege to pray for their husbands. Earnest prayer for your husband is good for him, for you and the spiritual health of your home (Proverbs 31:11-12). 

Satan desires to destroy your husband, especially his character and his leadership in your relationship. Trust God through prayer as you daily surrender your husband and marriage to the Lord’s wise, loving care.



Day 3
Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord. (Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 2

Bless your husband by praying for him! The Apostle Paul instructed all Christians to pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18). This includes wives’ responsibility and privilege to pray for their husbands. Earnest prayer for your husband is good for him, for you and the spiritual health of your home (Proverbs 31:11-12).
Satan desires to destroy your husband, especially his character and his leadership in your relationship. Trust God through prayer as you daily surrender your husband and marriage to the Lord’s wise, loving care.








Day 2
Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)

31 Days of Prayer for Our Husbands - Day 1

Bless your husband by praying for him! The Apostle Paul instructed all Christians to pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18). This includes wives’ responsibility and privilege to pray for their husbands. Earnest prayer for your husband is good for him, for you and the spiritual health of your home (Proverbs 31:11-12).
Satan desires to destroy your husband, especially his character and his leadership in your relationship. Trust God through prayer as you daily surrender your husband and marriage to the Lord’s wise, loving care.

Day 1
Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)

The Sarah Syndrome - Having Children Later in Life

The first time they had sex, during that initial exploration of unfamiliar flesh, John Ross uttered words to Ann Maloney that would sound to her like prophecy. “You have the body of a young girl. You need a baby.”



This compliment, though gallant, could not have been objectively true. The first time Maloney and Ross had sex, he was 54 and she was 47. Maloney may have looked good for her age, but she most certainly did not have the body of a young girl. And the subject of babies, not in wide use as a come-on in any cohort, might have struck another woman so deeply middle-aged as creepy. But Maloney had no children at the time, and she wanted them—badly. As she recalls that ancient intimacy over martinis at an Upper East Side restaurant, her voice reverberates with remembered pleasure. Her husband gazes on fondly as she describes the moment when, as she approached 50, her fantasy came true. Maloney had deferred motherhood for the typical reasons: an unhappy first marriage and a late career switch—in her case from interior designer to psychiatrist—that required years of school and training and a radical relocation from suburban Texas to New York City. When she met her future husband, Maloney was establishing her practice and building a national reputation. She was, finally, ready.



Ross had his own procreative urges. Also a shrink, also divorced, he felt that he and his first wife hadn’t raised their son, now 35, “the way I thought he should be raised. I wanted to rear a family in a better way.” As often happens between mature couples who know what they want, things progressed quickly. The two married within eighteen months of their first date. With their medical backgrounds, they were clear-eyed about this biological fact: The odds that a woman over 45 will get pregnant in the usual, no-tech way are dauntingly low. So, skipping agonizing years of “trying,” they began the process of securing a donor egg. With Ross’s sperm, Maloney’s womb, and the gametes of a much younger woman, they would build the family they both craved.



Donor eggs result in live births about 60 percent of the time, no matter how old the mother-to-be is. But clinics set various age cutoffs, and when Maloney and Ross were attempting to conceive, she was 48, which represented the outer limit. Even after NYU raised concerns about her age, Maloney says she never wondered if she was too old to have children.



Eventually, Columbia University took the couple on. A donor was identified, ejaculate dispensed into a sterile cup. Some of the resulting embryos were immediately transferred into Maloney’s uterus, the remainder sent to the deep freeze for future use. Ann Maloney gave birth to Isabella in February 2001, a blissful event followed by severe postpartum depression followed by the hormonal rages that accompany the onset of menopause. A townhouse was purchased, two flourishing practices shuffled and reshuffled to accommodate newly complicated priorities. Lily was born when her mother was 52. This time, Maloney had to be brought out of menopause with hormones before she could get pregnant.



Today, Maloney and Ross, 60 and 66, inhabit their home with a rotating crew of housekeepers, a couple of fish tanks, a cockatiel, two bearded dragons, two dogs, two cats, and a dwarf hamster. Lily and Isabella are 7 and 10 and come with a docket of demands befitting their age—soccer games, birthday parties, sibling fights.



“You don’t know how high-energy, actually, both of us are,” Ross says. “I acted in 32 productions at Harvard, worked with Erik Erikson, graduated near the top of my class. We are both very intense, and also nurturers.”



You know such people. They are your colleagues and friends, your boss or your mother’s cousin. You see them on the subway—as I did recently at the Bloomingdale’s stop. From behind, the woman looked like a Manhattan-mom archetype: a slim-hipped, pony-tailed blonde in jeans struggling with a stroller. As I passed her, I saw that she had the too-tanned and haggard face of a very fit grandma. In parks and playgrounds, you note a grizzled grown-up and his dimpled charge, and you do the math and you wonder.



The age of first motherhood is rising all over the West. In Italy, Germany, and Great Britain, it’s 30. In the U.S., it’s gone up to 25 from 21 since 1970, and in New York State, it’s even higher, at 27. But among the extremely middle-aged, births aren’t just inching up. They are booming. In 2008, the most recent year for which detailed data are available, about 8,000 babies were born to women 45 or older, more than double the number in 1997, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Five hundred and forty-one of these were born to women age 50 or older—a 375 percent increase. In adoption, the story is the same. Nearly a quarter of adopted children in the U.S. have parents more than 45 years older than they are.



The baby-having drive in this set is so strong it’s recessionproof. Since 2008, birthrates among women overall have declined 4 percent, as families put childbearing on hold while they ride out hard times. But among women over 40, birthrates have increased. Among women ages 45 to 49, they’ve risen 17 percent.

How to Boost Your Metabolism

Five Top Tips for Women's Health By Beth Hoover

These five top tips for women's health will help you look and feel your best and have the energy to work and play at the highest level. They're here to guide you, whatever your challenge, whatever your goal. All you need to do is follow them.

Rule number one is eat a healthy diet. Why? It's the best way to look and feel your best. Eating right will help you to control your weight. A good diet will also help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and help prevent heart disease, stroke, arthritis, specific cancers and a host of other common health problems. Build your daily diet around skinless poultry, fish, lean meats, low fat or non-fat diary products, whole grain breads and cereals, and at least five daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Rule number two is establish a regular exercise program. Staying physically active is about as important as eating a good diet if you want to get healthy and stay that way. Know that exercise does not need to be overly stressful. To stay in shape, all that's really needed is about half an hour of physical activity five days a week. Taking a brisk walk around the block is more than enough.

Rule number three is manage stress in your life. Women - as daughters, mothers and grandmothers - experience quite a bit of stress on a daily basis and stress is often the first symptom of many more serious health problems. That's why it's so vital for women to take a bit of time each day for themselves no matter how busy they are. Find a way to relax and just let go.

Rule number four is break all risky habits. And that includes smoking, recreational drugs, alcohol, unprotected sex and overindulging on sweets, salt and fats. These habits are dangerous and even deadly. So don't smoke and stay away from people who do. Say no to drugs. And never drink more than one drink a day.

Rule number five is avoid the sun. Skin cancer is extremely common and, if it isn't treated soon enough, can be a killer. So be sure to stay covered with long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat and and/or an effective sunscreen of at least 15 SPF whenever you're in the sun for more than just a couple of minutes.

If you trust and follow these five basic rules for women's health, you can live a long, healthy and happy life. They've been tested over time and proven to work.

CommonSenseHealth.com covers a a variety of health related topics, from healthiest vegetables to foods high in protein. You can visit us online at CommonSenseHealth.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Hoover

Women Over 50: A New Beauty by Joyce Becker

When we were growing up, women over 50 just weren't thought of as beautiful. Sure, you'd have the occasional Elizabeth Taylor, whom people admired well into their 30s-but then, even Liz Taylor's heyday came when she was in her teens and 20s.

Otherwise, after women hit 50, something-strange-seemed to happen. Our grandmothers and mothers had no trouble at all finding shapeless old-lady's clothing and frumpy coats, but there just didn't seem to be anything available that reflected their maturity and their beauty.

Fortunately, ours is a generation that has already changed the way people look at youth. Now we're doing the same thing for aging! Today's women are staying vibrant and sexy well beyond their 50s, and we don't have much trouble finding clothing that shows us off beautifully!

For some good examples of the changing faces (and bodies!) of women over 50, take a look at Sharon Stone. She's still active, and she's still gorgeous. Meryl Streep is well over 50, and she's doing some of the best acting work of her life. Christie Brinkley is back to modeling because cosmetics companies have realized that women who are over 50 are still buying makeup-because we still plan to keep looking good!

Granted, once we reach and pass 50, we have to pay more attention to our beauty than we used to. Our skin and hair can start to become thinner, and we have the potential to develop osteoporosis, which can affect our looks and our health.

But today, women over 50 also have access to exercise routines that can keep us active while we also have a lot of fun. And, with medical science and increasing knowledge of proper nutrition, we can keep our bodies beautiful and healthy at the same time.

As an over 50 woman myself, I know I'm taking better care of my beauty than I did when I was younger-and I'm really seeing the results! Here are some things I recommend for women over 50 to help them understand that our beauty matters.

· When we hit 50, sometimes the "wages" or our past diet "sins" start to come back to haunt us. If you've always eaten a healthy diet, congratulations! It's not too late for the rest of us, though. Every little healthy change you make can have an impact on how you look and how you feel, so get started today. Maybe you'll want to do a diet makeover or just increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Whatever you do, you will see a difference.

· Exercise is even more important after 50 than it was before. Over 50 women can be at risk for osteoporosis so it's especially important that we do weight-bearing exercises.

· In addition to diet and exercise, we need to pay attention to the needs of specific parts of our bodies. For example, our hair can become thinner and more brittle after we hit 50. In addition to diet and exercise, we need to learn how to be more careful of our hair by avoiding harsh chemicals and brushing it gently. There are even foods you can eat to reverse your gray hair!

Women over 50 remain beautiful, sexy women. In fact, part of our allure is that we have a comfort in our own skin that we just didn't have when we were younger. All we have to do is be a good shepherd to our beauty, and we can enjoy it for the rest of our lives.

Joyce Becker is a successful marketing entrepreneur living in New Jersey with her husband of over 30 years. Joyce is also a trailblazer. As a woman and a Baby Boomer, she has broken molds, working in a variety of careers and providing inspiration to countless women whose lives have been touched by her spirit and energy through http://YourSecondYouthBlog.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joyce_Becker

Living in the Power of Wisdom: Sistah Talk E-Magazine Artile

SISTAH Talk E-Magazine featuring Venus Mason Theus

Retirement Readiness

5 New Realities of Retirement

by Liz Davidson
Friday, September 2, 2011

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You just can't count on normal anymore. I was thinking about this last week when the earthquake hit and I had to duck for cover under a desk while in a meeting in Washington, DC. Being from California, I am used to and fully prepared for earthquakes, but not necessarily when I am in DC. Most DC residents were taken by complete surprise when they felt the earth shake in their city. They were fully prepared for a whole host of other things including the threat of a hurricane and the ever-present concern about another possible terrorist attack. You just can't be prepared for everything.

More from Forbes.com:  • 10 Steps to Boost Your Retirement Balance • 10 Ways to Get Your Retirement Back on Track • 6 Unusual Retirement Lifestyles

Pre-retirees, however, need to have contingency plans in case the economy doesn't turn around and "normal" doesn't return. Retirement preparedness is changing in that some tried and true strategies retirees have commonly used in the past may not work anymore. Retirees used to count on getting a decent interest rate on certificates of deposit or the simple act of selling a home for retirement income. Unfortunately, you can't count on them now. We certainly can't prepare for every possible scenario but here are five scenarios to consider making contingency plans for in retirement:

Interest rates remaining low for extended periods of time.

Retirees used to get income by staggering the maturities of long term CD's or bonds so one came due every year. This strategy of "laddering" five-year CDs or bonds used to mean enjoying the best of both worlds with higher rates from the longer maturities and some liquidity from having one come due ever year. However, retirees planning on using that strategy going forward may be sorely disappointed if five-year CD rates stay around 2%.

One alternative for income is dividend-paying stocks, many of which are paying 3-4% or more. In addition, these dividends tend to grow faster than inflation. There used to be a tradeoff between getting a higher income now from a bond or a growing income from stock dividends. While they still aren't covered by FDIC insurance like a CD, they can provide more income both now and over the long run.

Home prices remain low.

Many retirees plan to use their home equity by taking a HELOC or a reverse mortgage to pay for care in an assisted living or skilled nursing home if needed. Unfortunately, much of that home equity may have disappeared in the current housing market. As an alternative, consider purchasing a long-term care policy while you are healthy enough to qualify. Many policies cover home care as well as skilled nursing facilities, and some policies even pay for custodial care a family member renders. This way you don't need to rely on recovering home prices that are unlikely to rise as fast as long-term care costs.

Your home won't sell.

Along with home prices being down, there may be the similar issue of not being able to sell the home at all. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, and I am sure there are plenty of homeowners who are kicking themselves for not selling their homes when they could have instead of waiting for the perfect time or the perfect price. If your retirement plan is contingent on being able to sell your home, make sure you also have a plan B and manage your retirement plan around that possibility since you may not be able to sell exactly when you want to. Keep in mind that if you rent your home out, you can still benefit from the $250,000 (or $500,000 if you are married filing jointly) capital gain tax exclusion if you lived in the home two of the previous five years.

Your job gets eliminated.

Nothing can throw a wrench in a retirement plan faster than a job being eliminated or a "forced" early retirement. This is especially true if you had planned on socking away a lot of money for retirement only after your kids finish college and you expect to be in your highest earning years. Instead, consider having your kids take on a bigger role in paying for their education by applying for scholarships, grants and loans. They have 40 years to pay them back, but you won't be able to get scholarships or grants for retirement. After all, your best earning years may be right now.

Your company sponsored retiree health care plan goes away.

Companies are being forced to eliminate or reduce their employee health insurance benefits for retirees. The expense is so unpredictable that companies just can't afford to offer it anymore, but the same problem rings true for retirees. It's best to plan around the premise that company paid or subsidized retiree health insurance won't be available at all. That may mean you or your spouse having to work at least part time at a company that offers health insurance until you qualify for Medicare at age 65.

If you still have a lot of time until retirement, check to see if you have access to a health insurance plan with a health savings account. You can make pre-tax contributions to the account, and funds used exclusively to pay for qualified medical expenses are tax free. Funds not used for qualified expenses are subject to income taxes, and if used prior to age 65 are also subject to a 10% additional tax.

I have found that when a project goes smoothly, it is usually not due to luck. On the surface things look smooth, but behind the scenes the team has contingency plan A, B and C ready just in case. The housing market may return to a place where selling your home at a decent price isn't an anomaly. The job market may turn around as employers feel more confident in hiring staff to grow their businesses. Health care may not be as expensive as you suspected. On the other hand, there could be some other random event we haven't considered; you know, like an earthquake in Washington, DC.

Copyrighted, Forbes.com. All rights reserved.

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Sherry McGee Shares Tips for Aging Fabulously

Clever Repurposing of "Gently Used" Household Things

Colander as Ice Bucket

Make ice cubes last longer at your next cocktail party: Put them in a colander set into a bowl. As they melt, the water will drain through the holes instead of sitting and turning the ice to slush.

Ice Cream Scoop as Sand-Castle Tool

An ice cream scoop deposits perfect domes for a Taj Mahal (or a yurt).

Book Cover as a Tourist Disguise (even stateside)

A travel guide screams "I’m lost!" but cloaking it in pretty paper or the jacket of a book in the native language will let you blend in with the locals. You'll be more likely to be asked for directions than taken for a ride. Sidebar:  I learned the hard way that many residen of NYC HATE to be asked for directions!

Bucket as Side Table

For more serving space (without begging and borrowing from the neighbors) top a bucket with a tray for an instant side table for your lawn chairs. Your guests will have more spots to rest their cocktails.

Aya Brackett

Bundt Pan as Corn Holder

Cut corn from the cob without the mess. Place an ear in the center of a Bundt pan. As you slide the knife down, the corn will fall right into the pan.

Yunhee Kim

Citrus Peels as Bowls

Serve sorbet in a memorable way. After juicing (or eating) grapefruit, orange, lemon, or lime halves, scoop out and freeze the peels. Cut a small slice off the bottom to create a level surface (without creating a hole), then fill with ice cream.

Aya Brackett

Citrus Peel as Firestarter

Kick-start a fire with citrus peels. Leave orange or lemon peels on the counter for several days to dry out. Then use the pretty pieces as kindling in your fire pit or bonfire for a fragrant flame starter.

Beatriz Da Costa

Croquet Wickets as Hose Stakes

Make an arched pathway from the waterspout to the flower bed, then feed the hose through the wickets. Now the hose can’t migrate and crush your impatiens.

Egg Slicer as Strawberry Dicer

Give this classic tool a permanent spot on your kitchen counter and―presto!―you'll have perfect slivers of your favorite summer foods.

 

David Prince

Beach Towel as Shower Curtain

Make a summery shower curtain by hanging two boldly patterned towels using clip-on drapery rings.

Cupcake Liner as Ice Cream Bowl

Serve ice cream at parties without the drips. Freeze individual scoops in liners the night before.

Ice Cube Tray as Sunburn Soother

Freeze cubes of aloe vera for instant sunburn relief when you forget the SPF.

Monica Buck

Shower Curtain as Picnic Blanket Liner

Do dew diligence and layer a liner underneath a picnic blanket to avoid soggy bottoms and grass or mud stains.

Sunscreen as Shaving Lotion

While a bottle of expired sunscreen will no longer protect you from UV rays, it can still protect you from razor burn. Use it when lubing up to keep legs smooth all year long.

Hose as Bucket Grip

For a handle you can comfortably handle: Snip off a section of an old garden hose, make a slit down its length, and put it over a skinny bucket wire.

Baby Oil as Tar Remover

Bare feet left with a bit of tar after a long day on the beach? Lift it off with a dose of baby oil.

Basket as Summer Carryall

When you’re ready to hit the beach, just throw everything in a large handled basket and take off. Or, for backyard barbecues, line it with a plastic garbage bag, then fill it with ice and beverages.

Ice Cream Cones as Cupcake Holders

Bake your cupcakes directly in the ice cream cones. Fill 24 flat-bottom cones two-thirds full with cake batter. Place the cones in a high-sided 9-by-13-inch baking pan and bake in two batches at 325° F for 30 minutes. Let cool, then frost with two 16-ounce cans of frosting. You can have your cake and eat its holder, too.

Kazoo as Bubble Machine

Blow your little one’s mind with this two-in-one toy. Just dip the big end into soapy water and huff and puff away for a sudsy symphony.

Cocktail Shaker as Iced Coffee Maker

Upgrade your ice coffee by preparing it in a martini shaker. Fill it with coffe, ice, millk, sugar and flavoring and shake for a frothy, evenly blended caffeine fix.

Mini Cooler as a Side Dish Warmer

Use a small cooler to fake a perfectly timed meal if side dishes (like corn on the cob) are ready before the main course. Simply store the early sides in the insulated case to retain their warmth.

Mitten as Sunglasses Protector

Save your shades from scratches by slipping them into a spare mitten before stashing them in your purse or glove compartment.

Play-Doh as Sparkler Holder

Prevent burned fingers by planting a sparkler’s stem in a  tub of Play-Doh before lighting it.

Rubber Band as Glass Gripper

For more OJ in your child’s belly (and less on the kitchen floor) use rubber bands to provide some grip around a chilly glass so it doesn’t slip through a child’s small hands.

Sand as Candle Holders

Prevent a half-melted candle from sticking to its glass holder by filling the bottom with a layer of sand.

Drink Carrier as Condiment Kit

Cart condiments to a backyard barbecue. Slot flatware, ketchup and mustard in the compartments for easy transport.

Tea Bag as Bug Bite Soother

A smart way to soothe itchy mosquito bites: Place a cold, used tea bag on the sting and let it sit for five minutes. Tea will help ease sunburn, too: Brew a pot and pour it into a bath of lukewarm water. Soak until you feel relief.

Toothbrush as Corn Cleaner

Use a clean toothbrush to remove stray threads of silk from freshly shucked ears of corn. The bristles will lift them away quickly and efficiently.

Toothbrush Holder as Vase

Display individual blooms (peonies and ranunculus work well) in each hole and fill with water for a foolproof, evenly spaced arrangement.

Cupcake Liner as Drip Catcher

Before serving that Popsicle, slip the stick through a foil liner to catch drips and keep hands from getting sticky.

Frisbee® as Paper Plate Holder

Don't lose your dogs! At your next barbecue, place flimsy paper plates in sturdy plastic Frisbees® so guests can better balance their meals.

Ice Cube Tray as Sundae Bar

Set up a self-serve sundae bar and let guests dish out cherries, sprinkles, crushed nuts, and other dessert toppings to their liking.

Oven Mitt as BBQ Utensil Holder

Slide all the utensils you'll need into an oven mitt and use the fabric loop to hang it on your grill. No more burned steaks because you forgot the meat thermometer inside.

Ice Cube Tray as Paint Palette

Mix watercolors in the tray’s compartments. (There’s actually one for every color of the rainbow.)

Source: realsimple.com

Toothpaste as Goggle Defogger

Prevent goggles from fogging. Before hitting the pool, smear some paste onto the lenses, then wipe off.