Monday, April 22, 2013

Are you ready to go grey gracefully?

Going grey gracefully



























Lately I've noticed that there are a lot more women who are doing just that and some look great, especially when combined with a stylish cut and fashionable attire.
An article by Shonagh Walker -  Sunday Telegraph, was headed 'Going grey gracefully'.
She suggests that "In the past when a silver strand appeared, we raced to the colourist immediately. Keeping up the colour on rapidly greying hair (I prefer 'silvering') is time consuming and expensive. The natural solution is to let it be, well, natural."
At least she is somewhat conditional and sensitive to those of us who are "just not ready to go there." (and I'm wondering how old you are, Shonagh?)
So then a few guys such as Emiliano Vitale from Sydney's E Salon, get up and say,"There is a swing towards embracing grey. It can be polished and flattering."
And then we get the list of the 'brave folks' who have taken the gigantic step - Dames Helen Mirren and Judi Dench. Even younger celebs, including Pink, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga, are having silver threaded through their locks.

The article then becomes practical and had some good suggestions as to how you can overcome transition periods, regrowth by 'reverse highlights to blend' etc

 I may have to eventually face this decision - just not there yet.

Clara

               




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Friday, April 19, 2013

To dye or not to dye


I have been dying to talk about hair, mainly about issues to do with dyeing it or not - and my friend from www.shopatnextdoor.com provided me with the perfect opportunity when she said,  "Have you ever just wanted a change? You know something to brighten your day, set your world on fire? Well that was me yesterday at the hair salon. Why not go red? After all I was born a red head. My father's nick name was Red. I have fair skin and freckles, perfect for red hair. So I pulled the plug (on the bottle) and unleashed the real me. Reddy, set, go. you think? R"

            
Red, Set Go...R's fabulous new hair colour
self portrait taken with my iPhone and photo shopped just a tiny bit
Hi R     
"I have cut out articles from magazines etc, have observed brave friends who have taken the au - naturale road (No no no! Not me! Don't be silly!), so feel I am quite expert at the subject; and I am totally with you. Why not be a perfectly natural red head? I think you look like a movie star!
More to come on this strand but in the meantime,  how has it has changed your life? 
Clara of blonde tresses




 
 


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What is the correct length for skinny jeans

Hi there

"I shop therefore I am" - a new twist on an old saying. And of course the first item we need is a pair of well fitting black jeans to kickstart the season. 
So today, I found a great pair of semi skinny, not too low rise and in a fabric that kind of keeps you in.  They look great with this season's longer look tops for a timeless look.

A few years ago, I visited my friend R, who owns a beautiful store 'Shop at Next Door' which stocks an extensive range of jeans with fabulous tops and accessories. I learnt the ins and outs of how to wear skinny jeans - with boots of course but also with killer heels, flats and flip flops. R says that the worst mistake you can make when taking up jeans is to make them too short - flared jeans need to be almost to the ground but skinny jeans are a little tricky to get right. Have them as long as you can make them without cupping the bottoms too much; a certain amount of cupping however is necessary for the look and with summer jeans you can fold up the bottoms for a casual look.


This is what she says on her site http://www.shopatnextdoor.com/ - click on Jean Scene at bottom of Home Page.


'No, you do not have to be skinny to wear skinny jeans. It's all about how you wear them that makes the difference. Going into a Wisconsin winter, we all know how great it is to throw on your favorite skinny jeans with a pair of boots and a big oversized sweater. It's the one time that living in the frozen tundra makes fashion fun as well as practical. But thankfully that is all behind us for another seven months or so. So now what? Well a picture is worth a thousand words. Wear skinny jeans with killer heels, your favorite flats, barefoot if the moment is right and of course your favorite flip flops. You can wear a skinny jean scrunched around your ankle or cuffed for a casual look. That solves some of the length issues, which is nice for us as well as you. Of course we'll always shorten them for you if need be.'


I'm off now to take up some jeans - because they're usually too long for me. I learnt from R how to do a professional job but am under threat of dire consequence if I devulge the secret. Sorry!
Clara
By the way - if you want some tasty food ideas that will help you to be able to fit into your jeans go to www.fitinyourjeanscuisine.com
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Monday, March 18, 2013

Babyboomers relish in moment in Balmoral swim


Hi there
What a great day - the photos say it all!
Overheard from "We can beat cancer" participants - "Relish the moment - can you believe you are here doing it? Be proud because you are amazing."
Makes me wish I was doing it too.

Claire
ps - by the way - there were people of all ages particiapating  including children and some  in their 80's, many of whom swim every day.







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Monday, March 11, 2013

Featuring the Babyboomer body - it's OK to be white!

 
OK BB
I'm going to be featuring the Babyboomer body because two glasses of good red wine have stopped the throbbing in my nose and upper right chest after a day procedure at RNS (local hospital).

It's important to pass it on to our children and grandchildren, even though they already know, that skin has 'memory', and my nose and right chest remembers the times I allowed them to be exposed to the sun. 

My Anglosaxon pale skin areas were exposed  pre awareness of skin memory and future damage from the sun's rays.  Initially, it was when, our family was out there having fun perhaps caravaning in Dad's homemade caravan in New Zealand.  If you caught too much sun on the weekend you would peel by Wednesday or Thursday when my sister and I had fun peeling the skin from each other's shoulders, like little monkeys.

Then there was the 'greater awareness stage' - a time when I wanted the look of the time, which meant being brown, even though I was a " 'pakehah - white person in Maori'."
By this time we had moved to Australia  and I was a teenager, with a brand new forbidden bikini.  Bondi had the whitest of sand and my visit there included a full body spray of coconut oil, resulting in my entire body being fried by the sun.  It also meant that the wearing of  the forbidden 'bikini' was revealed when  I returned home looking like a tomato - and that was how my dad treated the burn ie with ripe tomatoes. 

Fortunately our education has moved us on from this state of mind.  However many of us remain there and still want to be tanned. 
I actually don't want that any more and am reminded today that it's OK to be white.
Clara

Feedback  keeps me going.
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Friday, March 8, 2013

OK - this is my book - Mosman Meanders & foreshore flavours


Hi Babyboomers
Mosman Meanders & foreshore flavours is a coffee table book

Ok this is my book.  It's taken 2 years to write and it's been an amazing learning curve in so many ways.  I thought you might like to know what else I do with my time when I'm not blogging.

Mosman Meanders and foreshore flavours has been described as aMust have gift'Pages & Pages, after the book’s successful launch in December 2012.  It’s worth considering as a gift, with Mothers Day coming up as it will appeal to, families, residents and ex-patriots as a reference or a memento.

It’s a photographic style coffee table book, featuring  walks along the magnificent foreshores between Mosman and the Spit, and contains reference to the rich history and cultural heritage of the area.   Bushland walking tracks provide opportunities to view major Sydney icons such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as well as some of the newly opened, navigational and maritime sites.   The book lists casual food and cafe destinations with recipes for readers to experience themselves.

You can pick up a copy  through local bookstores and some local cafes, or purchase online at http://mosmanmeanders.blogspot.com.au .  This blog link will tell you more about the book which has proven popular, through the Pages & Pages on-line brochure, with expatriates  of Mosman.
 
My journey has released me from the spectre of retirement and since I'm now addicted to writing, there is a new book following of course. 
This one is going to be about retirement or more correctly about non-retirement, which will include interesting insights into this period of our lives.
Cheers C


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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

He wants to be a grey nomad!!!???.













Hi BB
There's a man in my house! 
Yes, I know that he's been here for a long time, but on & off.  Now, he's actually here!  Like - retired.  And I don't quite know how to handle it, and him. 
He's actually out of context.
C
ps - he wants to be a grey nomad!




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Older Australians enjoy an active sex life as much as the younger ones

Hi BB
Good article from our Ita. 

Sydney Morning Herald - 25/2/2013


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Saturday, February 9, 2013

Mangoes are insanely antiageing




Mango magic

This dish was served to us by Alvina and Umberto from www.timeintuscany.com , not in Tuscany but here in Sydney when mangoes were at their best, and Tuscany is under snow. In true Tuscan style, fruits and vegetables in season are used in an amazing variety of simply delicious dishes.
For the mango jelly
makes 4 servings

2 ripe mangoes - peeled and cut (see
¼ cup caster sugar
Juice of 1 lime
1 cup water
1 tbsp gelatine powder
2 tbsp hot water
macadamia pralines - crushed

Place mango, sugar, lime juice and water into the jug of a blender and blend until smooth.
Strain the mango mixture through a sieve into a saucepan. Place it over medium heat and cook, stirring, until it’s heated through and the sugar is melted.
Place the gelatine powder into a small bowl, add the hot water and whisk well until the gelatine dissolves.
Add the gelatine mixture to the mango mixture and stir to combine. Divide the mixture into individual wetted moulds, cover and place into the fridge for 3-4 hours until set.


To serve, arrange slices of cut mango on plates, dip moulds in hot water and invert to release the jelly. Serve with icecream or Greek yoghurt if desired and sprinkle with crushed macadamia praline.

How to choose and cut a mango
The best way by far is to simply eat the mango after cutting it expertly as shown below. Recipes to follow.

Mango - Childers Queensland Australia- in mid January
it was so dry the grass was crunchy beneath my feet.
Two weeks later the area is in flood.
Mangoes - Noosaville Markets

Is it ripe? You can't always judge the ripeness by colour as they come in many hues depending on variety. The best flavored fruit have a yellow tinge when ripe; however, color may be red, yellow, green, orange or any combination.
Ripeness of mangoes can be determined by either smelling or by gently squeezing. A ripe mango will have a full, fruity aroma emitting from the stem end and can be considered ready to eat when slightly soft to the touch and yielding to gentle pressure, like a ripe peach.

Cutting a Mango can be a slimy, slippery challenge. The best way to go about it is to start first with a ripe, but still firm fruit. If the mango is too ripe, it will be a mushy mess, and hard to cut into pieces, though easy enough to scoop out for pulp.

Cubes

cut-mango-3.jpgHolding the mango with one hand, stand it on its end, stem side down. With a sharp knife in your other hand, cut from the top of the mango, down one side of the pit. Then repeat with the other side. You should end up with three pieces - two halves, and a middle section that includes the pit.
cut-mango-4.jpg cut-mango-5.jpg
Take a mango half and use a knife to make lengthwise and crosswise cuts in it, but try not to cut through the peel. Using your fingers on the skin side, raise the fruit cubes into eating or cutting position. Simply serve and eat the fruit or for a salad peel off the segments with your fingers. Or use a small paring knife to cut away the pieces from the peel.
Take the mango piece with the pit, lay it flat on the cutting board. Use a paring knife to cut out the pit and remove the peel. Some simply eat this section holding it over the sink as you eat.




For easy slices cut off cheeks as above then slice lengthways






Or using a sharp thin-bladed knife, cut off both ends of the fruit. Place fruit on flat end and cut away peel from top to bottom along curvature of the fruit.Cut fruit into slices by carving lengthwise along the pit.
Nutrition - They are high in fibre and antioxidants and are rich in Vitamin A, C, E, B6 and potassium. They have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers and promote heart health and lower blood pressure.
 


To view or add comment, click on 0 comments at bottom of page - you can comment as 'anonomous' on the dropdown menu; or send an email - clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au or visit my website at www.babyboomerconnections.com.au