Thinking about online dating but don't know where to start? Here are some basic tips to keep in mind to set you off on the right foot.

Author Says Women are Choosing to Age with the Support of Friends Some say the ‘60s hippies are going back to the commune. Others call the growing number of female Baby Boomers rooming together “‘The Golden Girls’ phenomenon.” Author Martha Nelson, who at 65 is on the leading edge of a tsunami of retiring Boomers, says it’s really all about choosing the company of friends.

Few of us know how to act around a very sick person. And yet, what we say (and don’t say) makes a huge impact. Here are some practical skills for caregivers, family members, and anyone else who wants to make a meaningful difference in a very difficult time.

Can you still call a bachelorette party a special gals night out when the "gals" are of Baby Boomer age? You bet you can! Whether this is your first, third or sixth wedding (no judgement), there's no reason to forgo a fun time with your friends. What does change with time is the desire to wear a tiara with veil and get blasted to the max (see "Bridesmaids"). This begs the question how best to celebrate without acting like a gaggle of giggling pre-pubescent girls. Here are a few thoughts applicable to our status in life that won't wring all the fun out of the occasion. Oh, and I've included a few money-saving ideas, some of which are based on my thrice-married experience. 1. Vegas, Baby! You know your secrets will stay in Las Vegas, right? While you and your gal pals don't have to go the route of the boys in "Hangover," the town that never sleeps is mighty tempting for a destination event. Plane fair and accommodations are usually cheap and there's nothing that says you have to blow a pile of money to have fun. Atlantic City makes for a good alternative, should you live on the East Coast....

My daughter and I were having a conversation the other night about different vacations we took as a family. We were reminiscing about a vacation we took to the beautiful Kootenay area. Her memories were very vague, until I reminded her that it was the trip she lost my purse. As a little girl, she was very headstrong and absolutely insisted that she should carry my purse. Not the greatest decision on my part, but it was a vacation and I didn't want there to be any conflict, so I gave in and let her carry it. We had a fabulous time exploring Kaslo and then..... I needed my purse. To my dismay, she had put it down somewhere in the last town we were visiting, and now the happy family was not so happy. This she remembers very clearly, she was sure she was going to be in very big trouble. But, really it was my fault for allowing a 5 year old the responsibility...

We've have all heard the saying " hard work pays off". Never before has that meant more to me than this last month. Over the last 3 to 4 years, I have been busy, busy, busy working on Fabulous@50, building a vibrant website, growing the Fabulous@50 community and working on the growth of the annual trade show. I admit, there has been times, where I have wondered if I was on the right path. This last month has truly shown me that I am...whooohoooo!!!

I am one of those people that would rather not eat, than indulge in crappy fast food. But the other night, I received a text from my daughter with a request for a cheeseburger. Amber is 25 and decided it was a good idea to come to my house and demand dinner. And because I knew she had been out the night before and was in need of some fatty food to make her feel better, I gave in and made stop at Harveys. LOL.

One of my greatest pleasures, is escaping to the movie theatre, the bigger bonus is to do it with my daughter. Recently, we made a spontaneous decision and went for dinner at the Blue Chair Diner and then to the see the "Sex in the City 2" movie. I wasn't expecting too much, I just hoped to be entertained. What I found interesting is even with a big difference in age, Amber and I both really enjoyed the movie. What would appeal to both of us, she being 25. single and never having children and me being the opposite. Is it the fashion, the parties, the shoes, or the lifestyle of these women that draw us to the theatre? I believe it is the relationships these women have with each other. One of the reasons I started the Fabulous@50 meetups and the tradeshows...

I am so excited!!! I am going to my favorite place to spend time with one of my favorite people. San Francisco with Amber. As some of you know my gypsy daughter, has been gone for over 2 years traveling and working in New Zealand and Australia. It is time for her to come home, so I am meeting her part way to spend some mother, daughter time together in a city we both love. Shopping, dinners, vineyards, theatre, spas... life is good!! What I have found to be true for me, is I sometimes get so caught up in my life, work, ideas, that I forget that just having fun, with no set agenda, is so needed to keep me feeling alive and looking forward to everything else I do in my life. I know I am doing what I should be doing, but sometimes I get off the path or try to run too fast down the path and get discouraged or worn out. My social life has become so tangled...

Have you every heard the saying " It is the little things in life that count". I am a firm believer in this philosophy. The person sitting next to you at a meeting or a garage sale you drive by... you just never know who you may meet by slowing down and taking some time to talk or get to know someone. I recently met a wonderful couple who rescue the dented and damaged small dogs that are going to be put down. Debbie and her husband fix these little creatures, clean them up, rehabilitate them and find them homes.

They were having a garage sale (to raise funds for Gypsy Rescue) and I saw a sofa that I thought my daughter might like. We did end up buying the sofa, but the connection I have made with these people, is what really made my day. I recently had an event and collected money from the fabulous ladies who attended. With the money donated I was able to purchase 4 big bags of dog food and dropped it off to Debbie. I was invited for tea and a visit with the little herd of sweet dogs. I got more kisses and love that afternoon, truly a blessing beyond words. So as usual, I will give you a challenge, what little difference can you make in your world today?

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