THE FUTURE IS SO BRIGHT I HAVE TO WEAR SHADES...

I will be at a Writer's Confrence this weekend, seeking fame and fortune... I will be back on Monday, along with my blog... Just in time for my Birthday....May 3rd.

We'll Celebrate...

TICKLED PINK...

I was thrilled when my family recently accepted an invitation to a party at my place. At the same time, I discovered this fabulous new French Fusion Liquor and all the cocktails you could make with it.

One drink that stood out was what they called a Tickled Pink. It’s made by pouring two-thirds champagne into a flute glass, and topping it off with the X-Rated Liquor, which consists of imported French Vodka, Sicilian Blood Orange, mingling with Mango and Passion fruit. I knew my family would appreciate this rich brew. And the theme for my party was created ---- Tickled Pink.

I sent out sparkling Pink Invitations promising there would be a prize for the best pink outfit or accessory. I compiled a CD of dancing music, featuring the Rebirth Brass Band and of course Pink’s, Get This Party Started. I ordered the food, and a Pretty Pink Cake by a local French baker.

The day of the party I hung a funky Pink Flamingo wearing a top-hat & green socks, on my front door, and placed Pink Balloons around the entrance. Then the magic happened….The first person to enter brought me a dozen pink roses in a pink vase, with a pink ribbon. The second person showed up in a gorgeous pink pashmina scarf (which they let me borrow). Even two of my brother in-laws wore pink shirts! And, as they held me up for this picture, everyone told me they loved me! I was so happy I blushed.

The party was so much fun that I am already thinking about my next celebration…
There is this tempting Red Velvet Cake I am crazy about. And, one of my friends is a red-head. Another gets embarrassed at the drop of Aunty’s Red Hat! I’d say this has potential…. Your ideas are welcome…

DIAMONDS ARE MY FRIEND'S BEST FRIEND...

As you get acquainted with this blog, you will see, I only rave about things I am passionate about. And, what woman is not crazy about fine jewelry… even if it’s just to admire on others, drool over on the internet, or covet the shops.
My friend Dale’s Diamond jewelry is the highest quality and simply divine. Since its spring, and love and such is in the air…. with all the weddings, and engagements coming up… It’s nice to know about Dale. She’s a winner, when it comes to shimmer.
When she’s not busy advising me on my blog and everything else that I come to her with (she truly is a wonderful friend)…she is mulling over gemstones with that magnifying glass of hers. This savvy New Yorker can be an asset to you if you are in the market for any kind of exceptional jewelry. If that were not true, I wouldn’t be gushing over her gems at all. Like Dale’s Private Collection, my readers are priceless. I value the time you give me by coming to this blog. I am only enthusiastic over things I believe you will enjoy and appreciate. I feel if I like something chances are my readers will to.
Check out the brilliance at www.dalefournier.com and see for yourself. My favorite is the Tulip Diamond Engagement Ring. Whose hand wouldn’t look pretty in that? On the other hand (no pun intended) there’s that dreamy Victorian ring. Let Dale’s amazing array of rings & things dazzle you too.

Ageless Tip of The Week: >Don’t Wait to ADORN YOURSELF!

ZUMBA!

This woman is a mother of three...

I am so excited to report that I have found yet another way to stay Ageless… it’s called Zumba. Many of you are probably already aware of this popular fitness program, but I only recently stumbled upon a class. I was hooked on the first funky beat. These classes are so much fun that I have changed my schedule to make sure I don’t miss them. I urge you to try one. They are safe, effective, and thoroughly enjoyable! According to the Zumba website…
The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. ... Let's face it, working out can be healthy, rewarding and beneficial. Working out can be lots of things, but it's never been known to be an exhilarating experience…UNTIL NOW!
Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba® Fanatics achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life!
The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix and you've got a Zumba® class!
In the past years, the Zumba® program has become nothing short of a revolution, spreading like wildfire, and positioning itself as the single most influential movement in the industry of fitness.
For more info go to http://www.zumba.com/
And one popular instructor I have found on my infectious Zumba journey is Deborah Saparoff. She tells me she has three children, but, it’s hard to believe. Let Zumba do this for you too… She is available to answer your questions. Go to. dsaparoff@comcast.net
Or, Face Book link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=751123337&ref=profile

Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life...

That's What His New Book Says

Last week, when I told my mother I was going to see the J. Geils Band again, she asked me when I was going to outgrow rock and roll. I held up my high-school year book, with the picture of me with the words J. Geils written across my butt in rhinestones, and replied “Never!” My love for rock roll is as strong as ever. I just can’t get enough. My passion for that music carries over to my writing. I wrote a movie script that is essentially a valentine to Classic Rock and its fans (it is not produced yet, but I predict it will be). I still spend a lot of money on concert tickets, and I listen to that music every chance I get.

When I found out author, Steve Almond was on tour promoting his new book Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life, I put on my Jimi Hendrix tee-shirt, my black leather boots and worn out leather jacket. I held up a Bic lighter and made my way to Steve and his new book.

I have to give Steve a lot of credit. It’s hard to sell books these days. He spoke/performed, to a sold out audience. He even threw in a great live band by the name of Boris Mccutcheon & the salt licks, and a slide show. It was a clever idea and a great way to get people out, and interested.

The crowd roared. Everyone except Aunty was in a groove. Maybe because she is 86 years old, or, because she was about to meet Dean Martin the next night, Aunty was a bit preoccupied. But, I was front and center and, like the rest of the audience, I hung on Steve’s every word, grunt, and groan.

Here is a picture Aunty tried to take of me with Steve. Note: Neither Steve nor I are in the picture. Once again, Aunty had other things on her mind.

If you love rock, and like a funny read…listen to the music and check out Steve’s new book. Like it did for him, it might save your life. And, like the music does for me, it will help keep you Ageless… and that has always been my promise to you!

For more on this wild and crazy author go to http://www.stevenalmond.com/ and check out his book Candyfreak too! Last time I looked they were selling that one in museum gift shops.

GUYS & DOLLS...

~ Rat Pack Plus 3~

Thanks to my motto Where There’s a Will There’s Renee, I managed to meet Frank, Dean, and Sammy….well, more or less. And, I even got my 86 year-old Great Aunty and her friend Gracie into the act…

What do you do when the music carries you away so much that you dream of meeting Frank Sinatra, even though you know he passed away over a decade ago? Well, to begin with, since this is the 21st Century, you Google the words “Rat Pack Tribute.” Then you find out when the Frank, Dean and Sammy look-a-likes are coming your way. You make sure you get tickets, and don’t leave the line until you know you have good seats. You plan to put your Great Aunty, or any cute elderly relative, in one of the seats. You arrive the night of the show and carry on as if you were in Vegas, say The Sands Casino, circa 1960 (where the Rat Pack Ruled). You Scream, shout, dance, even with the handsome man next to you. You sing every word to every song, and stand up and cheer for old time sake. You thoroughly enjoy the show so much that you manage to get noticed by important people that might be able to introduce you to Frank, in this case “Big Mike,” (who stands a the back of the theatre, keeping an eye on things).

After the show you fix your Great Aunty’s hair, refresh her lipstick, and head over to introduce her to Big Mike. You know no one can resist Aunty’s genuine goodness and her fully open heart. You kibitz for a while and casually ask Mr. Mike if you can meet Frank and the boys. Or, you might have Aunty ask, if you think your chances are slim. In this case, before I could even get the question out, Big Mike was already bringing us over to meet the crooners. “Come on Aunty,” he said, as we approached the stars and the crowd parted. When we reached the legends, Big Mike started posing us, and taking pictures himself! It might have helped that I sincerely gushed over the fabulous show. I meant it when I said, “I haven’t had this much fun in years.” The evening was a complete and total nostalgic blast. And there were priceless moments (thanks to lighting, make-up, mood, and certain movements) when you felt like you were seeing the real thing!

So, in keeping up with the blog’s motto, How to Live Well, Have Fun and Remain Ageless in Any Economy…I must ask>What did you do last night while Our 86 year old Great Aunty was out flirting with Frank, Dean, Sammy, and their Pinky Rings…

~AGELESS TIP OF THE WEEK: Don’t get old, get out!

For more information on this incredible Rat Pack Show go to http://www.royaltalent.com/

STAY AGELESS WITH APPLES...

He is off to a good start...

According to my nutritional bible, The World’s Healthiest Foods, by George Mateljan, aside from lowering cholesterol, and adding fiber to our diets, apples promote heart health, digestive health, lung health, and optimal health! If this isn’t reason to eat two apples a day, then I’ll eat my hat! Apples are full of potent antioxidants that bolster the body’s immune system. And they also have high concentrations of anti-inflammatory flavinoids. The more research done on this amazing fruit, the more we see its immeasurable value to our health

What are you waiting for….go grab a bag of apples right now….your body will thank you many years from now…And, if you eat nothing else, eat organic apples. For what you get in return, they are worth their weight in gold.

As an added bonus, as I researched for this article, I found some sites suggesting that apples help us with weight control, and have superb anti-aging effects. I would like to hereby make The Apple the official fruit of this blog Ageless! And I ask all my readers to take a pledge with me now. Let’s promise to eat an apple a day (at least five days a week). Then forty years from now, we can all get together and tout our toned bodies, our long hair, and our smooth skin, as we celebrate our longevity. We’ll sip Apple Martinis in bikinis. That goes for Aunty too…since she eats them by the bushel she could easily make it to 140!

Ageless Tip of The Week, don’t forget chewing well is a good rule for eating any food. The more a piece of food is chewed, the easier it is for the digestive system to extract its goodness.

Read more: The Health Benefits of Apples: Eating a Nutritious Apple Everyday can Boost Overall Health http://

ROOT BEER OR RED BULL...

Everything is happening a little too fast these days. I admire my late Uncle D, whose big night out was sitting on the stoop sipping a soda and listening to his transistor radio. Like Uncle D, I will go kicking and screaming into the age of The Jetson’s. I like my cars and feet on the ground, and prefer root-beer to Red Bull.

Yes, progress is good, but can’t we just linger a bit longer with the way things are, were, and have been. I would have enjoyed sending or receiving one more telegram. I miss buying records, and record stores. Every time a book store, church, or local movie theatre closes, I see those flying cars somewhere on the horizon.

Sure, I have become a fan of the sugar-free, decaf, non-fat latte. I use a cell phone, and I have myself convinced I need my computer, but, I have also been perfectly happy, even blissful, without cable TV, a microwave, or an iPhone.

A recent newspaper article hit a nostalgic nerve, when the writer commented about not having to ask for directions any longer thanks to GPS. I don’t have one of those either, and I know they can certainly be very helpful, but, the adventure of traveling on the road is lost. Lewis and Clark, and Charles Kuralt didn’t have GPS, and they got to where they were going, and came back with lots of stories to tell.

I got through the last ten years just fine without any gizmo’s and gadgets, or high-tech anything. The only appliance I turned on today was my electric toothbrush, and that was only because my dentist warned me my teeth would fall out if I didn’t. And speaking of dentists, mine tells me next time I come in, they will have reverse Novocain. By the time I leave the office, I won’t have that puffy, numb feeling anymore. I kind of liked complaining about that.

I don’t think it’s asking too much to want to hold on a bit longer to the things we have grown accustomed to. I already miss not being able to eat for a few hours after my dental appointment. I will no longer have a good excuse to avoid the bakery on my way home from appointments. Oh wait, Bessie’s Pastry Shop has been replaced with a wireless superstore. I will go straight home then, turn on my TV manually, and watch The Jetson’s one more time, before accepting that everyone around me is already living it. Like Uncle D, I still hang my clothes on the line, and get excited over a root-beer float.

UNDERCOVER BROTHER...

Undercover to Meet a Brother

Eddie Griffin is a flamboyant and cinematic actor/comedian. He is best known for his sitcom, Malcolm & Eddie. I know him best as Undercover Brother. He starred in that halarious 2002 film. He also made Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.

When Aunty and I went to see his rather risqué stand up routine, we were pretty excited. There is often a high energy vibe running through live comedy shows, especially if you are big fans of the star. That night it was electrifying as we sat right up front, with Mr. Griffin looking right at Aunty. Thinking back, he must have been wondering what the heck an eighty-year old, white woman was doing at one of his shows! He does use a lot of x-rated language. But, Aunty laughed so hard, I thought she might get sick. After the show, I was determined to meet Eddie. I knew Aunty would get a rise out of such an experience. We hung around for a while, dodging the management as they asked everyone to leave so they could make room for the next audience. Eventually we snuck past a bouncer and made our way to the backstage area.

Luckily Eddie’s brother, who was the comedian’s body guard that evening, took a liking to Aunty. How could he resist? I told him straight out, “Aunty here would love to meet Eddie.” Then, I whispered, "We are undercover, to meet your brother." With that, we removed our sunglasses and were ushered in…

As soon as we arrived to the backstage party, we were greeted with a big… “Hello Sweet Mama.” And Mr. Griffin wasn’t talking to me. He stopped what he was doing, walked right over to Aunty and gave her an enormous hug. She loved it. They started dancing as if they were old buddies. Eddie was gracious, offering us food and drink. He made us feel welcomed. We had a few laughs, and took this picture before we left.

If you haven’t seen Undercover Brother…I highly recommend it. That film is laugh out loud funny. And next time Eddie, or another famous funny man comes to your neighborhood, bring your own Aunty and see how far backstage you can get….

ABBEY WINDOW...

Let the Sunshine In

This is one of my favorite windows in the world.

There is an Abbey I visit whenever possible. The grounds are tranquil, and radiant. The end of a long hall, outside of the chapel, is graced with this window pane. What a glorious view! Whenever I am there, I always stop in this spot to meditate in the light. When I was recently visiting over Easter, I stood there again, but this time with a camera. I had planned to take a picture. I wanted to share what I saw with you. May you experience a sliver of serenity too.

Give yourself a few moments of bliss today. You don’t even have to go anywhere… just look out my Abbey Window! Open it if you’d like– Step out side. Bask in the splendor & simplicity of life. It’s miraculous.

Amen
Sat Nam
Namaste
Peace

THE WORLD IS OUR STAGE

I make a habit of living fully in the moment and luckily it’s paying off. I call this blog Ageless because, aunty and I have been fortunate to have a great deal of love in our life, and take good care of each other. Our clean living is paying off. No one has ever guessed our actual age. The fact that I have my trademark chutzpah helps too. I don’t hear no. I never sit in the back row. I always find my way to the front and often backstage. In this case, on the stage! At a recent performance of the Donkey Show, I was so in the moment, the music and the setting just lifted me into the realm of pure fun. At one point, I jumped on stage and started dancing with one of the characters from this fantastical piece of live theatre!

We all know there is more than enough pain and suffering around us. Any chance we get to create, or dive into pure unadalatured fun… I say we should embrace it head on. Don’t just go though the motions > Star in your own life! There is plenty of room up here for you. The world is your stage too. Don’t let me (and the guy in the bikini) have all the fun.

For more information on the Donkey Show go here

Was Your Easter Bunny Wearing a Hat?

Does anyone know what the Easter Bunny really looks like? I guess it doesn’t matter. I just know that when you believe… he, or she, will always show up, in some way, or another.

I was sitting in my living room this past holiday weekend. The heavy rains had stopped and the sun was shining. I could not stop reminiscing about Easters of the past. I guess I should say, those Easter Baskets of the past. You know, Peeps, colored eggs, chocolates, and pretty colored grass. My mom, or Aunty and Uncle D would always fill one for me! It had been a while since I have been given an Easter Basket. At one point I said to Aunty, "Maybe the Easter Bunny will bring us one this year." Just then there was a knock on the door. When I opened it, in came our dear friend Lori. She held out a large gift. She had arranged and filled a special basket just for us. We were so surprised and delighted. Since I am a full grown adult, I suspect no one knew secretly I had been hoping the Easter Bunny really existed and would bring me a basket…and she sure did!

Like I have said throughout this blog, when you believe, things will happen for you. Be aware that what you wish for might look different when it appears. For instance, I wasn’t expecting the Easter Bunny to show up wearing a wide brim hat and Jackie-O glasses. But, she sure looked like spring to me. And, the basket she was bearing was filled with all the treats I recall from my childhood, right down to the Peeps!

FOR YOU...

Beannacht
("Blessing")

On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders and you stumble, may the clay dance to balance you.

And when your eyes freeze behind the grey window and the ghost of loss gets in to you, may a flock of colours,indigo, red, green,and azure blue come to awaken in you a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays in the currach of thought and a stain of ocean blackens beneath you, may there come across the waters a path of yellow moonlight to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours, may the clarity of light be yours, may the fluency of the ocean be yours, may the protection of the ancestors be yours. And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life.

~ John O'Donohue ~
(Echoes of Memory)

Aunty and I wish you a Happy Easter, Happy Passover, Happy Spring...

Ageless Tip of the Week: Read this Poem Again, and Allow Yourself to Receive The Blessing!