The Baby Boomer Diva Blog

In honor of my 50th birthday which is coming up in June, I have decided to form a special club. It's the Baby Boomer Diva Club and you are welcome to join if you are going to be 50 years old in 2007 like me.

Now, in order to be a member of this club you must meet certain standards. You must be DETERMINED, INTELLIGENT, VIVACIOUS and have plenty of ATTITUDE! This is definitely not a club for you if you're whining about growing older or sick to death about hot flashes. It's also not for you if you are a constant complainer. You know, you complain because you've picked up a few extra pounds or just for the mere fact that the sun is shining. No---no--no---this club is not for you.

What I'm looking for are women who are looking at their lives through rose colored glasses and grabbing the bulls by the horn and taking no prisoners. I want to associate with women who are proud to be where they are in life---despite the bumps in the road. Honey, we all have bumps in the road and raging storms that we go through but the key is we "go through" and move on.

Over the next several months, I hope to find other DIVAs like myself who are on the move and making a difference. If you fit the bill, WELCOME to the Baby Boomer Diva Club!


http://www.thebabyboomerdiva.com

Dancing with Towels on our Heads

The other day I was driving home after picking up my daughter from her school bus stop and all of a sudden an "oldie but goodie" came on the radio.

"Ooh, baby, baby
Where did our love go?
Ooh, don't you want me
Don't you want me no more…"

If you're a baby boomer you know the song made famous by the Supremes. Immediately the song took me back to my childhood and the days when my next door neighbors and I would imitate Diana, Mary and Flo in the middle of our street. Of course, I was always Diana because I was the oldest and just knew I could sing and Loretta and Lynetta were my background vocals.

I don't know if this is an ethnic thing or not, but when we did our thing we had to have towels on our heads. That was to simulate our long flowing hair because you had to have long flowing hair as a singer. Our hair was always in braids and we wouldn't dare take those braids loose for fear of the pain of having them re-braided and the pain we would feel on our behinds for doing something we weren't supposed to.

As I continued to drive, I turned up the radio a little louder (the very thing I tell my daughter NOT to do) and I wailed my heart out—remembering a time and place where it was so much fun to be a little girl who dreamed of being a "Supreme."

I would imagine many little girls got together and imitated The Supremes.

Ten Tips to Help You Live to be Drama Free at Midlife

10. Write a list of goals you'd like to achieve. Focus on what you know you can do well. Don’t try to be a “jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none.

9. Say “no” instead of “yes”. I had to learn this one. You can’t be all things to all people so instead of trying to please everybody—just do what you know you can do and forget about the rest. The worst mistake you can make is to say “yes” and then fail to do what you promised because you’ve said yes once too often.

8. Stop being a slave to communication tools. How many phones do you really need in order to communicate? Do you really need a home phone, a cellular phone, pager, fax, e-mail and internet ICQ technology?

7. Stop spending time to save money. Instead, spend money to save time. Don't drive across town to save a few cents on a grocery item. It's not worth your time.

6. Cancel subscriptions to magazines you never get around to reading. How many magazines do you have cluttering up your house?

5. Cut back on television time. When you’re sitting glued to the television, chances are more likely that you’re going to snack on junk food. And where does junk food go? Straight to your stomach, hips and thighs! Instead, go for a walk and get some fresh air. Then you come back, take a shower and relax or find some other things to occupy your time.

4. Clean out your garage or your home-based office. If you're not using something, get rid of it. Have a yard sale and make some extra money. Remember, one person’s junk is someone else’s treasure.

3. You don’t need to be a member of every organization. How many groups do you belong to that aren’t contributing to your personal or professional growth? You say “Oh, but they need me.” No, they don’t. There are others who can do what you do—maybe even better. Join a maximum of two groups. One for professional; the other for pleasure or social.

2. Simplify your financial world. For instance, set up automatic bill payments. Include your automatic savings plan as part of your monthly spending. That’s one less headache you’ll have every month.

1. Give yourself some ME time! Plan to spend more time doing things you like to do. Ladies: Get your hair and nails done. Get a pedicure. Go out with girlfriends and share a laugh or two over hot flashes and mood swings. You’ll feel much better after that.


Beverly Mahone writes about issues affecting baby boomers in her book "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age." For more articles, visit her website at www.talk2bev.com

Click here to get your own player.

Talk2Bev.com & Fabulously40.com Team Up for Valentine's Day

I'm convinced that some men really need help when it comes to knowing how to please their mates on Valentine's Day. And I've decided to help them, along with some help from Fabulously40.com and a few hundred women.

This year I'm teaming up with Fabulously40.com to sponsor the First Annual Baby Boomer Valentine's Day Contest in which baby boomer women will be submitting their thoughts and ideas on what a man needs to do in order to sweep the love of his life off of her feet and give her the most romantic day imaginable.

The judges are five baby boomer men I selected at random. The only person I know in the group is a deacon at my church and I have to tell you, I chose him because of the relationship I have witnessed between him and his wife. The other judges were selected because we are all writers and are connected in one group or another on-line.

It should be interesting because you know we women tend to be very opinionated.

Is Valentine's Day only set aside for young lovers or do baby boomer babes like me get the honor and privilege of being showered with flowers, gifts, love, kisses and a fulfillment of a sexual fantasy? Has age caused us to put the romantic holiday aside because it's "just another day?" Or have we become too wrapped up in other personal or professional matters that we can't appreciate the love that we share?

I remember Valentine's Day when I was younger. The most beautiful gift I ever received was a heart shaped necklace that came from my first high school boyfriend. You know the kind that is split in two with both of your names on each half? It had such sentimental value because he was not the romantic type at all. The fact that took the time and went out to find a necklace like that for me meant more than words can express here. I kept it for many years.

These days I treasure the love I share with my second husband. He is all that I could ever want and more. He is my soul mate. Everyday is Valentine's Day with him and I thank God for the hook-up!

If I were entering the contest I would give this advice: Show your mate the same consistent, passionate love each and every day so she will tell her girlfriends, as I often do, that EVERYDAY is Valentine's Day in our home.

You can get all the details for the contest by going to my website and clicking on Valentine Contest and then submitting your entry to:

babyboomervalentine@gmail.com:

I might also add that there will be ten (10) winners selected with the GRAND PRIZE WINNER receiving a mini vacation package, courtesy of Sonshine Travel. Other sponsors include: Business Resources Podcast Directory, Women's E Commerce International, A Little Taste of Italy, Healthier Outcomes.com, Tally Green & Gano Excel Healthy Coffee, Tasha Beckman & SendOutCards, The Secrets of Prosperity, etc.

I don't know about you but I'm glad to have lived long enough to appreciate what it means to truly love and to have that Special "I love you" Valentine feeling throughout the year.

Review: Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Please Help me become the First, Unknown, African-American, Female, Pushing 50 to hit #1 on the Amazon Best Selling Author's List on November 16 WITHOUT OPRAH'S HELP!

Here's another review:

"Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age is a delightful and witty portrait of a woman’s journey through middle age. Filled with plenty of laughs, heartfelt advice and spiritual insights to help us cope with the new challenges that await us during the middle age and years…and beyond.

Beverly Mahone is gifted at making you chuckle at yourself while at the same time reminding you to reflect on your own uniqueness and beauty as you move forward towards your God-given destiny. No matter what age your age, Mahone reminds us in WHATEVER! that with faith, laughter and hope, we’ll make it through and have the best second act imaginable."

J. Woods

www.GoodGirlBookClubOnline.com


Thanks for your support!
Peace & Blessings
babyboomerbev

A review of: WHATEVER! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

"Although this book was written primarily for women and deals with the physical, emotional and social challenges of a middle age single mother, it also qualifies as recommended reading for men as well. It can provide men an open window into the mind, heart and sould of their own spouse or companion who may also be experiencing the same life changing challenges. The man's understanding of what the woman is going through allows for better communication and support.

Also, whether you are a man or woman, if you can relate to the life experiences shared by the author, this should cause yu to re-evaluate your priorities and reflect on some of your choices made in life.

Horace L. Bridges, Jr., Deacon
Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church
Durham, NC

I got REVIVED last night!

For the past three nights, my church has been holding a revival. Before I go any further, I wonder why it's called a "revival?" Does that mean it's a time to have our souls renewed and revitalized? And why do we need someone other than our OWN PASTOR to "revive" us? Well, after last night I think I know the answer.

For this year's revival, the guest speaker was Dr. Claude Alexander from the University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. I had never heard of him but my girlfriend Tasha said she watches him on the Word Channel and sang his praises and since I respect her opinion I decided to go check him out. If I didn't do it on Wednesday night, I wouldn't get another opportunity because that was the LAST night of the revival.

Well, let me tell you, I got revived, rejuvenated, renewed and I rejoiced the entire time! Dr. Alexander had a message just for ME. The title of his sermon was, "You're NOT Dreaming!" He told me I wasn't dreaming. He tied my story into the story of Peter (Acts 12). This is where Peter was in prison, handcuffed to the guards, who were handcuffed to the prison wall. One night while Peter was asleep, an angel of the Lord came in and released his shackles (but left the guards in handcuffs to the prison wall) and led him out of the prison. Dr. Alexander said Peter thought he was dreaming---thought it was a "vision" but it was REALITY. The Lord had moved Peter, from what seemed like the END, to a brand new BEGINNING (read the rest of Acts for the rest of the story).

Anyway, Dr. Alexander told me all that I had been through this past year was God's doing. He said the chains from my dead end job had been released and He was moving me on because His purpose for me was still very much alive and more important than ever. Dr. Alexander also told me my shackles were removed because of the prayers of the saints---my friends---who have lifted me up time and time again because they knew my struggles and anxieties. Even when I couldn't pray for myself, the saints---my friends--were lifting me higher and higher unto the Lord.

Dr. Alexander told me God was getting ready to do something so spectacular it was going to blow my mind---that He's going to trump even MY expectations. He told me I'm not dreaming. And you know what, I'm really glad I went to revival last night because I needed to be reminded that God is true to His Word---that He keeps His promises and that DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE when you have the VISION!

That means "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age WILL become an Amazon Best Seller in November!!!

Oh...and I think I know why our own pastor doesn't do our revivals...because sometimes, just like you and me, he needs some REVIVING too!

I got an email from Bart Simpson!

I opened up my email today (Sunday) and much to my surprise, there was an email from a former Ohio University classmate---Nancy Cartwright. Nancy, as you may or may not know, is the awesome voice behind the cartoon character Bart Simpson. Now if I have to tell you who Bart Simpson is, don't bother to read any further.

I had lost touch with Nancy over the years and decided to look her up. Well, I went through her "fan mail" website and was actually surprised that she responded because you know how a lot of celebrities are...they either send you an automated generic "Thank you for your letter..." or they don't even bother to respond at all. But not Nancy. She sent a personal response. She's still the same sweet, adorable person I remembered back then and more importantly, she hasn't let success go to her head.

She brought me up to date on her life (a member of the divorcee club, like me, and the mother of two teenaged children---I have one). She also reminded me of some of our wild and crazy college days! (The stuff books are written about!).

Now we're re-connected again. I guess I should ask her for a review of my book since we're both baby boomers, right? Wow! We're now baby boomers...hard to believe.

I guess here is where I should do some shameless promotion and ask you to buy a copy of my book on amazon.com

Seriously, I thank God for the friendships I've made over the years.

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.talk2bev.com