It can take time for people to warm-up during the senior dating cycle. Don’t give up until your gut tells you to or if the thought of kissing the person makes you physically sick.

Senior Dating Planning: Dates 1, 2 and 3

Don’t stress, fantasize or have expectations for dates 1–3, and, if possible, keep the meetings to a public place. Try not to make an emotional investment and share too many personal details. Don’t despair if after the first few dates you are still turned off.

On my first date with my late husband he told me he was divorced and had three children. It wasn’t until date three that he revealed his kids were a set of 10-year-old triplets, and he had partial custody!

I was anxious to marry and have my own family, but I really panicked at the possibility of “step-mothering” to triplets!

Catalysts Can Create Chemistry

The most remote simple acts, words, eye contact, smile, expression, can cause you to suddenly “fall into like” or in love. Look for signs of chemistry and compatibility in gestures, words or physical contact.

For boomers, it can be intelligent dinner conversation, sharing common interests, reminiscing about old TV shows and music. The big one is, how do you feel in their presence? Is there comfort and peace?

My friend Donna who is 62 years old went out with a 60-year-old bank president, Fred, who was shorter and, in her opinion, looked nerdy. I encouraged her to press on because he seemed to be a really grounded, successful and smart man.

Fred came to pick up Donna for a fourth date. She felt instant chemistry as she watched Fred tenderly helping her five-year-old grandson tie his shoe.

The Reveals in Dates 4 and 5

It’s also a good idea to see the person in different environments, scenarios and times of the day. This will offer opportunity to observe more behavior traits and reactions.

• By dates 4 and 5 you can exchange more details. Stay charming, warm and sympathetic.
• Don’t mention marriage or your regrets; reveal medical conditions with caution and restraint.
• Use discretion on proceeding to sex. Remember this mantra, “Protection Not Infection.” The STD rates are increasing among seniors!

The Hug and the Handhold

Non-verbal contact, such as a hug, a handhold or eye-locking can be especially telling. The hug can reveal warmth, sincerity, honesty and chemistry. It also can reveal a physical and spiritual comfort level with that person.

Mary was turned off by Robert’s old car and bad fashion choices. But when he put his arm around her she felt protected and was hooked. It was the first hug on date three that got me. The chemistry with my late husband was undeniable, and I started to ignore my “triplet panic.”

It Was the Dancing!

Vivacious 55-year-old Barbara dated Drew, a successful 70-year-old doctor. They had great conversation and common interests. But even after wining and dining her on dates 1 through 5, he hadn’t won Barbara over.

On date 6 they went dancing, and Barbara was enthralled by Drew’s grace and warmth as well as his dancing skills. Slow dancing can be an instant catalyst as the physical contact can produce a variety of reactions. It’s also a sign of compatibility.

Watch and Wait

Beware and be aware of the instant attraction. It can lead to overlooking faults and a potential bad relationship. After a couple of dates, there may be deal breakers or the initial chemistry may fizzle.

By date 6, you’ve had some physical contact, observed each other in different environments and exchanged personal stories. Even if there is no wild physical chemistry but only compatibility, you may have made a friend. If there’s romance, congrats!

After date 6, I got over my triplet panic as I finally met them. I fell in love with all three kids instantly. My deal breaker on date 3 reversed itself after date 6. Although the marriage was cut short by death, 30 years later I have my own son, a loving relationship with my step-triplets and six beautiful step-grandchildren!

Are you dating in your 50s or 60s? Share your dates 1 to 6 stories. What were deal breakers and/or when and what made you fall “in like” or in love? Do you have any senior dating tips to share? Please join the conversation below!

I have to admit I do not cook pasta very often, except in the summer as it makes an easy and inexpensive dinner. With today’s rising food prices, I think about what we eat. This is actually quite easy as my husband shops the bargains.

Often I don’t know what I will be cooking. Creating dishes that will last for two meals makes me happy because I feel like I have the night off on the second night. I do buy whole grain pasta as that eliminates the guilt.

Using leftover meat and veggies is economical and costs just a few dollars. There are no side dishes with the meal as it is a one plate extravaganza. Serve the salads with a glass of chilled white wine and dinner is ready.

To make up for the pasta guilt, using a ton of veggies creates a nutritious meal. I am going to share a vegetarian pasta and a favorite beef and broccoli pasta with you. As always, my recipes are easy to follow and budget friendly.

Pasta with Veggies

Ingredients

12 ounces of any type of pasta cooked according to directions

1 cup of chopped collard greens of swiss chard

1 cup of chopped spinach

1 cup of chopped chinese celery

1/2 cup of chopped parsley

1 cup of thinly sliced carrots

1 cup of chopped yellow neck squash

3 chopped garlic cloves

1/3 cup of olive oil

1/4 cup of water or vegetable broth

1 cup of pumpkin seeds

Salt and pepper to taste

Dressing

1 cup of low fat sour cream

Juice of one lemon

1 tablespoon each of tarragon, oregano and marjoram

1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce

Directions

• In a large frying pan heat the oil.
• Add all of the veggies and garlic and cook until tender.
• Add water or veggie broth as needed.
• Set the veggies aside and cool.
• Thoroughly blend all the dressing ingredients together.
• Mix the veggies and pasta together.
• Blend the dressing in with the pasta and veggies and mix thoroughly.
• Stir the pumpkin seeds in gently.
• Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

*The salad will keep in the fridge for about three days.

Beef and Pasta Salad

I make this salad when I have left over beef, but since I love meat this doesn’t happen very often.

Ingredients

A 12-ounce package of any shape pasta cooked following the directions on the package

2 cups of sliced cook beef of any kind

1 cup each of raw chopped broccoli, celery and sweet red peppers

1 cup of sliced water chestnuts

1 cup of chopped cilantro

Dressing

1/3 cup of olive oil

1/4 cup of wine vinegar

2 tablespoons each of ginger, turmeric, curry powder, cumin and garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Add all the veggies to the cooled pasta and blend well.
• Blend all the dressing ingredients together, except for the water chestnuts, and stir.
• Slowly pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.
• Blend in the water chestnuts.
• Chill the salad for at least two hours.

*The salad will keep in the fridge for two days if you used left over beef.

**You can substitute with chicken, pork or shrimp if you don’t have beef.

Do you have any pasta recipes that you enjoy? Do you find yourself looking for more economical meals these days? Do you enjoy cooking simple recipes for the summer? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.

Say the word, “spa” and it conjures up lifestyles of the rich and famous.

There’s no denying that spas are extremely expensive. However, SPA, or “salute per aqua” is an ageless tradition dating back to Roman times. Honoring your health and well-being with body caring treatments should be a right of all human beings.

Just because you can’t afford a pricey day spa, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be your most serene, beautiful self, and to enjoy the harmonic benefits a spa provides. If you don’t treat yourself like a queen, who will?

That’s why, every month I make an appointment with myself for a dedicated spa-at-home day. I enter it into my calendar and don’t schedule any appointments. This day is all about me.

Beauty Is a Lot of Work

Yes, movie stars have great genes, but it takes a lot of time and effort to achieve their polished look before the Oscars. For days, yes days, they are pummeled, waxed and masked, zapped, peeled, hair treated, styled and made up – by many sets of hands – before we see them, silky and glowing on the red carpet.

You can do much of this at home, but it requires patience to go through all the steps. If you do, I guarantee you’ll love the way you feel and look.

I begin the day with fresh fruit and tea. Maybe I bought some fresh flowers the day before or I cut some greens from my garden. Yoga stretches. Meditation. A beautiful reading. I light a stick of incense or a scented candle for aromatherapy benefits. I play zen-like spa music to complete the atmosphere.

Hair and Face

Next, I set myself up with a facial and hair masks; these will be working as I go on to my other treatments.

For my hair, I buy a deep moisturizing treatment at my salon or I use a home remedy such as warmed olive oil or coconut oil. The internet has lots of recipes for inexpensive home hair masks. Once applied, I make a cap of silver foil and smooth it onto my head. I love the feeling of warm moisturization as I continue.

With my hair wrapped, I apply my facial mask. I decide what my skin needs. It might be deep moisture, exfoliation, or tightening. I buy these at the drugstore or concoct a natural mix at home.

Luscious Fresh Feet

Face and hair are working. Now on to the pedicure. A pedicure is not just about having pretty feet. Touching your feet affects your entire well-being, because it’s like a reflexology treatment. You’re stimulating and calming the various areas of your body because all your body’s nerve endings are present in the foot.

It’s a little detail, but beautiful feet mean you care for yourself. Gerontologists look at a patient’s feet to see her general state of health and well-being. They consider uncared for feet a sign of neglect in general well-being.

I don’t wear colored polish on my toes anymore because I don’t like chipped nail polish and the high maintenance of a weekly pedicure. But I do love to have beautiful, natural, fresh feet.

My Peppermint Pedicure

I soak my feet in a basin of warm water with a splash of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap, or a squish of shampoo. Fifteen minutes is good, but a half hour is best. Within a few minutes my feet start to tingle and I feel wonderfully calm inside. With a wash cloth, I rub off the dead skin on heels, arches, toes, tops, bottoms and in between.

I dry my feet and then push back cuticles and cut toenails – so much easier now because they’re soft. I massage in foot crème which I’ve learned is much stronger than hand crème and sit with my feet up so they can soak in the moisture. I enjoy a fruit tea whilst I’m tingling from head to toe.

Soigné Hands

Manicure time. I soak my fingers in a little bowl, one hand at a time. The zen-like spa music and scented candle are working their magic. After pushing back cuticles and trimming and filing my nails, I massage my hands with a nice hand crème. Yes, I have “old” hands, but having beautifully manicured, cared for hands, speaks volumes about who I am as a person.

I’ll share the secret to my beautiful hands: cuticle crème every night. My hands are in and out of soap and water all day long; the drying effect is palpable. Rubbing cuticle crème or oil into my fingertips each night makes an enormous difference, calming everything down. I do believe my nails and fingertips thank me.

SPA: Salute Per Aqua

Mani-Pedi done. Into the tub for a relaxing soak, followed by a warm shower that will rinse off the face and hair treatments. When I get out of the shower, I dab myself with a towel lightly, staying moist. Slathering on body lotion when you’re still wet is an extraordinary feeling. So, slippery and wet, I put on a cotton robe and lie down. I close my eyes and breathe. After a bit, I dry and style my hair.

I’m refreshed, renewed and yes, I feel like a million. My body is the temple of my soul. I do honor to my soul by caring for my body. I wish you a beautiful spa day!

Is a home spa day something you’d like to schedule into your life? Do you have any spa treatments you do at home? Please share your favorite home spa recipes in the comments!

Do you
want to have better balance? Would you also like to boost your brain fitness?
Not only are both possible, but you can do them at the same time!

Doing targeted balance exercises at the right level for you can improve your balance and help you feel steadier and more confident on your feet.

Performing
activities that stimulate your brain can improve your cognitive function at any
age. The great news is that, if you do these at the same time as your balance
exercises, you get double the results and have more fun!

The
opportunities to boost your brain function and improve your balance are endless
(and great fun too).

Should I Be Doing Balance Exercises?

If you
aren’t having trouble with your balance, you will want to work hard to maintain
it, before any problems develop. And if you are having difficulties, you
must do exercises to improve or at least to prevent further decline.

The key is
to do exercises that are at the right level for you – not so easy that you
could do them in your sleep, not so hard that you feel unsteady and worried
about falling.

How About Brain Stimulation Exercises?

But can I improve my brain function at the same time? Indeed, you can! Until recently, we thought that our brains were hardwired in childhood and things would only deteriorate over time.

Neuroscientists
have now discovered that we can do two amazing things with our brain at any age:

• One, we can grow new brain cells, a process called neurogenesis, and
• Two, we have also learned more about the ability of our brains to change throughout life. This process, called neuroplasticity, means that our brains can grow and specialise in response to external factors and stimulation.

You know
that the “move it or lose it” principle applies to your body as you get older.
In the same vein, we must recognise that “use it or lose it” applies to your
brain. The more you stimulate and challenge your brain cells, the healthier
your brain will be.

Why Should I Combine Brain Boosts with Balance Exercises?

In real
life, we are rarely doing just one thing at a time. When we are in a class or
exercising quietly at home, we have the luxury of concentrating on a specific
balance exercise. It’s great to do this sometimes (and it does help to improve
our balance).

However,
more often than not, when we need to deploy our balance skills in everyday
life, we don’t have that luxury.

Maybe we
are rushing down the stairs at home to answer the door, trying not to trip over
a sleeping cat. Perhaps we are stepping off the bus and looking out for
children racing down the street on scooters.

Or we are
out, walking on uneven cobblestones in a foreign city, looking up at the
historic architecture –
and not watching our feet.

In real
life, we are rarely able to focus 100% on our balance. So, our training must
reflect this. We must practice maintaining our balance while our brains are
otherwise occupied.

How Will This Help to Improve My Balance?

When your
brain is busy concentrating, the other areas that control our balance (eyes,
ears, muscles, and joints) have to work harder to keep us steady. This
additional challenge translates into everyday life when we need to maintain our
balance in the face of various obstacles and distractions.

Here are
two combination Brain & Balance exercises you can try today.

When doing
balance training, remember to:

• Stand close to something you could
  hold onto (just in case). A tall chair, table or kitchen worktop is good.
• Stand up tall with good posture.
• Keep breathing (it’s really easy to
  hold your breath when you concentrate!).

Watch the
videos to see which brain & balance boosts we try together. Don’t’ worry –
do the best you can and have fun!

Brain + Balance Boost #1: One Leg Stand Plus Mental
Challenge:

Technique
tip: When you stand on one leg, keep pulling up tall and stay aligned (don’t
let yourself tip to one side).

Brain + Balance Boost #2: Tandem Stand Plus Brain Boosts

Technique
tip: When you do the tandem stand, check that your weight is evenly distributed
over both feet.

Also, if
you feel too unsteady in this position, take the front foot slightly to the
side to give yourself a wider base of support.

Variety is the Spice of Life and Crucial for Brain Training

One of the
key principles of brain training is variety. So, we have to keep shaking things
up! Here are some more ideas for brain boosters you can try when doing balance
exercises:

• Work out complicated maths sums (the sillier, the better!). Sometimes, my son has me go on doubling numbers for as long as I can. It starts simply with three plus three, but before you know it you are dealing with some crazy numbers.
• Do your balance exercises while watching a general knowledge or other quiz show (e.g., University Challenge, Countdown, etc.). You can join in and do your exercises at the same time.
• Speak in a foreign language. You could try translating today’s newspaper or pretend to be telling someone what you did yesterday.
• Try to memorise a poem or song, or to recite something from memory.
• Draw or write in the air with your hands. You can try making different shapes with each hand. Try this Brain Boost video while standing on one leg or in a tandem stand:

Here are
some bonus brain boosters you can do with a friend or family member:

• Play a word game; maybe a word
  association game.
• Or the first/last letter game. You
  choose a category (e.g. cities). You can only say the names of towns and
  cities, and they always have to start with the final letter of the previous
  one, e.g., Paris – Seattle – Edinburgh – Houston, etc.

I hope you have enjoyed learning about these fun brain/balance combination exercises. If you want more exercises to improve your balance, take a look at our free, four-week Balance Boost video series.

These
online videos are short, clear and easy to follow. They will help you to feel
steadier on your feet and more confident.

Why
do you want to improve your balance? How do you feel about your brain health?
Which of these brain/balance combinations will you try? Join the conversation
below!