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Betty White: Senior Superstar

January 31, 2012 by

Lots of people say that life's third act is the best. Want proof? Just look at 89 year-old entertainment legend Betty White. She's spent seven decades in show business–she even helped demonstrate television at the 1939 World's Fair!–and her career is more vital than ever. The Emmy-Award winning actress, best known for her starring roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Golden Girls, is blazing new ground for senior citizens and shows no sign of stopping. Here are some of Betty’s recent career highlights:

– In 2010, Betty became the oldest person ever to host Saturday Night Live. She was such a hit on the show that she earned a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

– She's now starring in the popular TV Land sitcom Hot In Cleveland, and she has recently held guest spots on a number of top TV shows, including Boston Legal, 30 Rock, That 70s Show and My Name is Earl.

– She appeared in 2009’s The Proposal alongside Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Hollywood watchers credited Betty with the movie's massive success.

– She appeared in a now-iconic Snickers commercial with Abe Vigoda during Super Bowl XLIV, which won the top spot on the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter.

– In 2011, she appeared in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie The Lost Valentine, which received the highest rating for a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie in the past four years and won first place in the prime-time slot for that date.

And those are just her ventures on screen! Betty is also America's foremost animal health advocate, and she has authored multiple books. Her latest book, If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t), was published in early 2011. Betty White’s life is a source of inspiration for seniors everywhere – her positive energy, her commitment to pursuing her passions, and her dauntless sense of humor. If you want to age with grace and style, there’s no better model than Betty White.

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Senior Citizen Rockers: Still Going Strong

January 24, 2012 by

What do senior citizen music superstars like Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Mick Jagger have in common? Sure, they share fame, fortune, and talent, but one of their most exciting mutual traits is their commitment to growing older with creativity and stamina. Still bringing down the house in their senior years and loved by fans of all ages, these legends prove that age truly is just a number.

Paul McCartney. Now 69 years old, the former Beatle and founder of Wings recently received the Gershwin Award in Music, which was presented to him at the White House by President Obama. The award is given to a composer for a lifetime of achievement in the music. He is still playing to packed concerts all over the world.

Bruce Springsteen. He's as much “The Boss” as ever. In 2009, he performed at the halftime show of Super Bowl XLII, wowing kids and longtime fans. That same year, he was named one of eight “Artists of the Decade” by Rolling Stone Magazine. In the past 10 years, Springsteen and his E Street Band have enjoyed a creative and commercial renaissance.

Mick Jagger. At the age of 68, he's still sexy, still dangerous. In 2007, The Rolling Stones made the Guinness Book of World Records for the success of their “A Bigger Bang” tour. Jagger recently started a new band, SuperHeavy, featuring acclaimed younger musicians Damian Marley, Joss Stone and others.

These senior rockers have defined what it means to age with style, providing inspiration to older adults all over the world. They don’t plan to slow down anytime soon, and neither should you. Rock on!

 

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Five Debut Novelists To Put On Your Reading List

January 18, 2012 by
The publishing industry may be in turmoil right now, but that hasn’t stopped the latest crop of intrepid emerging fiction writers from making their mark. Here are five bright new voices, each with a debut novel published in 2011, to look out for in the coming years:
 
Justin Torres, author of We the Animals
This debut novel, which tells a gripping coming-of-age story centered around three brothers, announces the arrival of a skilled and innovative new writer. Torres has already garnered a number of literary honors, including a Stegner Fellowship in Fiction at Stanford, and the rave reviews of We the Animals mark him as a novelist to watch.
 
Kevin Wilson, author of The Family Fang
Wilson’s The Family Fang, which chronicles the adventures of a theatrical family, has already been optioned by Nicole Kidman for a feature film. This fast-paced, funny novel tells the story of eccentric performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang and their two children. Wilson combines black comedy with human pathos in an unforgettable way. 
 
Tea Obreht, author of The Tiger’s Wife
Not only did Obreht’s The Tiger’s Wife earn her a spot on The New Yorker’s best American fiction writers under forty list, the book was also a National Book Award Finalist in 2011. The Tiger’s Wife, tells the story of Natalia, a young doctor working in a Balkan orphanage by the sea. Obreht weaves a narrative dense with unforgettable images, characters, and connections across time. 
 
Chad Harbach, author of The Art of Fielding
Harbach’s The Art of Fielding has generated a significant amount of buzz and critical praise. The novel centers on college baseball star Henry Skrimshander as he strives toward his dream of achieving Big League stardom. Harbache’s refined prose and vivid characters distinguish him as an up-and-coming writer to put your must-read list. 
 
Eleanor Henderson, author of Ten Thousand Saints
Henderson’s Ten Thousand Saints landed on a lot of high-ranking lists this past year, including the New York Times Book Review’s Top 10 Books of 2011 list and O Magazine’s Top 5 Fiction list. The novel, set in the 1980’s, explores the life of a young man who moves from Vermont to New York after his best friend dies of a drug over-dose. After reading Ten Thousand Saints, you’ll eagerly anticipate more from this exciting new writer.
 
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Feed Your Eyes With a Healthy Diet

January 10, 2012 by

To protect your vision, get your eyes checked once a year. But you can do more than that: simply eating a healthy, balanced diet will help ensure that your trip to the eye doctor is quick, painless and worry-free.

Start with orange juice and green vegetables. They are packed with vitamin C, which helps fight glaucoma, and the heavy dose of antioxidants will guard against macular degeneration.

While you’re at it, remember the color orange; carrots, sweet potatoes, and other orange fruits/vegetables are high in beta carotene, which is a building block for vitamin A. Vitamin A strengthens your corneas and helps prevent night blindness.

Salmon, flax seeds, walnuts, and avocado are good sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. Besides preventing dry eye syndrome, this beneficial fat helps heart and brain health!

You’re not limited to meals, either. Think of all the finger foods you can snack on throughout the day—citrus fruits, broccoli, peaches, mangoes, garlic, chickpeas . . . with every bite, your eyes get stronger. So get that annual eye exam, but “feed” your eyes every day. Bon appetit!

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