10 Best Ways To Destress and Clear Your Mind

For many people, life feels more stressful now than ever before. The feelings of uncertainty, instability, and vulnerability weigh heavy on many hearts and minds daily, so being able to manage your stress level, and clear your mind to focus and think is a much-needed tool to make it through tough times.

Life is stressful, and while a certain amount of stress is normal and healthy, too much stress can cause serious physical and mental issues.

Unfortunately, there is no magical cure to make all of your problems and worries go away, but there are things you can do to help you cope better.

10 Ways To Destress and Clear Your Mind

Play With A Pet

Animals are wonderful stress relievers. They are loving, and affectionate, and can really be your best friend. If you don’t have a pet, head to the animal shelters and consider giving a home to an animal in need. It’s a win-win decision.

Go For A Walk

Getting outside into the fresh air can do wonders for clearing your head and destressing. The sunshine and vitamin D will almost instantly improve your mood.

Focus On Or Find A Hobby

Hobbies are fun, relaxing, and a great way to spend your free time. Maybe your hobby is bird watching or crocheting, or fixing cars and cooking. Whatever you enjoy doing, dive on in and destress.

Exercise

While walking is technically a form of exercise, you make want to challenge yourself more mentally and physically by doing some cardio and weight training. Hit the gym, or workout at home with free weights, videos, or fitness apps.

Spend Time With Friends

Spend time with people who make things feel lighter and better. Great friends can truly be a lifesaver in times like these. Have your friends over for dinner, or meet up for a hike or drinks.

Take Time For Yourself

Do something just for yourself, whether that means going to the spa or to the gun range. The simple things in life have been missed lately. Going to get your nails done, going to the gym, or just window shopping feel like activities of the past. Normal is different, so allowing yourself the little treats you can is worth it and will help to reduce your stress.

Spend Some Time Alone

While many of us have been in quarantine during the pandemic, we still may not get any alone time. Time alone with our thoughts or time alone with our hobbies. Close the bedroom door or bathroom and give yourself an hour of alone time. You deserve it.

Declutter Your Life

Believe it or not, clutter can make you feel more stressed and unable to focus. Spend a Saturday decluttering your closet, your bedroom, or your kitchen, and you will reap the benefits. Not only are you getting rid of stuff you no longer use or need, but you can also help others in need by donating your stuff.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, give yourself a purpose, and a way to find appreciation for your life. Whether you choose to volunteer at a hospital, at a retirement home, or at a homeless shelter you are likely to come away from your experience less stressed about your own life.

Get More Sleep

Sometimes managing stress is just a simple matter of getting more sleep. Turn off all of the electronics, put on a sleep mask if needed, and get a good night’s rest. When you wake up in the morning, the world and your life will still be the same, but you will have the energy and the focus to face anything that comes your way.

While we cannot control the world around us, we can do our best to manage and control our response in what often feels like chaotic times. Remember, you got this. You will get through this and things will get better.

Are you feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders? What do you do to destress and clear your mind? Please your share experience and advice!

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” - Albert Einstein

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Pros and Cons of Dating Someone Younger

While some believe that age is just a number, others believe that dating younger men is a waste of time. It can be hard to meet a great guy, especially when are limiting our own pool of candidates with very specific requirements.

For centuries men have been courting and marrying younger women, and it is still the socially accepted norm. But when a woman dates a younger man tongues start wagging and people tend to be a little more judgemental.

The truth of the matter is that when a woman dates a younger man there are pros and cons to that relationship. Every woman has to decide if a relationship with a younger man is ultimately for her or if she is just having fun.

Pros Of Dating A Younger Man

Flattering

We all have a little vanity. It feels good to feel attractive. It feels good to still be able to catch the eye of men as we age, especially when the man is younger.

Dating a younger man can make a woman feel like “she’s still got it”.

Exciting

As we age we tend to be more cautious and practical, but dating a younger man will force you out of your comfort zone and make life a little wild again.

Also, the fact that the older woman, younger man relationship tends still be considered taboo can make the older woman feel like she is a rule-breaker and being naughty, especially if she has always played by the rules.

Great Sex

Let’s be honest, a man’s sex drive doesn’t usually increase as he ages. His testosterone levels drop and he is more likely to suffer from ailments that cause impotence. Dating a younger man with a revved-up sex drive is what every single older woman needs in her life, if only for a little while.

Makes You Feel Younger

Depending on the age gap, there may be significant differences in tastes of music, food, and friends. Hanging out with your younger guy in his element can make you feel young again. His world can feel new, almost foreign, but also cool and different.

Cons Of Dating A Younger Man

Compatibility Issues

Age gaps can create compatibility issues. You are likely to have different tastes in music, different hobbies, and vastly different life experiences.

Maybe you’re a Gen X and he’s a Millennial. You grew up in different times and different world views and events shaped your childhood and points of view.

Not Equals

As we gain more life experience and professional experience, we become more knowledgeable and successful. Where we are at in our career and finances in our 30’s versus where we are at in our 40’s can be significantly different.

Chances are, the older woman is more settled in her career and more financially stable than her younger beau is in his career and finances. The disparity in success and finances may prove challenging and may make the man in the relationship feel inferior and emasculated.

Maturity Issues

Some people are just naturally more mature than others, and everyone is different, but when dating a younger man maturity may be an issue. He likely hasn’t experienced nearly as much in his life yet as his older woman partner has, so he may not be as thoughtful, responsible, or as reliable as she would like.

A woman can find her happily ever after with a younger man, but of course, just like any other relationship, there will be some issues to address and overcome. Depending on the age gap, different ages can also mean different stages in life.

Getting married, buying a home, having children, and planning for retirement are all big topics that come into play in any serious relationship, but can be more time-sensitive for an older woman/younger man relationship.

What are your thoughts on dating a younger man? Have you ever or are your currently dating a younger man? What is your experience and would you date a younger man again? Please share your story and experience!

“What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are but how you deal with incompatibility.” ― Leo Tolstoy

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Your Stay At Home Must See TV Binge Watch List

Toilet paper, check. Disinfectant wipes, check. Remote in hand, check. Now you just have to figure out what to watch as we all wrangle the kids and self-quarantine.

There has been no better time to catch up on your favorite shows or find out what you have been missing all this time. Some of my recommendations are not family friendly, but there are a couple that you can enjoy with the kiddos. Enjoy!

My Binge Recommendations

Little Fires Everywhere

Little Fires Everywhere follows the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives. Based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller, the story explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger in believing that following the rules can avert disaster. - Hulu

Hunters

In 1977, in New York City, a troubled young Jewish man bent on revenge is taken in by a secret group of Nazi hunters fighting a clandestine war against the cabal of high-ranking Nazi officials in hiding who work to create the Fourth Reich. - Amazon Video

The Stranger

Follows the lives of suburban families whose secrets and lies are made public by the appearance of a stranger. - Netflix

Locke and Key

After their father is murdered under mysterious circumstances, the three Locke siblings and their mother move into their ancestral home, Keyhouse, which they discover is full of magical keys that may be connected to their father's death. - Netflix

Merlin

These are the brand new adventures of Merlin, the legendary sorcerer as a young man, when he was just a servant to young Prince Arthur on the royal court of Camelot, who has soon become his best friend, and turned Arthur into a great king and a legend. - Netflix

The Valhalla Murder

Police profiler Arnar is sent back home from Oslo to his native Iceland to investigate the country's first serial killer case. He teams up with the local senior cop Kata. - Netflix

How He Shows His Love Based On His Zodiac

Whether you are a true believer, or just read your horoscope for fun, trying to analyze and understand people based on their zodiac sign is fun. Add in some love and romance and it gets even better.

Every man is different and will express his love for you in many ways. His personality in general has a lot to do with the zodiac he was born under. No one is perfect and there are pros and cons to every zodiac, and just like personalities, some zodiacs are just more compatible than others.

Based on his zodiac, find out how he will show his love for you.

His Zodiac and How He Loves You

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Aries

Aries is first sign of the zodiac and is a Fire sign. This zodiac is represented by the ram and is very sure of itself. The Aries man is very sexual and used to getting his way. An Aries man in love is very passionate, honest, and demanding at times. It takes a lot to settle an Aries man down, so if he chooses you, it is because he respects you and sees you as an equal match for him.

Best Love Matches for Aries - Leo and Sagittarius

Taurus

The Taurus is an Earth sign and tends to be more reserved. This zodiac is represented by the bull and like the bull tends to be very stubborn, well grounded, and practical. When in love, the Taurus man is devoted, loving, but also possessive and occasionally needy.

Best Love Matches for the Taurus - Virgo and Capricorn

Gemini

The Gemini is an Air sign and tends to be very personable, witty, and a great conversationalist. Also known as the twin, the Gemini has two faces and two personalities, and frequently changes their mind. A Gemini man in love is affectionate, loving, and fun to be with. While the Gemini is often indecisive, when they decide you are the one, they are all in.

Best Love Matches for Gemini - Libra and Aquarius

Cancer

The Cancer is a Water sign and tends to be very emotional. Represented by the crab, a Cancer man in love is very loving and nurturing. He will want to take care of you and will do anything in his power to help you. He will go out of his way for the one he loves, but be mindful that he can be clingy and passive aggressive at times.

Best Love Matches for Cancer - Scorpio and Pisces

Virgo

The Virgo is an Earth sign and represented by the Maiden. The Virgo man in love is open and affectionate. He is looking for long term love and does not enjoy flings. Once you have a Virgo man’s trust and his heart, he will be vulnerable with you and show how much he loves you more than he will say it.

Best Love Matches for Virgo - Capricorn and Taurus

Leo

The Leo is a Fire sign. This zodiac is represent by the lion. A Leo man in love is loyal, protective, and kind. He is naturally very charming and will take the lead in the relationship to the point sometimes of being domineering. As long as they feel loved and appreciated by you, they will return the same affection in kind, but can also be very stubborn and self-centered.

Best Love Matches for Leo - Sagittarius and Aries

Libra

The Libra is an Air sign and represented by the scales. A Libra man loves to be in love. He is charming, romantic, and very chill in his relationship. When a Libra man is in love he will be devoted and focused on you. But a Libra man can also have a fickle heart and be very indecisive, which can make him seem dishonest and insincere.

Best Love Matches for Libra - Aquarius and Gemini

Scorpio

The Scorpio is a Water sign and represented by the scorpion. The Scorpio man is very emotional and passionate. They can have a very cold and unfriendly demeanor but when in love they are intense, sexual, and devoted to their partner. The Scorpio man in love also tends to be very possessive, jealous, and clingy.

Best Love Matches for Scorpio - Pisces and Cancer

Sagittarius

The Sagittarius is a Fire sign. This zodiac is represented by the Archer. The Sagittarius man is very positive, open-minded, and adventurous. A Sagittarius man in love will want to show you the world. They want to share and experience new things with you. The Sagittarius man loves the chase of new relationships and can become easily bored in relationships, especially those with routines.

Best Love Matches for Sagittarius - Aries and Leo

Capricorn

The Capricorn is an Earth sign. This zodiac sign is represented by the Goat. The Capricorn man is very determined, reliable, and cautious. A Capricorn man in love is guarded, but also loyal and dedicated. The Capricorn doesn’t open their heart easily, so if they choose you it is because they have weighed the pros and cons and have decided you two are a good fit.

The Best Matches for Capricorn - Taurus and Virgo

Aquarius

The Aquarius is an Air sign and is represented by the Water Bearer. An Aquarius man is kind and very generous. An Aquarius man in love will be vulnerable, empathetic, and your best friend. The Aquarius man is not the jealous type and will give you your own space, but they also require their space and can be emotionally distant at times.

Best Love Matches for Aquarius - Gemini and Libra

Pisces

The Pisces is a Water sign and represented by the Fish. The Pisces man is very romantic, loving, and loves to please. A Pisces man in love is committed, loyal, and very caring. They want to make you happy, but the Pisces man can be secretive, emotionally needy, and self-pitying.

Best Love Matches for Pisces - Cancer and Scorpio

What are your thoughts on personality traits and zodiacs? Do you find the love behaviors based on his zodiac to be accurate? Please share your thoughts and experience!

Images by DarkWorkX

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Book Club Recommendations - Love Edition

My February book club recommendations are all about love and in the spirit of Valentine’s Day. Anything worth having requires hard work and sacrifice, and the same could be said for true love.

I’m a romantic so I love a good love story. Every good love story starts with an obstacle for the lovers to overcome to be together and find their happily ever after. What better way is there to snuggle up and enjoy the last few weeks of winter than with a good book?

The books I have selected have great love stories and will inspire you to fall in love all over again, and rethink your definition of being in love. Happy reading!

Love Inspired Book Club Recommendations

• See Me - Nicholas Sparks

• Summer At Firefly Beach - Jenny Hale

• The Secret Wife - Gill Paul

• The Husband’s Secret - Liane Moriarty

See Me - Nicholas Sparks

Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot. At 28, he's focused only on walking a straight line - getting his teaching degree, working out at the gym religiously, and avoiding all the places and people that proved so destructive in his earlier life. The last thing he's looking for is a serious relationship. But when Maria Sanchez crosses paths with him on a rainswept night in North Carolina, his plans are upended in a way that will rattle the foundations of his carefully structured life. As for Maria, the hardworking lawyer and daughter of Mexican immigrants, Colin will challenge every notion she's ever had about herself and her future, making her question what truly makes her happy.

Before the couple has a chance to envision what a life together might look like, however, menacing reminders of events in Maria's past begin to surface. And as the threat of violence begins to shadow her every step, she and Colin will be tested in increasingly terrifying ways. Will demons from their past destroy the tentative bonds they have forged, or will their love protect them, even in the darkest hour?

Summer At Firefly Beach - Jenny Hale

Hallie Flynn’s favorite place in the world is her great Aunt Clara’s beautiful beachside house, with its inviting wraparound porch and enchanting views across the sparkling turquoise ocean. For Hallie, going to Firefly Beach, filled with magical memories, feels like coming home, but in one moment Hallie is left broken-hearted when her adored Aunt Clara passes away…

As always, Aunt Clara has thought of everything. In her last letter she included a bucket list Hallie wrote as a child, for Hallie to complete. Leaving her dead-end job and predictable schedule, Hallie returns to Firefly beach and embraces Aunt Clara’s words. All the time her childhood best friend Ben Murray, with his golden charm and infuriating ability to be right all the time, is by her side.

Spending the summer with Ben, as they enjoy drinks on the pier and endless talks stretched out in the soft sand, Hallie begins to remember the things that matter most to her. But following the bucket list isn’t an easy journey. It forces her to face the pain of her past as she starts to fall for the person who has been there for her all along...

Just as her heart is healing, an encounter with a newcomer to the beach town, wealthy and talented photographer Gavin Wilson, leaves her questioning her future and shows her she has to make a difficult decision that could mean losing everything.

Will Hallie be able to fulfill Aunt Clara’s last wish and change her life? Or will a secret she’s been keeping destroy her new beginning—and the chance to experience true love?

The Secret Wife - Gill Paul

A Russian grand duchess and an English journalist. Linked by one of the world’s greatest mysteries . . .

Love. Guilt. Heartbreak.

1914

Russia is on the brink of collapse, and the Romanov family faces a terrifyingly uncertain future. Grand Duchess Tatiana has fallen in love with cavalry officer Dmitri, but events take a catastrophic turn, placing their romance – and their lives – in danger . . .

2016

Kitty Fisher escapes to her great-grandfather’s remote cabin in America, after a devastating revelation makes her flee London. There, on the shores of Lake Akanabee, she discovers the spectacular jewelled pendant that will lead her to a long-buried family secret . . .

Haunting, moving and beautifully written, The Secret Wife effortlessly crosses centuries, as past merges with present in an unforgettable story of love, loss and resilience.

The Husband’s Secret - Liane Moriarty

At the heart of The Husband’s Secret is a letter that’s not meant to be read…
 
My darling Cecilia,
If you’re reading this, then I’ve died…
 
Imagine your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not only the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. And then imagine that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive…
 
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. But that letter is about to change everything—and not just for her. There are other women who barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they, too, are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.

Must See TV…Binge Worthy Shows For The New Year

Winter break is a time to enjoy family and friends, and to decompress. Your holiday break is also a time for nesting, and staying inside to get cozy and avoid the winter weather. And what better way to decompress and get cozy inside than to do some binge watching on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

As the new year starts, many highly anticipated shows return. Here are four shows I think are completely binge worthy from first season to current season.

Binge Worthy Shows

The Expanse Season 4

Season 4 begins a new chapter for the series with the crew of the Rocinante on a mission from the U.N. to explore new worlds beyond the Ring Gate. Humanity has been given access to thousands of Earth-like planets which has created a land rush and furthered tensions between the opposing nations of Earth, Mars and the Belt.

Ilus is the first of these planets, one rich with natural resources but also marked by the ruins of a long dead alien civilization. While Earthers, Martians and Belters maneuver to colonize Ilus and its natural resources, these early explorers don’t understand this new world and are unaware of the larger dangers that await them. - Amazon Prime Video

The Expanse is one of my favorite shows. The stakes are always high, the action is never ending, and the special effects are impressive. I recommend you create a real viewing experience for this series. With a big screen television, good surround sound, and the lights out, you will almost start to feel like you are a crew member on the Rocinante.

Jack Ryan Season 2

After tracking a potentially suspicious shipment of illegal arms in the Venezuelan jungle, CIA Officer Jack Ryan heads down to South America to investigate. As Jack’s investigation threatens to uncover a far-reaching conspiracy, the President of Venezuela launches a counter-attack that hits home for Jack, leading him and his fellow operatives on a global mission spanning the United States, UK, Russia, and Venezuela to unravel the President’s nefarious plot and bring stability to a country on the brink of chaos. - Amazon Prime Video

I have always been a Tom Clancy fan, but was a little reluctant to see Jim from the office playing Jack Ryan. I was so wrong. It took me two years to watch an episode, although I added it to my watchlist some time ago. All I can say is that it was so worth the wait. Season one was action packed, heart stopping episode after episode. And season two doesn’t disappoint.

Lost In Space Season 2

Now stranded even deeper in space, the Robinsons band together to explore strange planets, face down new dangers and find their beloved Robot. - Netflix

I have never considered myself a sci-fi geek but apparently I am. I definitely love all things space. Season 2 picks up where season 1 left off with Robinson’s in peril and trying to get back to the rest of the new colony.

You Season 2

Meet Will Bettelheim. He’s not your regular Joe. He’s new to LA and has sworn off love. But love, like murder, has a way of tracking you down. - Netflix

The uber creepy stalker series is back for a second season. Will has changed his name and moved to LA to start fresh but the man formerly known as Joe cannot help but stalk, fall in love, and then kill. Season 2 stays true to form, and with no spoilers, ends the season with a twist.

All of the above shows are great, and I do no think you will be disappointed. The 4 shows I chose offer a good variety of action, adult, family friendly, and science fiction.

So what are your recommendations? What great shows am I missing that I need to give a look? Please share your thoughts and recommendations!

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Best Netflix Shows For October Scares

October is such a great month. Fall is just starting, the weather is cooling but not too cold, and halloween is just around the corner. I love halloween, and although I am not a big horror movie lover, I always indulge during the month of October in lots of creepy and scary viewing choices.

Here are six series and movies to enjoy this month that are sure to get that pulse racing just a little. Nothing too gory, just creepy fun.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

As her 16th birthday nears, Sabrina must choose between the witch world of her family and the human world of her friends. Based on the Archie comic.

I have to say that I love this much darker take on the story of Sabrina the Teen Witch than the one we are all familiar with. This Sabrina is by no means a sweet little angel, and you may even find yourself rooting against her at times. She is dark, she is sassy, she’s kind of self-righteous, and endearing in all wrapped in one teenage witch.

The Haunting Of Hill House

“Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.” - IMDB

I have seen so many versions of the Haunting of Hill House story that I wasn’t sure I wanted to bother with this one. But my daughter wanted to watch it, , not by herself though, so we decided to give it a try together. I have to say that this Netflix series is by far my favorite. It’s dark, and creepy, and sad, all wrapped into one, with a satisfying ending. No word on if there will be a second season, but the window was left open to do another season.

American Horror Story

An anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show, a haunted hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, the apocalypse and a slasher summer camp.

While the American Horror Story franchise is not a Netflix original, you can catch on the earlier seasons now. Although American Horror Story has lost some of its appeal to me with its most recent seasons, I highly recommend the first three season, especially season one. Murder House is season one and will creep you the hell out.

Coraline

An adventurous 11-year-old girl finds another world that is a strangely idealized version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets.

This is a somewhat kid friendly, depending on the kid, dark tale about a girl Coraline who finds that sometimes the grass is not only as green as you thought but it is actually fake. This movie has a very Tim Burton feel, so if you enjoyed Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride, this is for you.

Black Mirror

“An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech world where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.” - IMDB

I am not going to lie, Black Mirror is dark and kind of weird. But also entertaining, and a great way to kill time. The great thing about Black Mirror being an anthology series is that each episode is stand alone, and offers lot of viewing choices.

In The Tall Grass

After hearing a young boy's cry for help, a sister and brother venture into a vast field of tall grass in Kansas but soon discover there may be no way out...and that something evil lurks within.

It’s no surprise that this creepy brain child is based on a novella by Stephen King. This movie will not only have you spooked, but will also have your mind going as you try to figure out what is going on.

All of the above shows are perfect for October scares. None of these are for the faint of heart, but these shows are highly entertaining. So pick one to start watching. I do no think you will be disappointed.

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Basic Rules Of Etiquette...How To Mind Your Manners

Good manners never go out of style, although sometimes it feels that way. Being polite, respectful, and having good etiquette is not taught or talked about as much as it used to be. But I think it is still important to “mind our manners, and treat others with respect.

There are rules to etiquette, and as times and technology change, so does some of the rules. With everyone continuous glued to the screen of their phone or tablet, interaction with other people has become almost awkward and alien.

Don’t get me wrong, this blog is not about being prim and proper. I could not care less which fork you choose to eat with. But I do think that we all need a reminder from time to time of some basic manners that are slowly fading from societal norm.

Etiquette Rules For Dinner Table

Whether you are having a meal at a restaurant, at a dinner party, or at home, if you are with others there are some rules of etiquette that apply. I think for many of us, there are behaviors, particularly at the dinner table that annoy, us or that we find gross or inappropriate.

It goes without saying that it is in poor taste to keep others waiting, so be on time. Here are your “don’ts” for eating with others.

Etiquette Rules For Interacting With Public and Strangers

They say you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat those is service jobs. Whether it’s the waitress, the parking valet, or the hotel housekeeper, all people should be treated with common courtesy and respect. Here are some basics etiquette rules for behavior and interactions with people in public.

• Say Please and Thank You

• Hold Door For Stranger If Close Behind You

• Hold Elevator Door

• Say Excuse Me for Burps, Sneezes, and Accidents

• Throw Away Your Trash

Etiquette Rules For Relationships and Dates

Photo by KM Photography/iStock / Getty Images

Times have changed, but not necessarily for the better when it comes to courtship and dating. I am a modern woman, and definitely not a damsel in distress, but I still can appreciate a gentleman. While I do not believe that the man always has when going out, I do believe that he treat his date like a lady.

• Come To Door To Pick Up Date

• Open Car Door

• Hold Public Doors

• Pull Out Chair

• Offer To Carry Heavy Items

• Walk To Door

This is not a lecture, but a reminder. If it costs you nothing to be polite, be kind, and to be thoughtful to others, then why not make a choice to do so?

What are your thoughts etiquette in today’s society? Do you think the rules are still appropriate, old fashioned, or just plain old stupid? Please share your thoughts and experience on etiquette

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” - Unknown

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Here's Why You Should Never Outgrow Crushes and Falling In Love...10 Health Benefits Of Being In Love

Aging doesn’t have to mean the end of passion, love, and romance. Flirting, crushes, and new love isn’t just for teens. You really can find new love at any age. Aging gives you life experience, and hopefully wisdom, but you are never too old to be crazy in love.

If a death, a divorce, or the end to a long term relationship occurs, you may find yourself single again at just about any age or stage in life. For some, the thought of being single again seems scary and like the end of romantic companionship.

For others, they recognize the opportunity for new relationships and new beginnings.

While the thought of you, your parents or grandparents dating later in life sounds unfathomable, research shows that regardless of age, as human we often want love and companionship.

There are a few differences in what younger adults look for in a relationship, versus what older adults want in a relationship, according this Psychology Today article.

Younger adults want love, communication, trust, attraction, and compatibility. Older adults wants are slightly different with honesty, communication, companionship, respect, and positive attitude being their top five relationship priorities.

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Whether you are single and in your 30’s, or divorced or windowed in your 60’s, the desire for love, sex, romance, and companionship do not go away. Falling in love and being in love makes you happy, and happy people tend have healthier, better qualities of life.

10 Heath Benefits Of Falling In Love and Being In Love

• Less Likely To Suffer From Depression

• Lower Blood Pressure

• Better Stress Management/Less Stress

• Less Substance Abuse

• Sick Less Often

• Faster Recovery From Illness

• Less Pain

• Better Self Care

• Less Anxiety

• Longer Life Span

Who knew that romantic emotions had so many health benefits. The feeling of crushing on someone or falling in love makes you feel like you are floating. It is one of the best feelings, a feeling worth experiencing many times throughout our lives. So I guess when you think about how you feel when in love, you can see why it is hard to feel depressed, stressed, or unrelaxed.

What are your thoughts on love at any age? Do you have a story of unexpected love coming into your life? Do you find that as you age you become more open or more closed off to new relationships and love? Please share your story and experience!

“Love is ageless and colorless. It is a spiritual force that binds two hearts and two souls together as one.” - Ellen J. Barrier, The Price Wr Must Pay Our Father’s Sin

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September Book Club Recommendations...5 Great Reads For Your Book Club

If you are like me you love a good book. I read all of the time, but tend to stick to one or two genres and authors. A great way to find new authors and be exposed to literature you would have never considered is by joining a traditional bookclub, or signing up for a book of the month club.

If you are already in a bookclub, but looking for some suggestions I am here to help. Or if you are just trying to figure out what to read next I think I have some great choices for you. I enjoyed all of the below books, albeit some were more satisfying than others, but that's the beauty of reading a book. You never know what you are going to get, or how it is going to end.

5 September Book Club Recommendations

• Then She Was Gone - Lisa Jewell

• The Woman I Was Before - Kerry Fisher

• The Best Friend - Shalini Boland

• Girl Last Seen - Nina Lauren

• Sorry Not Sorry - Sophie Ranald
  
  
  
  

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic post-exams summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her.

And then she was gone.

Now, her mother Laurel Mack is trying to put her life back together. It’s been ten years since her daughter disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie’s case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.

Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions she’s tried so hard to put to rest begin to haunt Laurel anew. Where did Ellie go? Did she really run away from home, as the police have long suspected, or was there a more sinister reason for her disappearance? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?

The Woman I Was Before by Kerry Fisher

Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic post-exams summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her.

And then she was gone.

Now, her mother Laurel Mack is trying to put her life back together. It’s been ten years since her daughter disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie’s case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.

Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions she’s tried so hard to put to rest begin to haunt Laurel anew. Where did Ellie go? Did she really run away from home, as the police have long suspected, or was there a more sinister reason for her disappearance? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?

The Best Friend by Shalini Boland

When Louisa Sullivan takes her little boy to his first playdate at a new friend’s house she doesn’t realise life is about to change for her family. Because she’s about to meet Darcy Lane.

Darcy is a woman who has everything – a dream house, a powerful husband and enviable wealth.

She’s the perfect wife.

The perfect friend.

The perfect liar.

Girl Last Seen by Nina Lauren

Olivia Shaw has been missing since last Tuesday. She was last seen outside the entrance of her elementary school in Hunts Point wearing a white spring jacket, blue jeans, and pink boots.

I force myself to look at the face in the photo, into her slightly smudged features, and I can't bring myself to move. Olivia Shaw could be my mirror image, rewound to thirteen years ago.

If you have any knowledge of Olivia Shaw's whereabouts or any relevant information, please contact...

I've spent a long time peering into the faces of girls on missing posters, wondering which one replaced me in that basement. But they were never quite the right age, the right look, the right circumstances. Until Olivia Shaw, missing for one week tomorrow.

Whoever stole me was never found. But since I was taken, there hasn't been another girl.

And now there is.

Sorry Not Sorry by Sophie Ranald

Charlotte has always been a good girl. But being good is getting boring…

She’s not just stuck in a rut – she’s buried in it up to her chin. The only company she has in bed is the back catalogue of Netflix and falling in love feels like the stuff of fairy tales. So when she stumbles across a popular podcast, ‘Sorry Not Sorry’, which challenges women to embrace their inner bad girl, she jumps at the chance to shake things up.

Old Charlotte would never ask for a stranger’s number, go on a blind date or buy lacy lingerie… But New Charlotte is waving goodbye to her comfort zone (with a side order of margaritas). And it turns out that good things happen to bad girls…

Autumn begins in a few short weeks and there is nothing better than curling up with a good book on a ccool day or a crisp night.

All of these books are great choices for your September book club selection, or for just an "any time" read. What are you currently reading in your bookclub? Have you read any of these books? If so, which is your favorite? Please share your favorite!