May 14, 2013

I am honored to be part of the RoC Skin Care Ambassador Network. I have used RoC products for over a year, and my over-50 skin has never looked better! Here are a few tips for keeping your skin healthy and younger-looking this summer. Summer brings along lots of good things: the beach, salty air more »
Posted in Flourishing Body
May 9, 2013

Perfectionism can be the secret to your success, or the saboteur of your sanity. It can be a healthy motivator to achieve more, produce higher quality work and approach every project with meticulous planning. But on the flip side, when it becomes an obsession, it can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life, causing more »
Posted in My Blog
May 3, 2013

The month of May is first connected with Mother’s Day. It is a time for us to celebrate what our mothers have done for us, and to soak in the praises of our children. But for some of us, it brings mixed emotions. For me, I spend the week leading up to Mother’s Day thinking more »
Posted in Flourishing Spirit, My Blog
April 26, 2013

This week I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of Office Associates who had gathered from around the state for an annual personal development conference. The room was filled with women, and a handful of men, who were busy professionals trying to balance their work life with their personal responsibilities, and I spent more »
Posted in My Blog
April 9, 2013

One recent morning, when I was scanning through the overnight influx of emails that contained promises to make me rich, thin and content in just a few easy steps, I ran across one headline that stopped me cold. “Are you a hypocritical coach?” OUCH. Those of us who are professional speakers, trainers and coaches make more »
Posted in My Blog
April 1, 2013

What is the No. 1 fashion rule that women embrace when they want to look slimmer? All together now: Wear black! This is a fashion mantra for many, and it results in closets that are seas of darkness. On the other hand, what is the top style women avoid if they don’t want to appear more »
Posted in Style & Beauty
April 1, 2013

I had a wonderful interview with Susan Rich of “Susan Rich Talks,” on Women for Women, All Women’s Radio. We talked about the joys of growing older, and I shared some ways to say “I’m done” to the things that may be holding you back from living fully in your life after 50. Susan and more »
Posted in Flourishing Spirit, My Blog
March 19, 2013

Most women think they have to be “manager of the universe,” taking care of everyone’s needs while juggling career, home and family. Life becomes frenzied, and overwhelm leads to exhaustion. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to simplify. If you follow these tips, you will be less stressed and more more »
Posted in Flourishing Spirit
February 26, 2013

Recently, I conducted a survey through Flourish Over 50 to find out “the state of the community.” The questions included topics of interest, social media interactions and life-stage happiness. One of the highest rated statements about life was “I feel stuck in a rut, and would like to feel excited about life again.” I hear more »
Posted in Flourishing Mind, My Blog
February 20, 2013

If you had told me three years ago that motivational speaking would be part of my future, I would have laughed! I’d had a real “trial by fire” with my first speaking engagements, giving graduation speeches for five years to audiences of up to 3,000 people as a School Board President. To say I was more »
Posted in Flourishing Mind, My Blog
February 17, 2013

One thing you may not know about me is that I am adopted. Over the past 22 years, I have searched for my birthmother several times, and have not yet made the connection. Her name on my birth certificate and all legal documents is Suzy Dodd. She was living with her brother in Snyder, Texas more »
Posted in Flourishing Spirit, My Blog
February 13, 2013

Today I visited with Keri Bellacosa on Fox 7′s “Good Day Austin” and we talked about the value of loving yourself. Before you go out and buy gifts for others this Valentine’s Day, say “I love you” to YOU!
Posted in Flourishing Mind, Media, My Blog
February 12, 2013

Today I am battling self-doubt. Yes, even for me, the one who teaches other women to embrace and celebrate their immense value, that shameless self-critic sometimes speaks so loud and clear that I can’t focus on anything else. I have allowed myself to sink in to the “What are you doing wrong?” mentality instead of more »
Posted in My Blog
February 5, 2013

February, the Month of Love. This is the time when we traditionally spend extra time and effort telling special people just how much we love them–our husbands or “significant others,” our children, family members and friends. But for women: how often do you tell yourself that you love you? Loving yourself means giving yourself permission more »
Posted in Flourishing Spirit, My Blog
January 31, 2013

from Guest Author Christa Thompson Dear Christa ~ Remember when? Remember when you weren’t searching… for anything? Days were filled with simple joys ~ one after the other ~ whether skipping rope, laying in the sun, being tickled by the grass, playing pretend, getting lost in a book, touching the rough bark of a tree, more »
Posted in Inspirations, Reinventions, Wit and Wisdom
January 28, 2013

In my coaching, friendship and internet-world circles, one thing is constant: women over 50 sabotage their own dreams and plans with their own inner self-critic. They succumb to believing nasty little thoughts like these. “You’re too old.” “You’re not smart enough.” “It’s too late for you to follow your dreams.” “You’re being selfish by putting more »
Posted in Flourishing Mind, My Blog
January 16, 2013

This year, I have chosen the word SHINE as my “theme.” I have worked diligently over the past three years building Flourish Over 50, becoming a life coach, writing my own personal development program, speaking and allowing myself to grow beyond my past vision for myself. Now, it is MY time to SHINE! As more »
Tags: inspiration, shared wisdom
Posted in Flourishing Spirit, My Blog
January 16, 2013

One of the most difficult things women face is loving ourselves. To look in the mirror and say “I love you” is scary. To say to someone “I am an amazing woman with so much to give the world” is terrifying. Practice saying these affirmations to yourself, looking in the mirror. Then grab a friend and more »
Posted in Flourishing Mind, My Blog
January 4, 2013

The New Year has begun, and I have so many things racing through my head! I am ready to take the new blank 2013 canvas and begin painting a beautiful masterpiece that portrays my life. Truthfully, there is so much I want to accomplish that I see an entire mural ahead! What will you create this year? more »
Tags: baby boomer women, life after 50, Women over 50
Posted in Flourishing Spirit, My Blog
December 10, 2012

Christmas is just around the corner and, for me, that generally means busy days filled with family, cooking and shopping. The season can also be a time of stress, when exhaustion takes over, replacing the joy that should be present in every day. My coach (yes, even coaches have coaches!) recently shared some tips with more »
Posted in Flourishing Mind, My Blog
December 6, 2012

Are you already overwhelmed with the holiday rush? Every year, we approach the season with a bit of dread, expecting that we will be stressed out more than we are blissful, and hoping that we can just make it through the month of December. Here are a few tips to help you actually THRIVE in the more »
Posted in Flourishing Mind, My Blog
December 3, 2012

Jan Goss, Founder of Civility Consulting, is a gracious hostess, friend, and expert when it comes to etiquette. Here, she shares her tips on “surviving the holidays with grace,” with tips on everything from “napkin etiquette” to how to make a good impression when entering the room, and how to avoid uncomfortable conversations. Then, SHAKE more »
Posted in Flourishing Spirit
November 29, 2012

The holiday season is upon us, and that means family gatherings, cooking, shopping and hosting parties. But oftentimes, in all the frenzy and frivolity, we end up so tired and grumpy that we feel like the Grinch. Here are a few things you can do to keep the “PEACE” in your soul while being the more »
Posted in Flourishing Mind, My Blog
November 20, 2012

The holiday season has officially arrived, and for those of us in the United States, this week we will celebrate a very early Thanksgiving Day. This is a time when we gather together and focus on the things we are grateful for, such as family, friends, our home, our freedom and our abundant provisions. Around more »
Tags: self-care, Susan Tolles
Posted in Flourishing Mind, My Blog
November 19, 2012

A few months ago I had the AHA kerplunk feeling in my heart that one of my lifelong fears: lack of abundance/ money/ things/ love had vanished. It no longer weighed on my mind and heart. Whatever my financial situation was at the moment was okay. I would move gracefully through a period of less more »
Posted in Flourishing Spirit